John Hannen
@jhannen.bsky.social
Greater Manchester Work and Skills lead for @vsnw.bsky.social supporting community organisations to help people get to a better position in their life.
Whilst the some of the rest of the country may be seeing snow right now the tropical 3C we're experiencing in Manchester brought 4 parakeets to the tree out the back
November 19, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Whilst the some of the rest of the country may be seeing snow right now the tropical 3C we're experiencing in Manchester brought 4 parakeets to the tree out the back
polling like this just never asks for views on the whole system costs required for these schemes. "should generally be allowed" and "then sent back" do a lot of heavy lifting.
Like with Brexit, people may express a view on a preferred outcome but the process and wider consequences matter
Like with Brexit, people may express a view on a preferred outcome but the process and wider consequences matter
Britons tend to feel genuine refugees should be returned home once their country is deemed safe, in line with proposals announced by home secretary Shabana Mahmood today
Should be returned once their country is safe: 51%
Should be allowed to stay permanently: 29%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
Should be returned once their country is safe: 51%
Should be allowed to stay permanently: 29%
yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...
November 17, 2025 at 5:09 PM
polling like this just never asks for views on the whole system costs required for these schemes. "should generally be allowed" and "then sent back" do a lot of heavy lifting.
Like with Brexit, people may express a view on a preferred outcome but the process and wider consequences matter
Like with Brexit, people may express a view on a preferred outcome but the process and wider consequences matter
Reposted by John Hannen
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
Changing the Conversation on Asylum: A Messaging Guide
Our new messaging guide looks at the methodology and messages that can help us carve out a new approach that will be successful in persuading the public that seeking safety is a fundamental human righ...
www.freedomfromtorture.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
Reposted by John Hannen
when I hear Starmer speak about immigration and race he's spitting in the face of the Labour voters I knew growing up in Manchester, who put themselves on the line against the National Front - and often the police - in the 1970s and 1980s.
Ultimately the vision of britain that starmer has is profoundly cynical, nasty and just not true. He thinks that abidicating his responsibility in showing that another option is maturity and doing the difficult thing, but he's literally just creating the hateful country he is so afraid of
November 16, 2025 at 3:57 PM
when I hear Starmer speak about immigration and race he's spitting in the face of the Labour voters I knew growing up in Manchester, who put themselves on the line against the National Front - and often the police - in the 1970s and 1980s.
Reposted by John Hannen
NEW: Andy Burnham will issue a warning to Wes Streeting over the government’s abolition of a national network of “patient voice” bodies
Burnham's intervention comes amid fears locally that the move could “silence” residents' views
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Burnham's intervention comes amid fears locally that the move could “silence” residents' views
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Andy Burnham To Warn Wes Streeting About Closure Of Health Bodies
Andy Burnham will issue a warning to Health Secretary Wes Streeting over the government’s abolition of a national network of “patient voice” bodies...
www.politicshome.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:48 PM
NEW: Andy Burnham will issue a warning to Wes Streeting over the government’s abolition of a national network of “patient voice” bodies
Burnham's intervention comes amid fears locally that the move could “silence” residents' views
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Burnham's intervention comes amid fears locally that the move could “silence” residents' views
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Reposted by John Hannen
Reposted by John Hannen
This is not suggestive of ‘build, build, build’.
UK construction employment was 2.05 million in 2025 Q3; 1.3% lower than in Q2 & 4.1% lower than in Q1, before the house building slowdown & employers’ National Insurance Contributions rise, & lower thresholds, in April, according to the ONS. (1/n)
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
#ukhousing #ukconstruction
November 11, 2025 at 10:23 AM
This is not suggestive of ‘build, build, build’.
Reposted by John Hannen
A surprisingly bad set of labour market stats this morning. The story I was prepared for was "some weakening, but the shake out from the early part of the year is behind us". But it's worse than that - payroll jobs falling again, unemployment now up at 5%.
Here is our PN
Here is our PN
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A surprisingly bad set of labour market stats this morning. The story I was prepared for was "some weakening, but the shake out from the early part of the year is behind us". But it's worse than that - payroll jobs falling again, unemployment now up at 5%.
Here is our PN
Here is our PN
Reposted by John Hannen
I’m afraid I’ve heard enough to take this seriously - No.10 is thinking of abolishing ECO, the main source of funding for upgrading fuel poor homes.
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
To be clear, what is being proposed here is to axe the main mechanism for getting Britain’s homes insulated - which is by FAR the best way to reduce household energy bills in the long term 🤦♂️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
…and also, just incidentally, an absolute non-negotiable requirement for meeting UK climate targets 😬🥵☠️
Reeves considers cut to green levies in effort to reduce cost of energy bills
Exclusive: Chancellor hopes to save up to £170 from average bill but industry insiders say move would be ‘disastrous’
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I’m afraid I’ve heard enough to take this seriously - No.10 is thinking of abolishing ECO, the main source of funding for upgrading fuel poor homes.
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
There’s no way to sugar coat this: it would be a disaster.
And it would mean this government spending less on upgrading homes than the last one
Do any uk political parties have policy on the regulation of fireworks and firework displays?
November 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Do any uk political parties have policy on the regulation of fireworks and firework displays?
Reposted by John Hannen
NEW: Our latest analysis suggests strict conditions faced by people in receipt of benefits are forcing them into low quality jobs.
This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.
This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.
November 5, 2025 at 4:05 PM
NEW: Our latest analysis suggests strict conditions faced by people in receipt of benefits are forcing them into low quality jobs.
This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.
This risks undermining the government's employment targets, as people forced into low-paid, insecure jobs are less likely to stay in work.
Reposted by John Hannen
Important piece by @resi-analyst.bsky.social this. Successive governments seem not to have understood that your regulatory framework over the longterm shapes who your market participants *are*. If want short-term (i.e. over the next 5-10 years) benefits of planning reform, need to be more active.
New homes: even if you build them, there’s no one to buy them
We’re often told housing demand exceeds supply — so why are new homes struggling to be built and bought?
www.ft.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Important piece by @resi-analyst.bsky.social this. Successive governments seem not to have understood that your regulatory framework over the longterm shapes who your market participants *are*. If want short-term (i.e. over the next 5-10 years) benefits of planning reform, need to be more active.
Reposted by John Hannen
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
October 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
I keep being told spending cuts are easy. Honest proposals such as those recently outlined by Policy Exchange show they are not
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
My column www.ft.com/content/f086...
Reposted by John Hannen
The UK is not the destination of choice for asylum seekers in Europe. It is behind Germany & France and is 17th, or 5th at a stretch, of 28
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
October 23, 2025 at 7:31 AM
The UK is not the destination of choice for asylum seekers in Europe. It is behind Germany & France and is 17th, or 5th at a stretch, of 28
www.gov.uk/government/s...
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by John Hannen
All networking events need at least one designated host who goes around looking for people on their own and introduces them to others with similar interests.
This takes maybe a couple of minutes per person and is pretty fun and easy if you know what you’re doing!
This takes maybe a couple of minutes per person and is pretty fun and easy if you know what you’re doing!
October 16, 2025 at 12:11 PM
All networking events need at least one designated host who goes around looking for people on their own and introduces them to others with similar interests.
This takes maybe a couple of minutes per person and is pretty fun and easy if you know what you’re doing!
This takes maybe a couple of minutes per person and is pretty fun and easy if you know what you’re doing!
I love being 60 mins into a 90 min meeting and we're moving onto item 1b
October 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
I love being 60 mins into a 90 min meeting and we're moving onto item 1b
This is interesting - but for me it's a good exploration of how weaknesses in the ONS Labour Force Survey can distort a range of key statistics
Just adds to the uncertainty around the current economic position and that harms policy development
Just adds to the uncertainty around the current economic position and that harms policy development
NEW | How productive are the UK’s big cities? 🏙️
We've taken a look at the latest subregional productivity data to understand the trends over the past 20 years and what it can tell us about local and national economic performance.
Read the briefing👇
buff.ly/9TjZ7t8
We've taken a look at the latest subregional productivity data to understand the trends over the past 20 years and what it can tell us about local and national economic performance.
Read the briefing👇
buff.ly/9TjZ7t8
October 16, 2025 at 7:34 AM
This is interesting - but for me it's a good exploration of how weaknesses in the ONS Labour Force Survey can distort a range of key statistics
Just adds to the uncertainty around the current economic position and that harms policy development
Just adds to the uncertainty around the current economic position and that harms policy development
Reposted by John Hannen
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by John Hannen
Investors are betting big bucks on the idea that AI will create an explosion of leisure time...e.g. it was a key part of the public rationale for the massive $55bn takeover of video games maker Electronic Arts. But are they right?? (short thread linked to my column today www.ft.com/content/4011...)
October 14, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Investors are betting big bucks on the idea that AI will create an explosion of leisure time...e.g. it was a key part of the public rationale for the massive $55bn takeover of video games maker Electronic Arts. But are they right?? (short thread linked to my column today www.ft.com/content/4011...)
Reposted by John Hannen
The aging population is the reason; restoring the state pension is just one of the mechanisms.
My Sunday Times piece: Sacred cows like the pension triple lock and the long freeze on fuel duty help explain why other taxes are having to go up:
Taxes are going up, and the pension triple lock is one of the reasons
www.thetimes.com/article/7f77...
Taxes are going up, and the pension triple lock is one of the reasons
www.thetimes.com/article/7f77...
Taxes are going up, and the pension triple lock is one of the reasons
As Rachel Reeves struggles to fix the public finances, sacred cows such as fuel duty and the state pension are cramping the chancellor’s room for manoeuvre
www.thetimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The aging population is the reason; restoring the state pension is just one of the mechanisms.
so much discourse from such a slight policy - many pubs close before their current licensing conditions force them to anyway. for the majority this will just make it easier to extend when there are events/holidays.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth
Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help the ailing hospitality sector but have attracted criticism from health experts
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:28 AM
so much discourse from such a slight policy - many pubs close before their current licensing conditions force them to anyway. for the majority this will just make it easier to extend when there are events/holidays.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
this is great
If you just want to drink gin with an olive in it then just accept that you didn't want to drink a martini in the first place
If you just want to drink gin with an olive in it then just accept that you didn't want to drink a martini in the first place
Here I am in Slate, bravely coming out in favor of sweet, wet martinis (they gave this a more dramatic headline than intended but I stand by my feelings) slate.com/life/2025/10...
One of the Greatest Cocktails Has Been Ruined by a Nasty Trend. But There’s Hope on the Horizon.
The era of bracing bravado is coming to an end.
slate.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:08 PM
this is great
If you just want to drink gin with an olive in it then just accept that you didn't want to drink a martini in the first place
If you just want to drink gin with an olive in it then just accept that you didn't want to drink a martini in the first place
Reposted by John Hannen
The social care system is not fit for purpose. Many people can't access the care and support they need and others are left facing catastrophic costs. Our new long read outlines the six key issues and the options cited to tackle them. https://bit.ly/3VPOdH3
Fixing Social Care: The Six Key Problems And How To Tackle Them
Different people have different opinions about what’s ‘wrong’ with social care and how to fix it. This long read outlines the six key issues and the options cited to tackle them.
www.kingsfund.org.uk
October 8, 2025 at 7:00 AM
The social care system is not fit for purpose. Many people can't access the care and support they need and others are left facing catastrophic costs. Our new long read outlines the six key issues and the options cited to tackle them. https://bit.ly/3VPOdH3
Reposted by John Hannen
You can get my book Borderlines in electronic form for an amazing 99p at the moment; at a time when politicians are fetishising borders, why not look at them in a bit more detail, and get the view from Europe’s borders? www.amazon.co.uk/Borderlines-...
Borderlines: A History of Europe in 29 Borders
Borderlines: A History of Europe in 29 Borders eBook : Baston, Lewis: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 6:06 PM
You can get my book Borderlines in electronic form for an amazing 99p at the moment; at a time when politicians are fetishising borders, why not look at them in a bit more detail, and get the view from Europe’s borders? www.amazon.co.uk/Borderlines-...