The recruitment campaign introduces new regional roles, including a specialized deputy director position paying up to £117,000 to spearhead national devolution efforts. While officials intend to curb civil service redundancies by closing vacant posts elsewhere, the Conservative opposition has condemned the operation as costly and redundant bureaucracy. Ministers also face criticism from political opponents for refusing to disclose precise attendance data and staffing breakdowns for the regional team.
Key points
Government plans rely on existing departmental budgets and closing vacant vacancies to pr…: Government plans rely on existing departmental budgets and closing vacant vacancies to prevent compulsory civil service redundancies.
Staff working at the Manchester outpost will move from Heron House to First Street in spr…: Staff working at the Manchester outpost will move from Heron House to First Street in spring 2027.
Conservative critics have labeled the outpost an expensive gimmick while challenging the…: Conservative critics have labeled the outpost an expensive gimmick while challenging the administration over lacking workforce transparency.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Andy Burnham's Number 10 North has gone on a multi-million pound hiring spree with dozens of new jobs being advertised.
The office in Manchester, set up by the prime minister in July, has launched 50 external job adverts, including a "rewiring the state deputy director".
It is the latest sign of how pivotal the government outpost - designed as a sister office to London's Downing Street - may prove to Burnham's aim to devolve power across the country.
Government sources say the roles will be paid for out of existing budgets.
The new recruits "will work with mayors and councils to identify barriers holding places back", but the Conservatives have described the office as a "gimmick".
There will be no redundancies elsewehere in the civil service as a result of the hiring spree, the BBC has been told, with some jobs expected to be relocated and other vacant roles closed.
The new roles, all based in Manchester, cover areas including strategy, communications, engagement, private office and policy.
BBC News has calculated they total up to £2.8m for basic…
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