Torsten Bell

The previous and current Governments don't seem willing to make the investment required in either our infrastructure or in our people.

This has been happening for decades and is very short-sighted.

Allira

^The previous and current Governments don't seem willing to make the investment required in either our infrastructure or in our people.^

This has been happening for decades and is very short-sighted.

This SME owner is not taking on anymore staff (skilled or training positions)

Planned expansion on hold, which would have employed trades people for over six months.

Not sure it’s worth the hassle.

GrannyGravy13

Allira

The previous and current Governments don't seem willing to make the investment required in either our infrastructure or in our people.

This has been happening for decades and is very short-sighted.

This SME owner is not taking on anymore staff (skilled or training positions)

Planned expansion on hold, which would have employed trades people for over six months.

Not sure it’s worth the hassle.

Maybe you should ask the government for a meeting with Torsten Bell (and some others). I agree with you that, from what I've seen, SME owners seem to be a neglected group. You need to have your voices heard.

In the video, Bell mentions the German economy and the fact that it's driven by private investment. I expect he knows very well that SMEs are the lifeblood of the German economy, so he might be persuaded that they need more encouragement in the UK.

April this year

Jaxjacky

April this year

He has changed his tune then, since bring in government 👏👏👏

Even if he did want to remove the triple lock (which seems to be unclear), that is surely not a reason to dismiss his ideas out of hand though,
just because one might be personally affected? There needs to be a plan for the whole country and the whole population.

Chocolatelovinggran

I will read your link later, PN ( currently enjoying the company of a two year old!) . I think that it is useful to learn about our policy makers.

That sounds lovely Chocolatelovingran. I think, with the interview being less than a year old it should be relevant.

I have been trying to find articles he has written but (not suprisingly) hasn't written written any for a while.

I'll keep trying for those who prefer them.

Torsten Bell is someone who used to be a policy director for Ed Miliband. The ‘Edstone’ was his idea. Nuff said. 😂

GrannyGravy13

Jaxjacky

April this year

He has changed his tune then, since bring in government 👏👏👏

I don't think he has. Have you watched the video yet?

Do you have any links to anything he's said/written recently, so that we can compare?

I know he's been the target of smears. There are also plenty of people who disagree with him. including Richard Murphy. I think it's interesting to read why Murphy disagrees - it's not just smearing.

I prefer to read/hear what he actually says rather than relying on smears and second-hand sources, so anything first-hand would be great. I like to make up my own mind rather than repeating somebody else's opinions.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Torsten Bell is someone who used to be a policy director for Ed Miliband. The ‘Edstone’ was his idea. Nuff said. 😂

That's a tad childish and I doubt sums up everything Torsten Bell has ever said/done.

Unfortunately, political discussion has reached a low ebb.

This twit was the policy chief of the anti-pensioner Resolution Foundation, until Labour gifted him a safe Labour seat in Swansea last July and then made him Pensions Minister.
He knows as little about real life as he does about Wales.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

This twit was the policy chief of the anti-pensioner Resolution Foundation, until Labour gifted him a safe Labour seat in Swansea last July and then made him Pensions Minister.
He knows as little about real life as he does about Wales.

😹 Happy Birthday 🎂🥂

FriedGreenTomatoes2

This twit was the policy chief of the anti-pensioner Resolution Foundation, until Labour gifted him a safe Labour seat in Swansea last July and then made him Pensions Minister.
He knows as little about real life as he does about Wales.

Or you do about him and his work (so it seems). Childish name-calling is never a good look.

You really should read some of the articles the Resolution Foundation wrote rather than relying on the Telegraph and its spin.

Been reading about Torsten Bell. I can’t quite believe what I've just read. So this self proclaimed genius from a revered think tank is just proposing higher benefits payments across the board! And taking it from pensions (but not public sector, natch).

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

Allira

The previous and current Governments don't seem willing to make the investment required in either our infrastructure or in our people.

This has been happening for decades and is very short-sighted.

This SME owner is not taking on anymore staff (skilled or training positions)

Planned expansion on hold, which would have employed trades people for over six months.

Not sure it’s worth the hassle.

Maybe you should ask the government for a meeting with Torsten Bell (and some others). I agree with you that, from what I've seen, SME owners seem to be a neglected group. You need to have your voices heard.

In the video, Bell mentions the German economy and the fact that it's driven by private investment. I expect he knows very well that SMEs are the lifeblood of the German economy, so he might be persuaded that they need more encouragement in the UK.

I found that really interesting.

So he talks about a "normal" Britain being a great place to live. (I concur ). He points out that we have been a low growth economy with high inequality and that together this produces big problems. He suggests we look at the average GDP, and the average inequality of countries we used to consider similar to ourselves; so France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia. Not rich America (remember this was 11 months ago) or the very equal Norway. All are richer and all more equal than us but he suggests we look at the overall average if income and inequality a typical household in Britain would be £8,300 better off. What I'm hearing from that is that there are sensible things we can aim for. He says "... becoming a more normal economy measuring ourselves against similar'ish' economies is transformational."

It's pointed out the we do still compare ourselves to these economies and think we are the same. Bell points out that since the financial crisis we have been a very low growth economy with one tenth of the growth we used to see. He points out that high inequality and low growth are what make things worse for middle and lower income Britain's.

I'll come back and get to the Germany point but I need to eat!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Been reading about Torsten Bell. I can’t quite believe what I've just read. So this self proclaimed genius from a revered think tank is just proposing higher benefits payments across the board! And taking it from pensions (but not public sector, natch).

If he's saying that then he has a slightly better grasp of how to encourage growth by the state spending more money into the economy, and how to slow the rate of wealth acquisition, than you do.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Been reading about Torsten Bell. I can’t quite believe what I've just read. So this self proclaimed genius from a revered think tank is just proposing higher benefits payments across the board! And taking it from pensions (but not public sector, natch).

Please give a link to what you've just read.

MaizieD

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Been reading about Torsten Bell. I can’t quite believe what I've just read. So this self proclaimed genius from a revered think tank is just proposing higher benefits payments across the board! And taking it from pensions (but not public sector, natch).

If he's saying that then he has a slightly better grasp of how to encourage growth by the state spending more money into the economy, and how to slow the rate of wealth acquisition, than you do.

Ironically. the biggest criticism of Torsten Bell is that he's a neo-liberal - as are people such as FGT. That's why I wish people would rely on first-hand sources rather than second-hand smears. Unfortunately, that seems to be what counts as political discussion.

By all means criticise what he says (as Richard Murphy does) but do it from an informed perspective - not just because the name has been linked to "baddies" (although the smearer doesn't really know why).

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Been reading about Torsten Bell. I can’t quite believe what I've just read. So this self proclaimed genius from a revered think tank is just proposing higher benefits payments across the board! And taking it from pensions (but not public sector, natch).

Link please to the self-proclamation of genius.

I prefer to read/hear what he actually says rather than relying on smears and second-hand sources, so anything first-hand would be great. I like to make up my own mind rather than repeating somebody else's opinions.

Reading various publications and statements he has made is not enough, then?
We have to purchase his book?

Sorry, but no.

He was 'parachuted' in to a safe seat despite having no Welsh connections at all, thus annoying local Labour party members. The Labour leader was obviously keen to have him on board. He seems to have been an extremely powerful force in the Labour party and the last Labour Government since a very young age. Many people will never heard of him, although he is very influential.

GrannyGravy13

Just checking a previous thread about this MP and note that I received a snide and rather personal comment from the OP of this one!
😂😂😂

Allira

^I prefer to read/hear what he actually says rather than relying on smears and second-hand sources, so anything first-hand would be great. I like to make up my own mind rather than repeating somebody else's opinions.^

Reading various publications and statements he has made is not enough, then?
We have to purchase his book?

Sorry, but no.

He was 'parachuted' in to a safe seat despite having no Welsh connections at all, thus annoying local Labour party members. The Labour leader was obviously keen to have him on board. He seems to have been an extremely powerful force in the Labour party and the last Labour Government since a very young age. Many people will never heard of him, although he is very influential.

No, I'm not suggesting buying his book. However, he has done various interviews, including one with Victoria Derbyshire. He's also written (or co-written) articles for the Resolution Foundation, which are available online for free and without a subscription. I'd be interested to know whether those smearing him have read any of them or just articles about him in publications such as the Telegraph and the Spectator.

The Resolution Foundation is one of the more transparent think tanks and does some good research. Its data is well-researched and reliable. Its recommendations don't find favour with everybody but are generally not coming from an extreme viewpoint.

I knew Bell was parachuted into a safe Labour seat - just as my MP (Kemi Badenoch) was parachuted into a safe Conservative seat. I'm not defending either, but it's not the main reason I dislike my MP. I guess the Swansea constituents will look at his record when he's next up for election.

By the way, I'm no great fan of Torsten Bell. What I dislike is the way people smear politicians based on second-hand opinions without knowing what they've actually said/done. Sadly, there's too much of it.

Well, sometimes it's pointless typing out a post which takes some research and time and then Gransnet says Aw Snap and it disappears.

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