Prof. John Clancy
@johnmclancy.bsky.social
Visiting Prof at Birmingham City University Business School, former Leader, Birmingham City Council, former Solicitor, former English, Drama &Media teacher in inner-urban comprehensives for 25yrs. Also a genealogist.
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com
Reposted by Prof. John Clancy
The West Mids Pension Fund; the vastly overfunded £22bn Elephant in the Room that broke @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social : latest, breaking news blog with @johnclancy.bsky.social @https://blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260102b
Blogs from the Blackstuff - Professor John Clancy and Professor David Bailey
Blogs from the Blackstuff blogs
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The West Mids Pension Fund; the vastly overfunded £22bn Elephant in the Room that broke @bhamcitycouncil.bsky.social : latest, breaking news blog with @johnclancy.bsky.social @https://blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260102b
EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS - WMPF insider spills the beans to BFTB: WMidlands Pension Fund Chaos as SURPLUS hits £11BILLION! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
It’s 200% funded.
Apparently broke Birmingham Council has £2.5B pension surplus. Open Warfare at WMPF. FCA Tory WMPF Cllr tells all.
It’s 200% funded.
Apparently broke Birmingham Council has £2.5B pension surplus. Open Warfare at WMPF. FCA Tory WMPF Cllr tells all.
January 3, 2026 at 8:56 AM
EXCLUSIVE BREAKING NEWS - WMPF insider spills the beans to BFTB: WMidlands Pension Fund Chaos as SURPLUS hits £11BILLION! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
It’s 200% funded.
Apparently broke Birmingham Council has £2.5B pension surplus. Open Warfare at WMPF. FCA Tory WMPF Cllr tells all.
It’s 200% funded.
Apparently broke Birmingham Council has £2.5B pension surplus. Open Warfare at WMPF. FCA Tory WMPF Cllr tells all.
Reposted by Prof. John Clancy
West Midlands Pension Fund insider spills the beans:
an £11 billion surplus.
It's 200% funded! New blog with John Clancy. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
an £11 billion surplus.
It's 200% funded! New blog with John Clancy. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
January 2, 2026 at 8:43 PM
West Midlands Pension Fund insider spills the beans:
an £11 billion surplus.
It's 200% funded! New blog with John Clancy. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
an £11 billion surplus.
It's 200% funded! New blog with John Clancy. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com//bftbblog260...
Reposted by Prof. John Clancy
'Embarrassment of riches' © @tobyn.bsky.social, laid bare in Birmingham - huge leaps in LGPS Valuation discount rates reported to pension funds ctees across LGPS in last few weeks. Scandalous, nightmarish miscalculations last time round come home to roost blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
December 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
'Embarrassment of riches' © @tobyn.bsky.social, laid bare in Birmingham - huge leaps in LGPS Valuation discount rates reported to pension funds ctees across LGPS in last few weeks. Scandalous, nightmarish miscalculations last time round come home to roost blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
'Embarrassment of riches' © @tobyn.bsky.social, laid bare in Birmingham - huge leaps in LGPS Valuation discount rates reported to pension funds ctees across LGPS in last few weeks. Scandalous, nightmarish miscalculations last time round come home to roost blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
December 26, 2025 at 12:14 PM
'Embarrassment of riches' © @tobyn.bsky.social, laid bare in Birmingham - huge leaps in LGPS Valuation discount rates reported to pension funds ctees across LGPS in last few weeks. Scandalous, nightmarish miscalculations last time round come home to roost blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
ICYMI @dgbailey.bsky.social & my Chrismas Eve blog: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
£1.9 Billion wake-up call for Birmingham. If it acts quickly& responds correctly, it can get £400 million back of its £1.9B Pension Fund surplus and into its revenues over next 3 years. The rest from 2029+
£1.9 Billion wake-up call for Birmingham. If it acts quickly& responds correctly, it can get £400 million back of its £1.9B Pension Fund surplus and into its revenues over next 3 years. The rest from 2029+
December 26, 2025 at 11:52 AM
ICYMI @dgbailey.bsky.social & my Chrismas Eve blog: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2512...
£1.9 Billion wake-up call for Birmingham. If it acts quickly& responds correctly, it can get £400 million back of its £1.9B Pension Fund surplus and into its revenues over next 3 years. The rest from 2029+
£1.9 Billion wake-up call for Birmingham. If it acts quickly& responds correctly, it can get £400 million back of its £1.9B Pension Fund surplus and into its revenues over next 3 years. The rest from 2029+
*BREAKING* We reveal total paid out in mgt expenses to 97 UK Local Gvt Pension funds last yr was record-high of *£2.7Billion*. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251120 £2.4B in investment fees for pathetic 3.3% return. Paid for mainly through council tax. How much did your local fund shell out?
November 20, 2025 at 8:23 AM
*BREAKING* We reveal total paid out in mgt expenses to 97 UK Local Gvt Pension funds last yr was record-high of *£2.7Billion*. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251120 £2.4B in investment fees for pathetic 3.3% return. Paid for mainly through council tax. How much did your local fund shell out?
@theguardian.com @guardianheather.bsky.social Yday's blog showing how Chancellor highly likely has £10B more fiscal headroom than she, OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace (re)valuations - if she acts fast! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
@theguardian.com @guardianheather.bsky.social Yday's blog showing how Chancellor highly likely has £10B more fiscal headroom than she, OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace (re)valuations - if she acts fast! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social Yday's blog showing how Chancellor highly likely has at least £10B more fiscal headroom than she realises, or OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace valuations - if she acts fast!
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
@newstatesman1913.bsky.social Yday's blog showing how Chancellor highly likely has at least £10B more fiscal headroom than she realises, or OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace valuations - if she acts fast!
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
Yesterday's blog showing how the Chancellor highly likely has at least £10B more fiscal headroom than she realises, or OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace (re)valuations - if she acts fast!
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
November 10, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Yesterday's blog showing how the Chancellor highly likely has at least £10B more fiscal headroom than she realises, or OBR&Treasury realise, from the 97 UK Local Govt. Pension Funds' current snail's pace (re)valuations - if she acts fast!
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2511...
Councils &employers in the LGPS will see £10B windfall if 97 UK Local Govt Pension Funds get their sums right.
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
November 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Councils &employers in the LGPS will see £10B windfall if 97 UK Local Govt Pension Funds get their sums right.
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Councils &employers in the LGPS will see £10B windfall if 97 UK Local Govt Pension Funds get their sums right.
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
Just because snail’s-pace 3yr valuations still ongoing doesn’t mean OBR &Treasury shouldn’t project now probable headroom outcome for Chancellor! blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251109
UK LGPS Assets now stand at £476Billion. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251024
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
October 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
UK LGPS Assets now stand at £476Billion. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251024
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
October 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
UK LGPS Assets now stand at £476Billion. blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251024
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
Our updated blog following DHCLG's publication of official statistics for England &Wales.
5th biggest pension fund in the world &9th biggest sov.asset fund in the world.
We projected £475B 10 days ago. Pretty close!
Reposted by Prof. John Clancy
EXCLUSIVE: The UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
October 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
@guardianheather.bsky.social
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2510...
EXCLUSIVE: UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated &combined, first for Assets Under Investment. Now the 5th biggest global fund.
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2510...
EXCLUSIVE: UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated &combined, first for Assets Under Investment. Now the 5th biggest global fund.
October 14, 2025 at 6:07 PM
@guardianheather.bsky.social
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2510...
EXCLUSIVE: UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated &combined, first for Assets Under Investment. Now the 5th biggest global fund.
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog2510...
EXCLUSIVE: UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated &combined, first for Assets Under Investment. Now the 5th biggest global fund.
@tobyn.bsky.social @marymcd.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/john...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
chart embed codes available from [email protected]
bsky.app/profile/john...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
chart embed codes available from [email protected]
October 14, 2025 at 4:59 PM
@tobyn.bsky.social @marymcd.bsky.social
bsky.app/profile/john...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
chart embed codes available from [email protected]
bsky.app/profile/john...
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
chart embed codes available from [email protected]
EXCLUSIVE: The UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
October 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The UK's 97 Local Government Pension Funds' assets combined now worth *£475 Billion*.
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
Each fund's autumn 2025 annual report output collated and combined, first for Assets Under Investment here:
blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog251014
Back to school scandal: £1Billion (&likely £1.6B) of West Midlands schools' spending absorbed instead into £4.3B surplus of £21B West Midlands Pension Fund. £450m from FE Colleges&Unis, too. £183M from Police&Fire @dgbailey.bsky.social ‘s &my blog explains: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog250910…
September 23, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Back to school scandal: £1Billion (&likely £1.6B) of West Midlands schools' spending absorbed instead into £4.3B surplus of £21B West Midlands Pension Fund. £450m from FE Colleges&Unis, too. £183M from Police&Fire @dgbailey.bsky.social ‘s &my blog explains: blogsfromtheblackstuff.com/bftbblog250910…
@tobyn.bsky.social You presciently predicted an ‘embarrassment of riches’ for the LGPS at 2025 valuation. How about a surplus of £200B across the UK’s 97 pension funds? And assets totally just shy of £0.5 Trillion?
@dgbailey.bsky.social
john-clancy.com/blogsfromthe...
@dgbailey.bsky.social
john-clancy.com/blogsfromthe...
Blogs from the Blackstuff - Professor John Clancy and Professor David Bailey
Blogs from the Blackstuff blogs
john-clancy.com
June 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
@tobyn.bsky.social You presciently predicted an ‘embarrassment of riches’ for the LGPS at 2025 valuation. How about a surplus of £200B across the UK’s 97 pension funds? And assets totally just shy of £0.5 Trillion?
@dgbailey.bsky.social
john-clancy.com/blogsfromthe...
@dgbailey.bsky.social
john-clancy.com/blogsfromthe...
@stevewebb1.bsky.social
Our analysis of the Pensions Over-contribution crisis as it affected Birmingham City Council &Investment Management Expenses you tried to so something about, but which Tories dumped when they got their majority in 2015
centreforbrexitstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/t...
Our analysis of the Pensions Over-contribution crisis as it affected Birmingham City Council &Investment Management Expenses you tried to so something about, but which Tories dumped when they got their majority in 2015
centreforbrexitstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/t...
The £1.2 Billion iceberg that sank Birmingham City Council – who knew?
· If you think you knew why Birmingham City Council went bust, think again. · Could Birmingham actually un-bust itself overnight (and halt the cuts) at the stroke of the Deputy Prime Minister’s pen…
centreforbrexitstudiesblog.wordpress.com
February 3, 2025 at 10:28 AM
@stevewebb1.bsky.social
Our analysis of the Pensions Over-contribution crisis as it affected Birmingham City Council &Investment Management Expenses you tried to so something about, but which Tories dumped when they got their majority in 2015
centreforbrexitstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/t...
Our analysis of the Pensions Over-contribution crisis as it affected Birmingham City Council &Investment Management Expenses you tried to so something about, but which Tories dumped when they got their majority in 2015
centreforbrexitstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/t...
@stevewebb1.bsky.social
Excellent analysis from your LCP colleague Tim Gilbert this morning in the FT.
LCP should be listened to.
t.co/oV5Dj828R6
Excellent analysis from your LCP colleague Tim Gilbert this morning in the FT.
LCP should be listened to.
t.co/oV5Dj828R6
February 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM
@stevewebb1.bsky.social
Excellent analysis from your LCP colleague Tim Gilbert this morning in the FT.
LCP should be listened to.
t.co/oV5Dj828R6
Excellent analysis from your LCP colleague Tim Gilbert this morning in the FT.
LCP should be listened to.
t.co/oV5Dj828R6
BREAKING NEWS:
FT reports England’s councils to HALVE Employers’ contributions each year over next 3 yrs.
That’s £60M credited back to Birmingham each yr. Likely much more as Birmingham overpaying by so much more.
Expedited recertification &credit NOW &pause Birmingham Council
cuts now til done.
FT reports England’s councils to HALVE Employers’ contributions each year over next 3 yrs.
That’s £60M credited back to Birmingham each yr. Likely much more as Birmingham overpaying by so much more.
Expedited recertification &credit NOW &pause Birmingham Council
cuts now til done.
February 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM
BREAKING NEWS:
FT reports England’s councils to HALVE Employers’ contributions each year over next 3 yrs.
That’s £60M credited back to Birmingham each yr. Likely much more as Birmingham overpaying by so much more.
Expedited recertification &credit NOW &pause Birmingham Council
cuts now til done.
FT reports England’s councils to HALVE Employers’ contributions each year over next 3 yrs.
That’s £60M credited back to Birmingham each yr. Likely much more as Birmingham overpaying by so much more.
Expedited recertification &credit NOW &pause Birmingham Council
cuts now til done.
Reposted by Prof. John Clancy
Perhaps we should ask whether Max 🪓 Caller thinks that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is financially illiterate? www.ft.com/content/83ed...
Reeves seeks to unlock billions from UK pension schemes for investment
Ministers set to allow companies to access defined benefit scheme surpluses to help kick-start growth
www.ft.com
January 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Perhaps we should ask whether Max 🪓 Caller thinks that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is financially illiterate? www.ft.com/content/83ed...
@guardianheather.bsky.social
Letter sent yesterday to DeputyPM by @dgbailey.bsky.social &me asking for Birmingham intervention to require immediate, expedited contributions recert&refund of at least £0.5B by 3yr contributions holiday, as they’ve already been paid.
open.substack.com/pub/blogsfro...
Letter sent yesterday to DeputyPM by @dgbailey.bsky.social &me asking for Birmingham intervention to require immediate, expedited contributions recert&refund of at least £0.5B by 3yr contributions holiday, as they’ve already been paid.
open.substack.com/pub/blogsfro...
Inbox | Substack
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 10:54 AM
@guardianheather.bsky.social
Letter sent yesterday to DeputyPM by @dgbailey.bsky.social &me asking for Birmingham intervention to require immediate, expedited contributions recert&refund of at least £0.5B by 3yr contributions holiday, as they’ve already been paid.
open.substack.com/pub/blogsfro...
Letter sent yesterday to DeputyPM by @dgbailey.bsky.social &me asking for Birmingham intervention to require immediate, expedited contributions recert&refund of at least £0.5B by 3yr contributions holiday, as they’ve already been paid.
open.substack.com/pub/blogsfro...