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
Pinned
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
Reposted by JP Spencer
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by JP Spencer
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
Reposted by JP Spencer
In politics, you don’t get many days like today - when a campaign you have worked on for eight years finally wins. The 2 child limit is going, 1.6m kids will benefit and 450k will move out of poverty. Take a moment, everyone: we did this
November 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
In politics, you don’t get many days like today - when a campaign you have worked on for eight years finally wins. The 2 child limit is going, 1.6m kids will benefit and 450k will move out of poverty. Take a moment, everyone: we did this
Reposted by JP Spencer
The key message for me is here....
Overall, in times that can often feel gloomy, this is a good Budget for the North.
Investment at record levels, the two child cap removed, fiscal devolution on the way.
#Budget25 #NorthernView @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social
@jpspencer.bsky.social
Overall, in times that can often feel gloomy, this is a good Budget for the North.
Investment at record levels, the two child cap removed, fiscal devolution on the way.
#Budget25 #NorthernView @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social
@jpspencer.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The key message for me is here....
Overall, in times that can often feel gloomy, this is a good Budget for the North.
Investment at record levels, the two child cap removed, fiscal devolution on the way.
#Budget25 #NorthernView @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social
@jpspencer.bsky.social
Overall, in times that can often feel gloomy, this is a good Budget for the North.
Investment at record levels, the two child cap removed, fiscal devolution on the way.
#Budget25 #NorthernView @mainstreamlabour.bsky.social
@jpspencer.bsky.social
Reposted by JP Spencer
Think Reeves can chalk this up as a win. A big win actually.
U.K 30 YEAR GILT YIELD DOWN 9.8 BPS TO 5.23%, IN BIGGEST ONE DAY FALL SINCE APRIL
November 26, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Think Reeves can chalk this up as a win. A big win actually.
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What does the Budget mean for the North?
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
For me, the Chancellor's decision to maintain the highest sustained level of investment in decades is key to our future prosperity.
It means around £30bn per year of additional investment compared to the old plans. That's 12 West Yorkshire trams!
1/2
Reposted by JP Spencer
A Labour budget 😊
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A Labour budget 😊
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by JP Spencer
🥳 Brilliant news that the government are consulting on giving mayors the power to implement a levy on overnight stays.
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth
England’s mayors will be able to invest in transport, infrastructure, and the visitor economy through a new levy on overnight stays.
www.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🥳 Brilliant news that the government are consulting on giving mayors the power to implement a levy on overnight stays.
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by JP Spencer
Local taxation and devolution, in England
🥳 Brilliant news that the government are consulting on giving mayors the power to implement a levy on overnight stays.
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth
England’s mayors will be able to invest in transport, infrastructure, and the visitor economy through a new levy on overnight stays.
www.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Local taxation and devolution, in England
🥳 Brilliant news that the government are consulting on giving mayors the power to implement a levy on overnight stays.
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Levy on overnight trips will help mayors invest in local growth
England’s mayors will be able to invest in transport, infrastructure, and the visitor economy through a new levy on overnight stays.
www.gov.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🥳 Brilliant news that the government are consulting on giving mayors the power to implement a levy on overnight stays.
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
📈 More power and resources in places means that communities can take charge of their own destiny.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by JP Spencer
I am going to unjustifiably take credit for this:
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I am going to unjustifiably take credit for this:
Reposted by JP Spencer
Rotherham has been one of the fastest growing parts of the North in recent years. Find out more about this - and the wider South Yorkshire economy - in the thread and post below.
👇
👇
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Rotherham has been one of the fastest growing parts of the North in recent years. Find out more about this - and the wider South Yorkshire economy - in the thread and post below.
👇
👇
Reposted by JP Spencer
Reposted by JP Spencer
Looks like they *did* get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook.
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 23, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Looks like they *did* get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook.
Rotherham has been one of the fastest growing parts of the North in recent years. Find out more about this - and the wider South Yorkshire economy - in the thread and post below.
👇
👇
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Rotherham has been one of the fastest growing parts of the North in recent years. Find out more about this - and the wider South Yorkshire economy - in the thread and post below.
👇
👇
Reposted by JP Spencer
'why are Labour banning peaceful protest.'
The peaceful protest:
The peaceful protest:
November 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
'why are Labour banning peaceful protest.'
The peaceful protest:
The peaceful protest:
Reposted by JP Spencer
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
Reposted by JP Spencer
This is really interesting, JP. Any thoughts as to why Rotherham's productivity started climbing in 2021 specifically? I know that's around the time that the mayoralty got full powers but I'd be loath to claim a direct association...
Read more about the rise of Rotherham and South Yorkshire’s economy in the new post below.
futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...
6/6
futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...
6/6
What lies behind the rise of Rotherham?
Understanding the economy of South Yorkshire - and what the future might hold
futurenorth.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
This is really interesting, JP. Any thoughts as to why Rotherham's productivity started climbing in 2021 specifically? I know that's around the time that the mayoralty got full powers but I'd be loath to claim a direct association...
Reposted by JP Spencer
Not just Greater Manchester that has a growing regional economy, also Liverpool City region.
bsky.app/profile/jpsp...
bsky.app/profile/jpsp...
The Liverpool City Region has been growing strongly in recent years – not too far behind Greater Manchester and third in the leaderboard of Northern productivity growth.
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
But why is this the case? And what can we learn for the UK productivity problem?
Short 🧵
1/5
November 20, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Not just Greater Manchester that has a growing regional economy, also Liverpool City region.
bsky.app/profile/jpsp...
bsky.app/profile/jpsp...
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
Reposted by JP Spencer
Ever since @jpspencer.bsky.social published the blog about the trains improving the whole system feels like it has fallen apart, even on a morning
November 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Ever since @jpspencer.bsky.social published the blog about the trains improving the whole system feels like it has fallen apart, even on a morning
Reposted by JP Spencer
I often struggle to come up with tangible examples of English devolution but this is one. Greater Manchester is doing its own £1bn regeneration investment fund
on.ft.com/43InqRk
on.ft.com/43InqRk
Greater Manchester to launch £1bn public investment fund
[FREE TO READ] City region aims to capitalise on sustained economic growth with first fund of its kind
on.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
I often struggle to come up with tangible examples of English devolution but this is one. Greater Manchester is doing its own £1bn regeneration investment fund
on.ft.com/43InqRk
on.ft.com/43InqRk