Member of Parliament for Swansea Westhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mzi64veaok2fLast week’s Mansion House Accord update showed progress in getting pensions capital → private markets. More progress on Monday: Scottish Widows announced new investments into innovative UK biz via its partnership w Aberdeen Investments and IP Group. https://www.ipgroupplc.com/news-and-events/ip-group-news/2026/2026-11-0204 Nov 2026 10:41 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzi64veaok2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mzgdiru2bs2eAutomatic enrolment got millions of workers saving - now we're introducing a default pension that guarantees the option of an income that lasts throughout retirement Find out how Guided Retirement can give private sector workers a better deal ow.ly/XrRV5103pZV03 Nov 2026 17:12 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzgdiru2bs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mzei3pt2gk2dNEW: We are going to resurrect genuine pensions for millions of private sector workers02 Nov 2026 23:29 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzei3pt2gk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mzei3pt2gk2dNEW: We are going to resurrect genuine pensions for millions of private sector workers02 Nov 2026 23:29 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mzei3pt2gk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mz6ly225u226The Budget in 5 charts - and why there is more to economic policy than tax and spend https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/five-charts-that-explain-the-budget31 Oct 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz6ly225u226https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mz6k2ixb7s26Doesn’t get much more pleasant than this morning’s sun-baked door-knocking on Pleasant Street in Morriston. Thanks for the chats, offers of tea and recognition of the hard work our Morriston Labour councillors do31 Oct 2026 14:48 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz6k2ixb7s26https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mz3m6ugxkk24On Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the Ospreys’ first home game at the redeveloped St Helen’s. Read my reflections on this important moment and what comes next in the fight to save the club, first printed in the South Wales Evening Post. https://torstenforswansea.substack.com/p/a-new-chapter-for-the-ospreys-begins30 Oct 2026 10:48 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mz3m6ugxkk24https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3myzkeelruc2aFive charts that explain the Budget, plus some reflections on the debate coming out of it – not least the importance of understanding that economic policy is about a lot more than tax and spend. https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/five-charts-that-explain-the-budget29 Oct 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3myzkeelruc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mywqrwpgak2eThis is a Budget that steers Britain through global economic pressures. It matches immediate action to provide breathing space for firms and families today with the big changes needed to give hope for the future - from energy to defence.28 Oct 2026 12:27 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mywqrwpgak2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3myul2fizqc2sAll aboard! On Friday 6 November, I'll be taking one of my regular advice surgeries on the road - visiting five communities across Swansea in one day. 📍 Sketty 📍 Townhill 📍 Penderry 📍 Mynyddbach 📍 Morriston 📩 To book an appointment, email: torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk.27 Oct 2026 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3myul2fizqc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3myp67dw66s2fWhat does Kemi Bandenoch really have in common with Thatcher? An economic plan that sells out Britain’s tomorrow to offer a sugar rush today https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/kemis-big-idea-unfunded-tax-cuts25 Oct 2026 12:06 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3myp67dw66s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mymfcrvves2nWhat is Kemi Badenoch’s new big idea? Exactly the same as the Conservatives’ old big idea: unfunded tax cuts. It’s the lack of imagination as much as the fiscal incontinence that stands out https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/kemis-big-idea-unfunded-tax-cuts24 Oct 2026 09:35 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mymfcrvves2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3myen6ghrn22eSixty years ago, 116 children and 28 adults died when a spoil tip collapsed onto Aberfan. My grandpa was amongst those who drove out to help, but for too many it was too late. The PM has visited to honour the community and lives taken too soon. They are not forgotten.21 Oct 2026 07:34 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3myen6ghrn22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3myc2qb7pdc2qHeadlines of labour market stats reinforce resilience of UK economy this year: - employment rate ⬆️ by 0.2% to 75.3% - amongst the highest on record - unemployment rate down⬇️ 0.1% - inactivity ⬇️ 0.1% in the latest quarter (and a full 1% since 2024 election)20 Oct 2026 06:59 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3myc2qb7pdc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxyqumshg22rSeptember is always a busy month – when the kids go back to school and MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess (no jokes about who is better behaved please). Read my latest monthly update on how I've been standing up for people in Swansea. https://torstenforswansea.substack.com/p/september-in-swansea16 Oct 2026 14:09 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxyqumshg22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxw75fkeds2tSun-drenched start to the day in Liverpool for the Pensions UK annual conference. Lovely to see lots of friendly faces and to discuss what is a pivotal moment for pensions - the next year will lay the ground work for the pensions system that will take us into the middle of this century15 Oct 2026 13:46 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxw75fkeds2thttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxvrtpot6s2sHonoured to listen to the Lewis Merthyr Band play so powerfully in Parliament last night, as we prepare to commemorate 60 years since Aberfan next week. The disaster took 114 lives and left its mark on far more, including my grandpa who - like many others - drove out to help.15 Oct 2026 09:48 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxvrtpot6s2shttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxtkrwhqxc2vDespite real headwinds from the conflict in Iran, the UK economy has performed far more strongly this year than almost anyone expected – including the IMF. Here's my analysis of the two most important takeaways from the IMF’s new World Economic Outlook. https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/growth-up-debt-down14 Oct 2026 12:36 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxtkrwhqxc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxqfvh4mnc2gNew IMF forecasts tell you 2 things about UK economy. Firstly, the British economy has proved resilient in face of the Iran conflict: IMF have UK growth as joint second fastest in G7 this year (forget forecasts, in hard data we’ve seen the fastest growth in G7 so far this year)13 Oct 2026 06:31 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxqfvh4mnc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxoe76cv3c25Heading back to Westminster on Monday mornings is all the easier after a brilliant weekend. I'm out door knocking every week with the Swansea West Labour team - great to speak to residents of Uplands about what's going on in the neighbourhood, well caffeinated via Sloth coffee.12 Oct 2026 10:55 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxoe76cv3c25https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxjs33m7oc2cSaturday swim10 Oct 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxjs33m7oc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxeoecu6rc22Tories totally unfunded tax cut for the wealthiest latest: they’ve hugely underestimated the cost of their policy and therefore the borrowing splurge their plans would cause. This is absolutely mad approach to economic policy making - totally giving up on fiscal credibility [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Oct 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxeoecu6rc22https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxchipzrr22tSo what this week has taught us is that the Conservative offer is to: - prioritise the wealthiest - blow up the public finances07 Oct 2026 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxchipzrr22thttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mxc2di5yyk2xWhat you need to know about changes to the state pension 👇 The most important one: it will keep rising every single year.07 Oct 2026 13:27 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxc2di5yyk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mwxfbejajc23All your Triple Lock questions answered: - what is the new policy - why it’s a ‘triple lock’ - why pensioner poverty is expected to fall in the 2030s https://torstenbell.substack.com/p/the-future-of-the-triple-lock03 Oct 2026 07:43 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwxfbejajc23https://bsky.app/profile/torstenbell.bsky.social/post/3mww7yrsch22kKatie Lam just said the secret but inevitable bit out loud - Conservatives opposing our reform of the Triple Lock are actually on track to scrap or means test the State Pension https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/katie-lam-pension-triple-lock-conservatives-vkxdz9thb02 Oct 2026 20:36 +0000at://did:plc:5p2w2yql5sovot63pdsyd5dc/app.bsky.feed.post/3mww7yrsch22k