Andy Burnham has started cutting jobs in Whitehall as part of his plans for a landmark devolution of power.

He announced that as a first step in his devolution revolution Whitehall officials will be posted to the offices of regional mayors.

Around 90 civil servants will take up posts in the regions under the scheme for secondments of six to nine months.

The Government billed the move as the “largest transfer of Whitehall capacity to local leaders yet”.

But the union representing senior civil servants swiftly warned of possible compulsory job changes and large number of posts going in London as part of the proposed major reforms.

Mr Burnham hosted an online meeting of regional mayors through his new No10 North headquarters in Manchester.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “No10 North is putting more power into every postcode across the country so communities can unleash and unlock their own potential.

“I'm bringing together Mayors from different political parties to work on these challenges, because people deserve problem-solving rather than point-scoring.”

His No10 fixer, First Secretary of State Louise Haigh added: “The days of Westminster hoarding power are over.

“This Government has kickstarted the biggest transition of power and resources in a generation, taking it from Whitehall and putting it back in the hands of local communities.”

From the autumn, high-performing civil servants will be seconded into mayoral authorities around the country.

In an initial pilot, every mayoral authority will receive between five and ten civil servants on a 6–9-month secondment.

But Dave Penman, General Secretary of the FDA union of senior civil servants, raised concerns over the way the Government is handling the reforms.

He posted on X: “Quotes from senior No.10 figures and anonymous briefings about ‘uncomfortable’ headcount cuts raises significant questions not only over the number of civil servants involved, but the location and potentially compulsory change of employer.“

He added: “The Government is entitled to change the way the country is governed, but it also has a duty to be a good employer.

“Not just because that’s what any government should aspire to, but because effective management of the workforce delivering that change will result in better outcomes for the public they serve.”

Former Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burham has already announced that he will strip the Treasury of its economic growth responsibilities, with these being moved to No10 North.

Thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Civil Service jobs are set to be moved from Whitehall after the PM pledged the biggest “devolution of power in modern times”.

As part of the announcement on Friday:

* A new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot will be set up in Yorkshire and the Humber, providing more opportunities to build successful careers in regions outside London

* The Future Leaders Scheme, a civil service programme to develop high potential individuals, will be expanded to include mayoral and local authority officials

* A digital devolution programme will be launched to unlock government data and build AI, digital and data capability in mayoral authorities

* Ministers will work with mayors to fast-track major sports-led regeneration projects and bring forward jobs, investment and housing in the regions

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner said: “We want to see more power and resource shifted away from Westminster and back into the hands of our communities where it belongs.

“We’re also giving our mayors the tools they need to push on and deliver on what matters for their community, whether that’s new transport links, more safe and secure homes, regeneration projects, or everything in between.”

Just days ago, Mr Burnham’s government announced that new housing schemes within 800 metres or ten minutes walk of busy Tube and rail stations will be in line for default planning approval.

The move will be welcomed by many Londoners desperate to find a home that they can afford.

But it has been criticised as running counter to the PM’s devolution pledge by taking decision-making away from local councils.

It has also led to warnings that more homes could be built on greenbelt in commuter areas around the capital.