We have just received a transcript of everything Andy Burnham told members of the newly reformed National Economic Council which he chaired for the first time today at Number 10 North in Manchester.

Mr Burnham said: "This is exciting, isn't it, everybody? Good afternoon. Thank you very much indeed.

"This is a meeting of the National Economic Council, but I'm really glad that we invited my old friends, the mayors, here as well, because it's also the inaugural event at Number 10 North, and how good does that sound?

"I've described this as the best day of my life. I think I'm probably going to be in trouble at home. I have some other views about what should be the best day of my life. But it is something huge, really, because I left this city in 1991 because I couldn't find anything to do.

"There was not a job I could find here. And it's the story of so many people in Britain having to leave the place where they belong because there was an opportunity and then having to go somewhere else and here we are 35 years on as the centre of government planners here in the North of England.

"It really is hugely significant, but it's about what it does isn't it and I just want to assure everyone around the table from all of the different parts of England that Number 10 North is at your service, here for you to empower you more than that, empower the people that you represent, the places where they live to make it feel as though we're all part of a national story where everyone is pulling in the same direction and we're all beginning to feel positive change in our community.

"We can see positive change on our high streets and that's what Number 10 North is all about.

"So, if I just say a little more about the structure of today, we're going to talk initially about the vision of the National Economic Council, then we're going to hear from the mayors in terms of where you are, your perspectives on regional growth and what you're looking for from Number 10 North as it then plays back your ambitions to the centre of government.

"We will then drive us from the centre of government to make sure we're meeting you where you are and the Whitehall operation is right behind you.

"I was in Downing Street on Monday, it feels a long time ago now on a Friday afternoon, but you might remember me saying something about building a sense of national unity, common purpose, getting a feeling of positivity in all of our regions.

"I think that comes when we're all facing the same way and bullying the same way.

"But I know as mayors, obviously, having been one, that sometimes it doesn't feel like that to you, that you kind of know what you want to do, Tracy for West Yorkshire, or Steve for the Liverpool city region, or Andrea at the Greater Lincolnshire.

"You know what you want to do, and I feel you're arguing in different places across Whitehall to try and get people to listen.

"What I'm trying to do here is make the UK one team where we're all pulling behind you because your place is where growth happens or it doesn't happen. And I think we've got to get a different approach to making that change happen. And this is basically what we're here to discuss. So it does start with Whitehall, and it does start with the National Economic Council.

"Obviously, I want to welcome our Secretaries of State and our new Chancellor to this meeting, today, colleagues from parts of government, obviously Antonio, the Cabinet Secretary, but also colleagues of memory, CLG and other departments.

"Our first job, I think, is to make sure Whitehall is coherent in terms of its positions around growth. And that's what the National Economic Council is designed to do.

"I'll bring John in in a moment because John served on the National Economic Council in 2008 when it was stood up after the financial crash. It was recognised then that business as usual wasn't going to get us out of that position and get growth going, and it was successful in that.

"But similarly, as we saw in the pandemic, you galvanise for a period and then we sink back to a business as usual that doesn't actually work.

"So by reconvening the National Economic Council, we're trying to regain that very focused approach to quote, Whitehall cohering around a single approach, the big growth departments on the permanent council and then kind of reaching out from there to you and the wider world.

"Now the National Economic Council is a cabinet committee. It does carry significant weight in the government machinery.

So it won't be every issue that you raise of us that will pick up. Those issues will be dealt with in a different way.

"But what we are looking for, particularly from today, is what are the themes that cut across everywhere and what are the things where we need to use the National Economic Council to drive revolution that bit further to support you.

"So probably we will put those up in the conversation and Antonio will sum up on those at the end of the meeting.

"So that's part of the new infrastructure, the reconvene National Economic Council.

"The second bit of course is Number 10 North and this is a huge change and it's really important that John and I are here together in front of you today.

"I'm delighted that John is our new Chancellor. We have worked together over many years, and we've lived through some of the things that I've described.

"John has got huge experience at the Treasury but also, I hope not putting words in your mouth saying someone who's always spoken up for the cause of devolved power in your role. What we are doing here is bringing the Treasury and Number 10 close together.

"We've often kind of spoken about that in the past. Are they sufficiently aligned on growth? Are we pulling together at the centre of them in the same direction?

"And that's what we're seeking to achieve with a little tilt towards the very centre, Number 10, so that we can drive the change from that centre at its most powerful to then unlock the things that you are dealing with.

"And that's what Number 10 North is. I've described it as the nerve centre for a rewire country, and that's how you should see it.

"The place where Whitehall will come through to you, but then you can come back through and seek that further transfer of power that you need to be able to make the changes that you need.

"Week to week, there’ll be something of a situation where we're kind of like working with you in a real time way, and ministers dialling in and some of our arms like bodies dialling in, just to hear what's holding you down, just taking time out of the whole process, which I know you know so well.

"So that is how Number 10 North clicks in, if you like, to that kind of infrastructure behind it, the National Economic Council, and then all of it is about reaching where you are.

"I should say at this point, I met the First Minister of Scotland, First Minister of Wales yesterday, Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and we recognise that they have a different perspective. Colleagues here might remember meetings of the Council of the Nations and Regions.

"I think it perhaps didn't quite come together in that form because that is a different form of devolution. But we have agreed that there should be a version of what we're doing here through Number 10 North for Scotland, Wales and North Ireland, working through the particular devolved arrangements in each of those nations.

"So we will do something similar with the First Ministers soon, but it's just to make sure that this is a coherent picture that benefits all of the UK.

"So I hope that's clear in terms of what we're trying to do. It's meant to me, I'm still acting as your shop steward in this role, knowing how you think, knowing how you feel, trying to give you the best conditions that you can have to get growth going in our English regions and in our proud cities.

"We all know that the English cities can beat more than they currently are. I should just say that also applies though to our coastal areas, our rural economy, because Number 10 North will also be seeking to take devolution beyond the existing city regions and come up with forms of devolution that work for all parts of the country.

"So I will pause there. Thank you everyone for being here on what is a truly momentous day from my point of view."