Torsten Bell
@torstenbell.bsky.social
Member of Parliament for Swansea West
There’s a long way to go to rebuild this country. But the job is underway and we’ll get there, one step at a time.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas everyone.
December 24, 2025 at 1:36 PM
There’s a long way to go to rebuild this country. But the job is underway and we’ll get there, one step at a time.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Everyone Deserves a Christmas 👇
December 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Everyone Deserves a Christmas 👇
Morning. It’s a good one.
December 20, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Morning. It’s a good one.
I've just been in Sketty, meeting people at my last surgery of 2025.
Don't worry if you didn't make it along this year, there are plenty more to come in 2026. Drop an email to torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to come along.
Until then - Merry Christmas.
Don't worry if you didn't make it along this year, there are plenty more to come in 2026. Drop an email to torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to come along.
Until then - Merry Christmas.
December 19, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I've just been in Sketty, meeting people at my last surgery of 2025.
Don't worry if you didn't make it along this year, there are plenty more to come in 2026. Drop an email to torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to come along.
Until then - Merry Christmas.
Don't worry if you didn't make it along this year, there are plenty more to come in 2026. Drop an email to torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to come along.
Until then - Merry Christmas.
The Employment Rights Bill has passed. This is about good work for the many not the few:
- Exploitative zero hours contracts banned
- Sick pay extended to low earners
- Notice of shifts
- Family leave strengthened
Change promised.
Change delivered.
- Exploitative zero hours contracts banned
- Sick pay extended to low earners
- Notice of shifts
- Family leave strengthened
Change promised.
Change delivered.
December 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The Employment Rights Bill has passed. This is about good work for the many not the few:
- Exploitative zero hours contracts banned
- Sick pay extended to low earners
- Notice of shifts
- Family leave strengthened
Change promised.
Change delivered.
- Exploitative zero hours contracts banned
- Sick pay extended to low earners
- Notice of shifts
- Family leave strengthened
Change promised.
Change delivered.
Still no public apology from @telegraph.co.uk for having published a lie they then had to delete. But one bit of progress - they’ve emailed in advance with their latest nonsense…
Good to see @dailymail.co.uk @thetimes.com and @telegraphnews.bsky.social all delete their articles - sad the lies went up in the first place
Totally untrue garbage from @thetimes.com & @dailymail.co.uk today - smear dressed up as journalism. Some facts:
- There is no “£900 desk”
- my constituency office has Ikea desks/chairs
- we significantly underspent the new MPs allowance to set up an office
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
- There is no “£900 desk”
- my constituency office has Ikea desks/chairs
- we significantly underspent the new MPs allowance to set up an office
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
December 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Still no public apology from @telegraph.co.uk for having published a lie they then had to delete. But one bit of progress - they’ve emailed in advance with their latest nonsense…
Sloth Coffee fuelled Uplands door knocking this morning. Thanks to everyone that made the time to talk - covered everything from NHS training, to pensions, parking and how employers support neurodiverse workforces
December 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Sloth Coffee fuelled Uplands door knocking this morning. Thanks to everyone that made the time to talk - covered everything from NHS training, to pensions, parking and how employers support neurodiverse workforces
If you mix brilliant volunteers with a stunning view you get Swansea Bay Parkrun. Get involved www.parkrun.org.uk/swanseabay/
December 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
If you mix brilliant volunteers with a stunning view you get Swansea Bay Parkrun. Get involved www.parkrun.org.uk/swanseabay/
These are unacceptable delays. More affordable housing is badly needed across SW Wales. We need to see NRW and others urgently solving this problem - there’s nothing environmentally friendly about leaving thousands of families on housing waiting lists www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thousands of new-build homes on hold in west Wales pollution row
An architect says he's had to make redundancies as thousands of homes are stuck in the planning system.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
These are unacceptable delays. More affordable housing is badly needed across SW Wales. We need to see NRW and others urgently solving this problem - there’s nothing environmentally friendly about leaving thousands of families on housing waiting lists www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Proportion of young people using drugs halved this century - fall mainly occurred during the 2000s. Reminder from ONS of some progress that doesn’t get much attention www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
December 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Proportion of young people using drugs halved this century - fall mainly occurred during the 2000s. Reminder from ONS of some progress that doesn’t get much attention www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
We’re now up to 22 ex-Tory MPs joining reform. It’s not subtle - every day clearer this is just a rebranding of the nutty fringe of the Conservative Party offering to rerun the Truss/Johnson omnishambles
December 11, 2025 at 8:44 AM
We’re now up to 22 ex-Tory MPs joining reform. It’s not subtle - every day clearer this is just a rebranding of the nutty fringe of the Conservative Party offering to rerun the Truss/Johnson omnishambles
The ‘could’ is doing a lot of work. Data refers to ALL foreign born parents NOT those on UC. Article admits as much but 34 paras in so 0% chance a reader will reach the admission: “It is impossible to say how many immigrant families will benefit from lifting the cap www.thesun.co.uk/news/3755544...
Nearly 350k migrant families could get extra welfare handouts thanks to Reeves
NEARLY 350,000 foreign-born families could get extra welfare handouts because of Rachel Reeves’ Budget, analysis shows. And almost 200,000 of them are from just ten countries. Big immigrant familie…
www.thesun.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The ‘could’ is doing a lot of work. Data refers to ALL foreign born parents NOT those on UC. Article admits as much but 34 paras in so 0% chance a reader will reach the admission: “It is impossible to say how many immigrant families will benefit from lifting the cap www.thesun.co.uk/news/3755544...
Some facts:
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
Telegraph headline: Employment slumps to 14-year low
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Some facts:
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
- Tory govt average employment = 73.8%
- Labour govt average employment = 75%
Telegraph headline: Employment slumps to 14-year low
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Telegraph headline: Employment slumps to 14-year low
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Calling all residents of Mynyddbach, let's have a cuppa ☕
Tea With Torsten is a chance for us to meet, and for you to hear what I’ve been doing as your MP over the last few months.
Email torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to RSVP and don't forget to include your postcode.
Tea With Torsten is a chance for us to meet, and for you to hear what I’ve been doing as your MP over the last few months.
Email torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to RSVP and don't forget to include your postcode.
December 2, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Calling all residents of Mynyddbach, let's have a cuppa ☕
Tea With Torsten is a chance for us to meet, and for you to hear what I’ve been doing as your MP over the last few months.
Email torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to RSVP and don't forget to include your postcode.
Tea With Torsten is a chance for us to meet, and for you to hear what I’ve been doing as your MP over the last few months.
Email torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to RSVP and don't forget to include your postcode.
Reposted by Torsten Bell
Excellent thread on what it takes to increase economic growth and what the govt are doing about it
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
December 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Excellent thread on what it takes to increase economic growth and what the govt are doing about it
Reposted by Torsten Bell
Clarity is kindness! As many others have already said, this is well worth a read. More case-making threads please from politicians of all parties. Let's debate substance.
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Clarity is kindness! As many others have already said, this is well worth a read. More case-making threads please from politicians of all parties. Let's debate substance.
There's an Amber warning for rain in place for much of South Wales today, including Swansea.
Severe rainfall could see flooding, travel disruption, and a potential risk to life.
Stay safe and follow the guidance - it's not a day for taking risks.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Severe rainfall could see flooding, travel disruption, and a potential risk to life.
Stay safe and follow the guidance - it's not a day for taking risks.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Met Office maps show where and when Wales will get hammered by severe rainfall
Torrential rain is on the way across the country on Monday, with a rare amber weather warning coming into force
www.walesonline.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
There's an Amber warning for rain in place for much of South Wales today, including Swansea.
Severe rainfall could see flooding, travel disruption, and a potential risk to life.
Stay safe and follow the guidance - it's not a day for taking risks.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Severe rainfall could see flooding, travel disruption, and a potential risk to life.
Stay safe and follow the guidance - it's not a day for taking risks.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...
Reposted by Torsten Bell
Agree or disagree (I agree), superb to see a politician do actual policy
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Agree or disagree (I agree), superb to see a politician do actual policy
Reposted by Torsten Bell
I agree with Torsten.
The most important economic policy of the government is high and sustained investment.
The £30bn gap between the old govt plan and the latest plan is the equivalent of 12 West Yorkshire trams every single year.
More Budget thoughts: futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-does-...
The most important economic policy of the government is high and sustained investment.
The £30bn gap between the old govt plan and the latest plan is the equivalent of 12 West Yorkshire trams every single year.
More Budget thoughts: futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-does-...
November 30, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I agree with Torsten.
The most important economic policy of the government is high and sustained investment.
The £30bn gap between the old govt plan and the latest plan is the equivalent of 12 West Yorkshire trams every single year.
More Budget thoughts: futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-does-...
The most important economic policy of the government is high and sustained investment.
The £30bn gap between the old govt plan and the latest plan is the equivalent of 12 West Yorkshire trams every single year.
More Budget thoughts: futurenorth.substack.com/p/what-does-...
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Rightly lots of debates about growth this weekend - rightly because it was low productivity growth that saw wages entirely flatline during the 2010s.
Labour's Budget is for every street in Britain.
👉 Cutting energy bills
👉 Lifting children out of poverty
👉 Rebuilding public services
While our opponents hide behind cheap, divisive politics, we're getting on with the job: changing Britain.
👉 Cutting energy bills
👉 Lifting children out of poverty
👉 Rebuilding public services
While our opponents hide behind cheap, divisive politics, we're getting on with the job: changing Britain.
November 28, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Labour's Budget is for every street in Britain.
👉 Cutting energy bills
👉 Lifting children out of poverty
👉 Rebuilding public services
While our opponents hide behind cheap, divisive politics, we're getting on with the job: changing Britain.
👉 Cutting energy bills
👉 Lifting children out of poverty
👉 Rebuilding public services
While our opponents hide behind cheap, divisive politics, we're getting on with the job: changing Britain.
After today, the child poverty charts I spent 15 years looking at rise under the Conservatives will be coming down. Not in a chart - in Swansea and every other part of the country.
Life is more complicated now. But I'll take that any day.
Life is more complicated now. But I'll take that any day.
November 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
After today, the child poverty charts I spent 15 years looking at rise under the Conservatives will be coming down. Not in a chart - in Swansea and every other part of the country.
Life is more complicated now. But I'll take that any day.
Life is more complicated now. But I'll take that any day.
The two-child cap pushed half of children in larger families into poverty. Today, Labour abolishes it.
I stood for office to stop drawing charts and start changing them. This change will see the biggest drop in child poverty of any parliament on record.
Know what that is? Hope.
I stood for office to stop drawing charts and start changing them. This change will see the biggest drop in child poverty of any parliament on record.
Know what that is? Hope.
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The two-child cap pushed half of children in larger families into poverty. Today, Labour abolishes it.
I stood for office to stop drawing charts and start changing them. This change will see the biggest drop in child poverty of any parliament on record.
Know what that is? Hope.
I stood for office to stop drawing charts and start changing them. This change will see the biggest drop in child poverty of any parliament on record.
Know what that is? Hope.
A sunny Hafod for this morning’s door-knocking and case work collecting
November 15, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A sunny Hafod for this morning’s door-knocking and case work collecting