Plans for a massive overhaul of the Treasury that would see hundreds of workers move from London to a new Northern base — possibly in Leeds, Newcastle or Teesside — has been met with scepticism, and even derision.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak's aim to move a portion of his department’s 1,400 London-based workers to a new campus, referred to as Treasury North, would be staffed by 750 officials from the Treasury as well as other government departments in London.