JP Spencer

Andy Burnham says when £1bn fund will be felt across Greater Manchester More than 30 projects - three in each borough - have been named as the first to benefit from the £1bn fund

Investment in every part of Greater Manchester 🎯

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater...

'why are Labour banning peaceful protest.'

The peaceful protest:

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.

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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...

Not just Greater Manchester that has a growing regional economy, also Liverpool City region.

bsky.app/profile/jpsp...

Am saying that the impact of innovation from the AMRC might be coming through elsewhere in the statistics eg Rotherham productivity overall, increases in professional activities etc. But views welcome!

What lies behind the rise of Rotherham? Understanding the economy of South Yorkshire - and what the future might hold

Read more about the rise of Rotherham and South Yorkshire’s economy in the new post below.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-lies-...

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However, Rotherham – home of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre – might be a sign that something else going on? Head office and consultancy activities have been adding jobs there. And the information and communication sector has been growing very strongly in SY too.

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Turning to productivity and thinking about changes in employment and changes in output, we can see that most sectors have been adding either one or the other.

However, manufacturing has declined in both jobs and GVA (with productivity staying constant) which is disappointing.

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Looking at the top ten sectors in terms of output, roughly those linked to property and professional activities have grown, whilst manufacturing and public sector related sectors have relatively struggled.

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South Yorkshire sits in the middle of the Northern productivity leaderboard for 2019 to 2023. So we would expect some sectors to have done relatively well, whilst others might have declined.

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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

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

Sorry, should have known would be tempting fate…

Though have to say my own journeys have been fine - including this morning!

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

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

Ticket touts’ worst nightmare has finally come true in the UK Government has officially announced ban on reselling for profit, described by minister as ‘no-brainer’

Ticket touts’ worst nightmare has finally come true in the UK

Blyth Reform councillor Barry Elliott's property firms owe customers £140,000 Property companies owned or run by Barry Elliott owe tens of thousands of pounds to customers.

This story about a Reform councillor in Northumberland has about three different massive stories in it.

He's accused of ripping off his constituents to the tune of £140k.

He owes his own council nearly £40k in unpaid tax.

His own council is suing him.

Why Manchester should bid for the Olympics Plus why the listed building system is not fit for purpose

Why Manchester should bid for the Olympics <— a new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA

(Also featuring a fascinating chat with architect Ivan Jordan on the problem with the heritage building system!)

www.abundancepod.com/p/manchester...

Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.

We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).

But that doesn't tell the full story.

Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):

'Bread, circuses, and polling errors: Are we truly measuring what matters?' - LabourList Pollsters who ask questions that add nuance are rewarded with a richer look at the public’s outlook argues Labour Together's Calum Weir.

Essential reading from Calum Weir - on findings from some innovative polling from Labour Together.

His words
"Immigration is salient, polarising and important.
Cost of living is foundational, unifying and in some ways, even more important."

labourlist.org/2025/11/immi...

@cwp-weir.bsky.social

Interesting - I’ve been part of a community sponsorship group in my area and would be great if the model could be increased!

Community sponsorship: guidance for prospective sponsors

Assume via safe and legal routes - we’ll have to wait and see whether these are expanded. For example, I’ve been part of a community sponsorship group in my local area that allowed an Afghan family to relocate here.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Reading the detail - but am no expert on this policy area - also sounds like setting up ‘new specific refugee settlement routes’ (is this the same as demands for more safe and legal routes?) and allowing asylum seekers to work?

In recent weeks I’ve had a theory - that the rail service in the North of England might have improved slightly.

So I looked into the data to see if my hunch accords with reality. Is there a better service? And has public ownership made a difference?

👇

Regularly use trains in the North of England. Mainly the Airedale line.

My own anecdotal experience is also similar: a measured improvement.

Fares complexity remains an issue among the state owned operators: LNER, Northern Trains and TPE.

In recent weeks I’ve had a theory - that the rail service in the North of England might have improved slightly.

So I looked into the data to see if my hunch accords with reality. Is there a better service? And has public ownership made a difference?

👇

Cancelled trains

🚆Has the North’s rail service improved?

📈 I’ve had a look into the punctuality and cancellation statistics for Northern and Transpennine Express (TPE) as my recent experiences suggested things might have got better – from a low base back in 2022 as pictured!

Short 🧵

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The piece floats the idea of taking the energy levies off bills and putting onto the state (presumably funded by this), would that help offset wholly or partially in terms of incentives if makes electricity cheaper?

Is the North’s rail service improving? And public ownership of the railways under the spotlight

More detail on the history and statistics in the full post available here.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/is-the-nor...

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My experience is borne out by the statistics: things have improved slightly. Cancellations are down – though there have been timetable reductions too.

Is public control making a difference? Too soon to tell. Either way, there is room to improve to get the operators up to the national average.

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