Sam Lister, the new Director General for No 10 North, is under fire for his weekly travel between London and Manchester. The official's commute from an Islington residence is raising questions about the sincerity of the government's decentralization efforts.
The £2.2 million Islington-to-Manchester disconnect
The mission of No 10 North is to dismantle the centuries-old grip Westminster holds over British governance. However, the rceent revelation regarding Sam Lister, the Director General, suggests a potential disconnect between policy and practice. while Lister is tasked with executing Andy Burnham's vision for a more northern-focused administration, his primary residence remains a £2.2 million townhouse in trendy Islington.
This geographical gap highlights the tension inherent in the new outpost's mandate. While the office is intended to serve as a symbol of shifting authority,the leadership's continued reliance on the capital could undermine the very message of regional empowerment they seek to broadcast.
An £800 weekly bill for luxury Manchester stays
The financial implications of Sam Lister's commuting arrangement are significant for the taxpayer. As reported by The Mail on Sunday, Lister's weekly travel and accommodation costs are estimated at approximately £800. This includes traveling on the 6.29am Avanti service from Euston and staying at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, a 24-storey luxury building featuring a spa and a 23rd-floor bar.
The scale of this expenditure has drawn sharp comparisons to public service funding. Critics have noted that the annual cost of these trips is roughly equivalent to the wages of a new junior doctor. Furthermore, the report notes that while Lister works from the Cabinet Office on Mondays, he spends the remainder of his week dividing time between the temporary Manchester headquarters and high-end city center hotels.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith and the 'pointless' cost critique
Political figures have been quick to label the initiative as performative rather than structural. Sir Iain Duncan Smith described the current situation as "pointless," citing both the expense and the lack of tangible impact. Similarly, Tory MP Greg Stafford characterized the taxpayer-funded commuting as a "farce" that serves political vanity rather than the public interest.
These criticisms reflect a broader skepticism regarding whether No 10 North is a genuine attempt at devolution or merely a branding exercise. For many, the sight of officials traveling between Whitehall and Manchester on luxury trains suggests that the center of gravity has not moved as much as the policy promises.
The uncertainty of the 300 permanent Manchester roles
The future of the 300 permanent roles planned for the Heron House office in Manchester remains a central point of contention. While No 10 has stated it is advertising for permanent positions to staff the northern hub, it is unclear if these roles will attract local talent or simply become satellite positions for London-based civil servants.
Several specific questions remain unanswered by the current administration. Will the new staff be required to reside in the North, or will the office become a convenient excuse for officials to work remotely on Fridays? Additionally, while Downing Street sources claim Lister is committed to the role, the decision regarding his family's long-term living arrangements remains unverified.
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