MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A billboard declaring 'Welcome to Town. Making the move North?' sits on the side of terraced homes on July 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. With former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street as PM comes his desire to bring "Manchesterism" from a successful city-region model into a national governing philosophy. In its 21st-century form, Manchesterism is a practical approach to government, combining devolved decision-making, active public investment, integrated public transport, strategic partnerships between business and local government, and a belief that economic growth should be shared more evenly across communities. It reflects Greater Manchester's experience of regeneration during Burnham's tenure that gave the city greater control over transport, housing, skills and health that produced better outcomes than the centralised Westminster system. Burnham has consistently argued that what worked for Greater Manchester can provide a blueprint for rebalancing the British economy and reducing regional inequality. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)