Claims that Andy Burnham arranged a lease for Number 10 North in Heron House, Manchester before becoming an MP are not true, it can be confirmed.
Posts with fake news went viral
Viral social media posts claimed that an office for the Prime Minister based in Heron House in the city centre was ‘signed off weeks before [Andy Burnham] was even elected to Parliament’ in the Makerfield by-election on June 18.
The claims have spread online and been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.
They make reference to a decision on June 10 published on Manchester City Council’s website over a lease agreement for the empty second floor office suite at Heron House, based on Albert Square.
One such post stated: ‘Andy Burnham wasn’t even an MP until the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. He didn’t become Prime Minister until 20 July. So why was the temporary headquarters for ‘No.10 North’ being signed off weeks before he was even elected to Parliament?’
The lease agreement found is for a different part of the building altogether
But Manchester City Council and the Cabinet Office both confirmed the Heron House lease decision from June 10 has nothing to do with Andy Burnham or his office at Number 10 North.
They said the decision relates to a lease for offices based in a different part of the building, which have been rented out to various organisations in previous years, and have been openly marketed.
It is understood that the lease agreement decided on June 10 had been in process for some time before being finally agreed.
Preparatory work for No10 North took place during the Labour leadership contest, and the office was set up through existing UK government offices in Heron House.
So claims that office space was leased for No10 North ahead of the Makerfield by-election are not true.
Heron House was already used by Government agencies
Heron House in Manchester city centre is also used by GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham worked from his new base at Number 10 North in Heron House on Friday.
The PM said the government’s Manchester office is part of a plan to ‘get power out of Westminster’ and spread it to other parts of the country.
By Local Democracy Reporter Declan Carey.
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