Sam Lister, the Director General of No 10 North, is currently overseeing the establishmnet of a government outpost in Manchester to reduce the UK's reliance on London. despite this mandate, Lister continues to reside in the capital, commuting weekly to the north of England. This arrangement has sparked criticism over the use of public funds to support a hybrid living situation.
The £800 weekly price tag for Sam Lister's commute
The financial cost of maintaining a presence in both cities is significant. According to the report, the taxpayer-funded expenses for Sam Lister's travel and meals are estimated at £800 per week. to put this figure into perspective, the source notes that this annual expenditure is roughly equivalent to the salary of a new junior doctor.
The logistics of this arrangement reveal a strict weekly cycle. Sam Lister spends his Mondays at the Cabinet Office in London before taking an early train to Manchester on Tuesday mornings. Once in the city, he splits his time between the temporary headquarters of No 10 North and a luxury hotel in the city center, returning to his family in London every Friday evening.
Andy Burnham's vision for a post-London-centric government
The creation of No 10 North is a direct response to a pledge by Andy Burnham to dismantle centuries of London-centric governance. The goal is to shift the center of gravity for decision-making away from Westminster and toward the regions, providing Manchester with a direct line to central power.
However, the current operational model suggests a tension between political symbolism and practical reality. While the outpost is intended to signal a new era of regional empowerment, the fact that its Director General remains a London resident creates a perceived disconnect. this pattern echoes previous attempts at "levelling up" where the infrastructure of power was moved, but the personnel remained rooted in the capital's social and professional circles.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Greg Stafford label the outpost a 'farce'
The arrangement has drawn sharp rebukes from political opponents who view the project as a superficial exercise. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, criticized the initiative, stating that the most problematic aspects are the associated costs and the "complete pointlessness" of the setup.
Similarly, Tory MP Greg Stafford has characterized the No 10 North project as a "farce," suggesting that the taxpayer is essentially funding the travel of civil servants to satisfy what he calls "Andy Burnham's vanity." As the report says,critics have further dismissed the outpost as a "gimmick" that serves as a convenient excuse for government officials to work from home on Fridays.
When will the No 10 North family living arrangements be decided?
Despite the backlash , Downing Street sources maintain that Sam Lister is enthusiastic about his role in Manchester. However, a critical piece of information remains missing: there is no timeline for when Lister will decide on permanent living arrangements for his family . It remains unclear whether the Director General ever intends to fully relocate or if the current luxury hotel arrangement is the intended long-term model.
Furthermore, the source does not clarify how many other officials are following this same commuting pattern. If Sam Lister is not an isolated case , the total taxpayer expenditure for the No 10 North outpost could be significantly higher than the £800 weekly figure attributed to the Director General alone.
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