Andy Burnham plans to work in Manchester for a few days as Prime Minister

Andy Burnham has told the BBC he plans to spend part of the working week in Manchester if he becomes Prime Minister.

It is not clear if he will spend some days there or if there will be a more informal arrangement.

But he plans to split his time between Downing Street and the North West, it is understood.

In his first speech since launching his Labor leadership bid, Burnham has announced he will create a new “No 10 North” in Manchester if he replaces outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham’s allies hope his presence in the city will be a strong signal of his commitment to take power away from Westminster.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester announced his bid to succeed Sir Kerr last Monday, after being elected MP for Makersfield.

He is the only Labor MP to have announced a leadership bid so far. If he remains the sole candidate, he can become the next prime minister by July 20.

Past prime ministers, including Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, have spent time in their constituencies from London, but those around Burnham say his arrangement will be different from the norm.

If Burnham chooses not to make Downing Street his home, he will become the first prime minister since Labor Prime Minister Harold Wilson not to live primarily in a prominent London building.

Wilson