@johnclancy

Visiting Prof. Birmingham City Uni Business Sch; former Leader, Birmingham City Council; former solicitor; 25 yrs a comprehensive school teacher; genealogist.

 North Wales, UK
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com
Joined April 2008
  • Tweets6.2K
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  • Followers4K
639Media
How Birmingham City Council went ‘bankrupt’ being unnecessarily forced to pay hundreds of £millions into its pension fund to pay off a deficit which never existed. It was always in surplus. Labour didn’t listen. They’re not listening now. thisismoney.co.uk/money/mark…

Taxpayers 'fleeced' in Birmingham City Council pension fund blunder

It declared itself bankrupt in 2023, although it would have avoided this but for an accounting blunder by its pension fund managers that led to unnecessary top-up payments into the scheme.

thisismoney.co.uk
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Britain’s automotive supply chain doesn’t need to die. It needs a new mission. @dgbailey's new blog: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… "Capabilities embedded in the automotive supply chain have not suddenly become worthless. They are capabilities in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, electronics, software, materials, batteries, autonomous systems and complex supply-chain management" "This is what we mean by reverse conversion: the deliberate mobilisation and reorientation of established civilian industrial capabilities towards defence and dual-use production." "Defence itself is changing. Modern military capability increasingly depends upon technologies and production systems that have strong civilian applications: electronics, communications, autonomous systems, drones, advanced materials, batteries, power electronics, software and sophisticated manufacturing."
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof. John Clancy@johnclancy
Sep 21
Britain’s automotive supply chain doesn’t need to die. It needs a new mission. @dgbailey's new blog today: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… "Capabilities embedded in the automotive supply chain have not suddenly become worthless. They are capabilities in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, electronics, software, materials, batteries, autonomous systems and complex supply-chain management" "This is what we mean by reverse conversion: the deliberate mobilisation and reorientation of established civilian industrial capabilities towards defence and dual-use production." "Defence itself is changing. Modern military capability increasingly depends upon technologies and production systems that have strong civilian applications: electronics, communications, autonomous systems, drones, advanced materials, batteries, power electronics, software and sophisticated manufacturing."
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Britain’s automotive supply chain doesn’t need to die. It needs a new mission. @dgbailey's new blog today: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… "Capabilities embedded in the automotive supply chain have not suddenly become worthless. They are capabilities in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, electronics, software, materials, batteries, autonomous systems and complex supply-chain management" "This is what we mean by reverse conversion: the deliberate mobilisation and reorientation of established civilian industrial capabilities towards defence and dual-use production." "Defence itself is changing. Modern military capability increasingly depends upon technologies and production systems that have strong civilian applications: electronics, communications, autonomous systems, drones, advanced materials, batteries, power electronics, software and sophisticated manufacturing."
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Mike Olley@olleyatGRIT
Sep 20
Monday
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof David Bailey@dgbailey
Sep 20
Replying to @dsmitheconomics
Great read. I can see the appeal of Help to Buy, but boosting demand without increasing supply risks pushing up prices. We need more homes to be built, particularly affordable & social housing, which would increase supply & help moderate prices and rents.
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National coverage of LGPS surplus this morning, including my comments on how £10B a year can be found by government - by use of this taxpayer-owned surplus - for huge fiscal headroom, as @dgbailey &I pointed out as far back as Nov 2025. thisismoney.co.uk/money/mark… Standardising the national scheme’s assumptions &calculations at UK level will show 100s of £billions are deliberately hidden in plain sight, mainly for the hidden benefit of investment bankers. OBR, NAO and HMT need to ensure this is on the books, for budgetary purposes. It rests unnecessary limbo.

Labour eyes new attack on town hall pensions

It comes after Powell did a U-turn and agreed to fully fund a 3.5% pay increase for teachers to head off the threat of strikes, costing an extra £500m.

thisismoney.co.uk
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@dgbailey and my blog last November alerting then UK govt to the fiscal opportunity blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b…
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The Death of British Manufacturing? HOW LONG BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF FACTORIES? midlandsgrit.co.uk/p/the-dea… @dgbailey’s prognosis on ‘re-industrialisation’ and UK Car manufacturing. As ever, Olley distills it with aplomb. Burnham needs Bailey.
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof David Bailey@dgbailey
Sep 7
JLR job cuts are a symptom of British car industry storm - University of Birmingham birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/j…

JLR job cuts are a symptom of British car industry storm - University of Birmingham

Professor David Bailey examines what the job-cut announcement from Jaguar Land Rover tells us about the British automotive sector.

birmingham.ac.uk
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JLR Job Cuts: Britain’s Car Industry Is Running on Empty @dgbailey’s blog today blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… ‘The govt. should treat the current situation as a strategic industrial emergency. Get industrial energy costs down. ‘Give manufacturers a more realistic and flexible route through the EV transition. Provide long-term certainty for investment. And substantially increase the incentives for companies to invest in UK production, batteries and supply chains.’ ‘…a warning that Britain’s automotive industry is being hit by a near perfect storm. The consequences could extend far beyond JLR.’
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So sorry to hear that former West Brom East MP, Peter Snape, Baron Snape has passed away. Peter and Lynda Waltho were always so patient and supportive and wise throughout the time I did politics. And often thoroughly spoiled those they knew, like me. I recall being treated to a memorable evening dinner with them at The House of Lords. And a great Stopfordian too! We both haled from the same place. And Stockport County ran in his blood too. Deepest condolences and thoughts to Lynda and the family. Will light a candle for you all.
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof. John Clancy@johnclancy
Jul 20
Last Healey Chancellorship ended up at the IMF, of course!!🤣
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof David Bailey@dgbailey
Jul 21
Time to end the EV charging divide - cut VAT on public charging too. New blog blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… @uob_business @ukandeu @smmt
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
paulmdale@paulmdale
Jul 20
Replying to @johnclancy
Indeed. Denis, on his way to US to plead for extra help, was diverted to Blackpool to address Lab conference where he had to speak from the floor as he wasn’t a member of the NEC and couldn’t speak on the podium. No wonder Labour lost the 1979 election.
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The Americans and Trump will be delighted to welcome Ray Barone/Romano as the UK’s new Foreign Secretary. Everybody Loves Ed.
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Prof. John Clancy retweeted
Prof David Bailey@dgbailey
Jul 20
Goodbye Rachel Reeves as Chancellor. Here’s my recent blog assessing her tenure: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/b… @UoB_Business @UKandEU
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Last Healey Chancellorship ended up at the IMF, of course!!🤣
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