Burnham hails 'best day of my life' as he opens 'gimmick' No10 North office in Manchester and dismisses cost of huge security operation... after flying in on Government jet

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Andy Burnham hailed the 'best day of my life' today as he opened a temporary 'No10 North' office in Manchester. The PM gushed about the project after flying in on a Government jet from Scotland, where he attended the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony last night. He dismissed fears about the bill for the 'gimmick' and huge security operation, saying: 'What does it cost for everybody to troop down to London every time there's a meeting when you need to make an argument about something?' Mr Burnham is making great play of his decision to be based part of the week in Manchester, where his family lives and he used to be mayor. The so-called 'King of the North' wants to use the arrangements as a symbol of his drive to devolve power out of Westminster. However, construction has not even started yet on the site earmarked to become the premier's base in the city, and it will not be operational until 2032. Instead Mr Burnham is planning on using Heron House, an existing Government office in the centre that is used by GCHQ. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the PM's 'No10 North' as a 'gimmick', adding it's 'the actual decisions that are being taken that matter, not where you move people'. 'I think this is a very interesting gimmick that the PM has pulled today,' she told broadcasters on a visit to Newport, south Wales. 'Moving No10 to Manchester does not make decision-making any better. It's just creating another branch of the civil service in a different place.' Mrs Badenoch also accused Mr Burnham of 'acting as if he's still the mayor of Manchester', while - when asked if she would keep 'No10 North' if she became PM - the North West Essex MP said: 'I think if I was moving No10 to Essex, people would be raising an eyebrow.' The PM on Friday chaired a meeting of the National Economic Council at his temporary 'No10 North' office in Manchester, while he also held his first set of calls with leading business groups. Of the 28 attendees of the National Economic Council at 'No10 North' in Manchester, more than half - including the PM - are usually based at offices in London. Andy Burnham hailed the 'best day of my life' today as he opened a temporary 'No10 North' office in Manchester The PM, Chancellor John Healey and de facto deputy Lou Haigh posed with aides in front of a fake version of the famous No10 black door Mr Burnham held a National Economic Council meeting with aides and mayors Branded '10' drinks mats were on show at the Manchester offices today Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo was also present for the 'opening' The PM's convoy arrived at Heron House in Manchester today, the temporary 'No10 North' De facto deputy PM Louise Haigh (left) was spotted at the offices this morning Security around the building - which also hosts a pub - has been dramatically ramped up Tory leader Kemi Badenoch labelled the PM's 'No10 North' as a 'gimmick', adding it's 'the actual decisions that are being taken that matter, not where you move people'. Ahead of the PM's visit, security at the Heron House building - which also hosts a pub - was hugely increased and workers were busily sprucing up nearby Albert Square. No10 has insisted there will be no extra running costs to the taxpayer for staff, but experts have warned that the bill for fortifying an office for the PM and providing round-the-clock armed police could run into tens of millions of pounds a year. The Cabinet Office has posted a slew of adverts for social media and communications jobs based in London and Manchester. Downing Street and much of the Government estate in Whitehall is entirely closed off from the public. In the foyer area of the Manchester hub there is a mock No10 front door, which was created for an art installation in support of the GREAT Britain Campaign in 2015. As he posed for pictures in front of the door, Mr Burnham responded to a suggestion that the office needed a cat. Addressing Caroline Simpson, former chief executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority who is now his deputy chief of staff, he asked: 'Have you identified a Larry yet?' Addressing staff, Mr Burnham said: 'I cannot tell you what a proud moment this is. I think this might be the best day of my life. 'I'm not joking. I know you think I am, but I'm not. Things are just completely coming full circle here, for me to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning at the end of a fairly big week is just everything to me. 'Because it's almost exactly 35 years since I left this city as a recently graduated young man, couldn't find a job in the city. It was in a pretty bad place at that time, it's fair to say. The '80s turned into the '90s. There wasn't much. 'And that really is an experience that I've never forgotten. My generation of people growing up here, and it's true of places all over the country, to get on in life you had to leave where you were because things weren't here. 'And the country's always been a little like that, hasn't it? Opportunity has not been evenly spread around the country and not all places have felt that they're part of the national story and that is what this government is going to work every single day to change, and that is what No 10 North is all about: putting power in every postcode so that people can turn things around for themselves and make changes just as this great city has done and the other English cities are doing through devolution.' As he opened the National Economic Council meeting later on Friday, Mr Burnham - a father-of three - joked that he might be in trouble with his wife for saying that it was the 'best day of his life'. He told Cabinet ministers, regional mayors and local government representatives: 'I've described this as the best day of my life. I think I'm probably going to be in trouble at home. 'I have some other views about what should be the best day of my life. But it is something huge.' In his talks with groups including the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Make UK, Small Business Britain, and Startup Coalition, Mr Burnham promised to reform business rates and reduce costs for employers in exchange for them helping to boost jobs. 'For too long, businesses have been carrying the burden of rising costs while working people have paid the price,' Mr Burnham said. 'We've all seen the consequences on our high streets with boarded-up shops, struggling local businesses, and employers feeling like they haven't been heard across Whitehall. 'Every business that closes its doors means fewer jobs and fewer opportunities for young people to get into work. 'Britain has enormous strengths and too often we talk ourselves down. We are a global powerhouse in science, technology, manufacturing and innovation. 'We just need to do a better job of turning that success into jobs, investment and opportunity that everyone can feel in every part of the country. 'That's why I'm putting a new offer on the table. We'll bring down costs, reform business rates and use the power of government to back British business. 'We'll listen, we'll act and we'll give firms the backing they need to reindustrialise Britain. 'In return, I want businesses to invest in their people, back their communities and help us give every young person a fair chance to find a good job.' The Government jet taking him to Scotland and then on the 40-minute trip down to Manchester will have cost tens of thousands of pounds. He is expected to take a train back to London when he goes, having long boasted about his love for using the railway. A Government spokeswoman insisted all recent PMs had taken domestic flights. 'Government aircraft are used in line with the Ministerial Code and long-standing rules governing official travel,' they said. 'The Government will always seek to ensure ministers can carry out their duties effectively while delivering value for money for taxpayers. As with previous administrations, appropriate transport is used where necessary to meet operational, security and scheduling requirements.' The Treasury approved the 'outline case' for a civil service 'digital campus' in Manchester in March this year, after being in development since the council acquired the disused retail park in 2017. That is now envisaged as the permanent 'No10 North'. Construction is due to get going at the five-acre site over the coming years but the 'target' for it becoming operational is not until 2032 - three years after the latest date for the next general election. Workers have been busily sprucing up the area near Albert Square Construction has not even started yet on the site earmarked to become the premier's base in the city, and it will not be operational until 2032 An artist's impression of the 'digital campus' slated to be built in Manchester Mr Burnham judged mock-ups of his promised 'No10 North' on TikTok recently - but he might not even be in power to see it up and running At that stage around 8,800 civil servants are meant to be based at the 900,000 square foot venue. Earlier this week the PM's spokesman insisted staff are 'already working in the new No10 North'. The official said: 'The running of No10 North will be covered by existing Cabinet Office budgets. There is no additional cost to taxpayers.' On the question of relocation packages for London-based personnel to move there, he said it is 'standard practice' for employers to support staff required to relocate. The spokesman said numbers would be detailed in due course, adding: 'We already have around 80,000 civil servants based in the North West of England, with around 700 roles moved from London to Manchester last year.' Last month Philip Grindell, a former detective who advised Parliament on security for MPs after the killing of Jo Cox, warned that 'No10 North' will need to replicate the security arrangements in place for the real No10. He told the Daily Mail: 'That would be very expensive - any premise would need to be suitable to prevent a variety of attack methods, from simple to sophisticated... 'We are talking tens of millions of pounds of costs every year. 'The other issue would be who takes primacy over the PM's protection, the Met or Greater Manchester Police? 'That is before you get to the logistical issues of Cobra meetings, secure communications and not being physically near the rest of Whitehall when you need to have urgent in depth discussions.'