Fact Check: Torsten Bell Was Not Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2015-2024

A recent tweet by Tom Harwood, stating "Because Torsten Bell was actually the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2015 to 2024," has drawn attention for its factual inaccuracy. The statement, likely made with satirical intent, misrepresents the prominent economist's actual role during that period.

Torsten Bell served as the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, a leading economic think tank, from 2015 until 2024. During his tenure, he was a highly influential voice in UK economic policy discussions, focusing on living standards, inequality, and the labor market. He was not, however, a Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Chancellors of the Exchequer who held office between 2015 and 2024 were George Osborne (until 2016), Philip Hammond (2016-2019), Sajid Javid (2019-2020), Rishi Sunak (2020-2022), Nadhim Zahawi (2022), Kwasi Kwarteng (2022), and Jeremy Hunt (2022-2024). Rachel Reeves assumed the role in July 2024.

Bell transitioned into a political career in 2024, being elected as the Member of Parliament for Swansea West in July of that year. He subsequently took on junior ministerial roles in January 2025, becoming the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions and Parliamentary Secretary for the Treasury. His career has consistently focused on economic policy and public service, albeit in different capacities than suggested by the tweet.

The sarcastic nature of Harwood's tweet appears to be a commentary on the perceived influence of certain non-governmental figures or think tanks on government policy, or perhaps a jibe at Bell's frequent media appearances discussing economic matters. Regardless of the intent, the tweet provided an opportunity to clarify the actual historical record of the UK's top financial office.