More evidence of UK economy’s strong first half to the year, despite the very real impact of the Iran war: - ONS have revised up growth (and gdp/capita growth) in Q2 to 0.5% - confirms the UK as the fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2026 (given growth of 0.6% in Q1)

The Conservative Party debated for a couple of hours and decided that no, they are not a serious party. Inevitably.

Like many people across Swansea Bay, I’m deeply disappointed to learn that Admiral Insurance are to cut 500 jobs from its UK business. I’ve asked for an urgent meeting with the company to talk about what happens next - particularly in Swansea.

Fantastic to get out with @mike-reader.bsky.social and a crack team of @labouruk.bsky.social volunteers in Holborn and St Pancras. Sagal Abdi-Wali would make a brilliant MP, and a powerful voice for the local area. Great to speak to lots of supporters on the doors.

Liberal Democrat join the Reform/Tory circus in promising tax cuts they have no idea how to pay for - the coalition govt showed us how this ends: trashing both public services and the public finances

The Guardian@theguardian.com · last wk.

Ed Davey promises £17bn income tax cut if Lib Dems are elected

Retirement - a proper rest after a lifetime of work - was one of the 20th century’s great wins. The latest edition of my weekly newsletter Charting the Course gives you two big facts about the pensions system in the UK today: torstenbell.substack.com/p/two-things...

Learning about pensions is a bit like going to the gym: you know you should do it, you feel guilty for not doing it, but you're just not sure where to begin. Here are two big facts about the UK system that everyone needs to know. torstenbell.substack.com/p/two-things...

Two Things Everyone Should Know About Pensions

Learning about pensions is a bit like going to the gym: you know you should do it but you're just not sure where to begin. Here are two facts everyone should know.

torstenbell.substack.com

So much of the right these days have a massive patriotism problem. This guy: - is a tax exile (left long before this govt) - hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it - laments the manufacturing hit from a Brexit he supported www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK

Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.

bbc.co.uk

My report from St Helen's stadium today, and what comes next in the fight for the Ospreys. #ourbloodisblack #ospreys

These are thugs being thugs, not legitimate protests

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 2w ago

Lifeboat station in Portsmouth forced to temporarily shut after far-right action

Honestly, grow up. The last Conservative government appointed France’s O’Grady not once but twice. And before that appointed Dave Prentice - a former Unison General Secretary - to the same role.

Jim Pickard@pickardje.bsky.social · 2w ago

The Tories have attacked appointment of TUC chief Paul Nowak as a director of Bank of England, saying: "The last thing our country needs is a trade union leader helping to run the BofE." And yet it was a Tory government that in 2019 appointed the then TUC chief Frances O'Grady to the same role

Whose GDP is it anyway? This week’s substack is out torstenbell.substack.com/p/life-the-u...

Two years after leaving @resolutionfoundation.org, @torstenbell.bsky.social is back doing charts and stuff. torstenbell.substack.com/p/charting-t...

Charting the Course

Welcome to Charting the Course, a newsletter helping you keep your bearings on what’s really driving the politics and economy of modern Britain.

torstenbell.substack.com

The UK economy grew again in July, despite painful headwinds from the Iran conflict. I often hear people ask why anyone should care. So this week's Charting the Course looks at what's really important in life, and why growth might be part of the answer. torstenbell.substack.com/p/life-the-u...

Life, the Universe, and GDP.

Does growth actually matter? This week's Charting the Course looks at what's really important in life, and why growth might be part of the answer.

torstenbell.substack.com

Alongside having a badly needed break, August meant no Parliament and more time for visiting some of the brilliant organisations that make Swansea the city it is. Read my latest newsletter to find out how I spent the last of the summer locally. torstenforswansea.substack.com/p/standing-u...

Standing Up for Swansea: August 2026

How I've been supporting our local community in Swansea West.

torstenforswansea.substack.com

Actual headline: “Farage sold himself to one foreign based crypto millionaire & has now sold his party to yet another one”. What a surprise that a party with little concrete policy has very specific policies on… crypto tax cuts

My reflections on today's vote.

Reflections after yesterday's important statement from the Foreign Secretary.

Under the last government, the UK borrowed more than the G7 average in every one of their 14 years. This year? The UK will borrow less. For this week’s edition of Charting the Course - how Labour is getting the UK’s fiscal house in order. torstenbell.substack.com/p/fiscal-fac...

Fiscal Fact (and Fiction)

Under the Tories, the UK borrowed more than the G7 average in every one of their 14 years. This year, the UK will borrow less. Here's how we're putting the UK's fiscal house in order.

torstenbell.substack.com

After two years in politics, the summer gave me a chance to reflect on what helps and hinders progress. Debate too often flounders in noise and opportunism. A new Substack won't fix that, but I hope Charting the Course will help keep your bearings. torstenbell.substack.com/p/charting-t...

Charting the Course

Welcome to Charting the Course, a newsletter helping you keep your bearings on what’s really driving the politics and economy of modern Britain.

torstenbell.substack.com

This Saturday, I'll be at a community venue in Cwmbwrla accompanied by plenty of tea and biscuits. Come and say hello! Email torsten.bell.mp@parliament.uk to register and don't forget to include your postcode. The location will be shared with RSVPs.

So the best the Conservatives have to offer on the economy is… Liz Truss’s biggest cheer leader. No learning curve at all.

Great news that plans for Ysgol Calon Lan in Morriston are moving forward, with a chance for people to give their views through a Swansea Council consultation. www.swansea.gov.uk/CaolonLanPre...

Plans move forward for new Ysgol Calon Lân special school - Swansea

Residents are being invited to view plans and have their say on the proposed new build for Swansea's Ysgol Calon Lân special school.

swansea.gov.uk

Today’s NEETs stats are another reminder of the urgent need to turn the tide on young people’s participation in work AND education/training www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...

After the storms

This “plan” assumes there is never another global energy shock that causes a global gas price spike. It is not a plan. It is wishful thinking.

City A.M. | London's Business Newspaper - News, Opinion, & Anal…@cityam.com.web.brid.gy · last mo.

Wednesday walk

Weather forecasters? Right Economic gloomsters? Wrong

And the strongest gdp/capita growth for the first half of a year for near a decade

Andy Bruce (Reuters)@bruceandy.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Taken together, Q1 and Q2 2026 marked the strongest two quarters of per capita UK GDP growth for four years.

UK economy has been far more resilient than the commentators/gloomsters/forecasters thought. Strong start to 2026 continues despite the headwinds of the Iran conflict - GDP growth of 0.4% in 2nd quarter. What matters most (gdp/capita) is also up 0.4%, and has risen 1% on the year