JP Spencer
@jpspencer.bsky.social
Director of Devolution Policy, Labour Together. Economist. Author at Future North writing about the North of England (link below).
Posts about policy, politics and the Pennines (and beyond).
📍 West Yorkshire.
🧭 futurenorth.substack.com
Posts about policy, politics and the Pennines (and beyond).
📍 West Yorkshire.
🧭 futurenorth.substack.com
Greater Manchester has been the fastest growing part of the country in the past decade – measured either by total growth or by productivity growth. I’ve had a look into the data to try to work out what is growing and why.
Below are some of the things I have found.
🧵 1/7
Below are some of the things I have found.
🧵 1/7
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Labour’s primary tax promises were to increase taxes on tax avoiders, non-doms, energy companies, private schools and non-resident property and to protect working people so I’m not sure where you’ve got that impression from?
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Labour’s primary tax promises were to increase taxes on tax avoiders, non-doms, energy companies, private schools and non-resident property and to protect working people so I’m not sure where you’ve got that impression from?
The government haven’t raised VAT?
November 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The government haven’t raised VAT?
Is hard to show on a helpful chart due to sizes but of the most relevant sectors: ‘education’ and ‘science research and development’ are both positive in terms of employment and productivity.
November 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Is hard to show on a helpful chart due to sizes but of the most relevant sectors: ‘education’ and ‘science research and development’ are both positive in terms of employment and productivity.
Still not addressed my points on Barnett misunderstanding or historic funding/institution focus. On tax - slices of many taxes as other G7 do.
What is your realistic plan for reducing inequalities in our politics? From last time, was some combination of move the capital and get on your bike?!
What is your realistic plan for reducing inequalities in our politics? From last time, was some combination of move the capital and get on your bike?!
November 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Still not addressed my points on Barnett misunderstanding or historic funding/institution focus. On tax - slices of many taxes as other G7 do.
What is your realistic plan for reducing inequalities in our politics? From last time, was some combination of move the capital and get on your bike?!
What is your realistic plan for reducing inequalities in our politics? From last time, was some combination of move the capital and get on your bike?!
1. As you know, is more complicated than that too eg historic TfL grant, GLA devo. And I’ve worked in HMT so maybe I’ve seen first hand how decisions get made.
2. I already do pay tax - and have called for more local tax control.
3. Why so unnecessarily angry and sure of what you think
2. I already do pay tax - and have called for more local tax control.
3. Why so unnecessarily angry and sure of what you think
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
1. As you know, is more complicated than that too eg historic TfL grant, GLA devo. And I’ve worked in HMT so maybe I’ve seen first hand how decisions get made.
2. I already do pay tax - and have called for more local tax control.
3. Why so unnecessarily angry and sure of what you think
2. I already do pay tax - and have called for more local tax control.
3. Why so unnecessarily angry and sure of what you think
I don’t think you quite understand what the Barnett formula is - a population weighted grant adjustment. You have an issue with the baseline it’s adjusting - not the formula. And if you’ve been reading my stuff then you’ll also know I’ve said we should replace grants with more taxes over time.
November 6, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I don’t think you quite understand what the Barnett formula is - a population weighted grant adjustment. You have an issue with the baseline it’s adjusting - not the formula. And if you’ve been reading my stuff then you’ll also know I’ve said we should replace grants with more taxes over time.
‘Mayors will do business with Great British Rail as part of a statutory role’
@rich-crabtree.bsky.social - Head of Mayoral Partnerships at Shadow GBR talking about how places will be able to work on rail infrastructure and services in future
@rich-crabtree.bsky.social - Head of Mayoral Partnerships at Shadow GBR talking about how places will be able to work on rail infrastructure and services in future
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
‘Mayors will do business with Great British Rail as part of a statutory role’
@rich-crabtree.bsky.social - Head of Mayoral Partnerships at Shadow GBR talking about how places will be able to work on rail infrastructure and services in future
@rich-crabtree.bsky.social - Head of Mayoral Partnerships at Shadow GBR talking about how places will be able to work on rail infrastructure and services in future
“This is about outcomes for end users”
Huw Jenkins of @lpoolcityregion.bsky.social on how publicly controlled Merseyrail has gone from ‘miseryrail’ to the best performing in the country.
Huw Jenkins of @lpoolcityregion.bsky.social on how publicly controlled Merseyrail has gone from ‘miseryrail’ to the best performing in the country.
November 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“This is about outcomes for end users”
Huw Jenkins of @lpoolcityregion.bsky.social on how publicly controlled Merseyrail has gone from ‘miseryrail’ to the best performing in the country.
Huw Jenkins of @lpoolcityregion.bsky.social on how publicly controlled Merseyrail has gone from ‘miseryrail’ to the best performing in the country.