Prime Minister Andy Burnham kept his word to a bride who had begged him via TikTok not to spoil her wedding day, by clearing out of his northern government headquarters on Friday.
Sarah Burwin had made the playful appeal back in July after discovering that Heron House in Manchester, where she was due to tie the knot at the city’s register office, had become home to the newly established No 10 North.
Rather than simply ignoring the request, Mr Burnham recorded a video message for the newlywed and her husband Fred, congratulating the couple before vacating the building.
Ms Burwin’s original video, posted after Mr Burnham’s first visit to the Manchester base, and highlighted the dramatic uptick in security around the building.
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She described seeing police, bollards and armed officers surrounding Heron House — none of which had been there before.
Her chief worry was that the PM’s extensive security convoy and metal fencing around the entrance would “ruin the vibe” of her wedding photographs, particularly as she had hired a content creator to capture the occasion.
The bride-to-be assured Burnham he was welcome to attend, but suggested he leave behind “the police escorts and the guys with rifles” and perhaps “give them an hour off.”
The PM’s response delighted her: a succinct two-word comment on her video reading simply “Noted, Saz.”
In his video, filmed as he prepared to leave the building, Burnham told the couple: “Thank you so much for the invite.
“But sadly, I’m honouring your initial request for me to stay out of the way, as I’m filming this as I’m about to leave No 10 North for the day.”
He went on to thank Burwin for “being such a good sport about No 10 North suddenly being a big part of your big day.”
The PM also addressed the running joke about providing the evening’s entertainment, adding: “The DJ set will have to wait for another time, but I hope you play some good tunes on my behalf, big Manchester bangers.”
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Ms Burwin’s reaction was captured on camera: “Oh my God. What a lad. I love him!”
No 10 North was established within days of Mr Burnham entering Downing Street.
He made the commitment prior to succeeding Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
The Manchester hub forms part of his broader “devolution revolution” and sits within the newly created Office of the Prime Minister, which has absorbed functions previously spread across the Cabinet Office, the Treasury and the housing ministry.
Mr Burnham is expected to work from Heron House roughly once a week, while Cabinet ministers Angela Rayner, Louise Haigh and Lucy Powell will be permanently based there.
The building also houses Manchester Register Office.
The shared use of the building is what had Ms Burwin concerned orginally.
Mr Burnham has described the site as a “North Pole” to balance the concentration of power in the south.
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