@jpspencer
Economist. Author at Future North writing about the North of England (link below). Devolution Policy, Labour Together. Posts about policy, politics and the Pennines (and beyond). 📍 West Yorkshire. 🧭 futurenorth.substack.com
Less than a week left ⏰
A month ago we said: if 500 people backed the idea, we’d launch a new local newspaper for West Yorkshire based in Leeds.
Overnight, we’ve just surpassed 400 pledges 💫
That means we’re within touching distance - but nothing is guaranteed yet.
Happy New Financial Year?
April means a new financial year, including new ‘integrated settlements’ for four mayors across the North.
Have written about this big change to how mayors work, whether we need a ‘Barnett Formula for Mayors’ and more.
futurenorth.substack.com/p/happy-new-...
Mayoring, in the devolved bits of England
Happy New Financial Year?
April means a new financial year, including new ‘integrated settlements’ for four mayors across the North.
Have written about this big change to how mayors work, whether we need a ‘Barnett Formula for Mayors’ and more.
futurenorth.substack.com/p/happy-new-...
Have been a bit frustrated by some of the conversation about Labour's voter coalition.
I've written about who the "Hero Voters" actually were, how we won them, and what we need to do to earn their support next time.
chriscurtismk.substack.com/p/who-actual...
BREAKING: Prime Minister Keir Starmer gives an update on Iran and the Middle East
He says he will not give in to 'pressure' and will 'stand firm' in his principles
Starmer also insisted he 'stands by' the decision not to join the initial US strikes
It’s been a remarkable few weeks and this morning we’ve just hit 300 pledges 👏🏼
We wanted to share some of the messages we’ve received along the way. They’ve meant a huge amount.
New post just out
"Is 'deliverism' dead?"
A guest post from the brilliant @dmk1793.bsky.social on one of the main points of strategic confusion within the Labour party.
Is winning just about delivery or more about narrative?
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...
Sobering to think that we would have joined a reckless war in the middle east over the weekend had Badenoch or Farage been PM.
And we would be refusing to embrace an energy transition away from reliance on a deeply unstable region.
Starmer's sobriety definitely an asset in the last few days.
*Representation of the People Bill update*
Steve Reed has just announced: 'We will repeal in full the power for government to impose a strategy and policy statement on the Electoral Commission'.
A very welcome change. I set out last week why it was needed.
constitution-unit.com/2026/02/26/t...
Biggest contribution of AI to science so far: AlphaFold, which has solved problem of predicting protein 3d structure from 1d sequence.
But there are other problems of protein folding: understanding mechanisms & pathways, misfolding, & role of disordered proteins: my blogpost
softmachines.org?p=3258
Making a coffee just got cheaper ☕
After writing 25 posts and gaining over 800 subscribers, I’m taking a little break for some parental leave. Have written some reflections on the past six months and my highlights.
open.substack.com/pub/futureno...
Thanks Sam!
After writing 25 posts and gaining over 800 subscribers, I’m taking a little break for some parental leave. Have written some reflections on the past six months and my highlights.
open.substack.com/pub/futureno...
"In the Industrial Revolution, every big city in the north had a local champion newspaper."
@tomforth.co.uk thinks cities like Leeds deserves one again. 👑
British Growth and the Graduate Premium. tomforth.co.uk/graduateprem...
Ignore the professional gloomsters and doomsters.
- Borrowing ⬇️ (record surplus last month)
- Inflation (and interest rates) ⬇️
- UK fastest growing European G7 economy
- Retail sales up 4.5% over the year
There’s lots more to do but Britain’s economy is on the mend.
NEW PAPER from @labourtogether.bsky.social argues we should allow Thames Water to go down the drain.
The alternative is a fudged deal that softens pollution targets and sees large returns for hedge funds. This will fuel calls for nationalising the industry, and the uncertainty could push up bills.
Very interesting to see Labour Together call for Thames Water to be allowed to fail, and bought out of special administration.
This is something I floated a few years ago (on the old place), but consensus always seemed to be it was too expensive. Interesting to see a different view…
Our new report is out today! Me and @aditisriram.bsky.social looked at the links between transport and growth, and tried to answer the evergreen question of why Leeds still doesn't have a tram (among other things)
1/🧵
Great report from IPPR on how we should be empowering places to get on with building mass transit systems in their areas.
The workload facing MPs and their staff is growing, in ways that aren't visible to the public: casework and the inbox.
For @thehousemag.bsky.social, I delved into what the workload looks like, why it's growing, and what this means for how MPs can balance the different aspects of their role
Reform's polling is ~the lowest its been since last year's local elections
At long last, we’re launching in Leeds! Ever since I started The Mill, people have asked us to create a publication across the Pennines.
If 500 people pledge to become members, we’re going to hire two journalists and do it. Please share with Leeds friends.
leeds.ghost.io
I also wrote about the work of the Mill Media group and their expansion across the North and beyond. Will soon be adding another dot to that map!
bsky.app/profile/jpsp...
Very excited to see that Mill Media are looking to set up in West Yorkshire. See more detail below and how to support the launch.
Is clean energy taking off in the Humber? Read more about the area in the thread below. 👇
