Mr Bell, who has no previously reported link to South Wales, is currently Chief Executive of poverty think-tank, the Resolution Foundation.
It had been thought that Swansea Council leader, Rob Stewart was being considered for the candidacy.
The decision to appoint Mr Bell as Labour’s Swansea West candidate was made by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) rather than the local constituency Labour party (CLP).
The previous Swansea West MP, Geraint Davies indicated he was not standing for re-election after the after the party failed to complete its investigation into claims of ‘completely unacceptable behaviour’.
He was suspended from the Labour party in June 2023 after claims Davies had “multiple accusations of inappropriate behaviour toward junior female colleagues”. Mr Davies was previously MP for Croydon Central between 1997 and 2005.
The selection of Mr Bell has drawn criticism from local Labour activists.
Estelle Hart, daughter of former Welsh Government Minister Edwina Hart wrote on social media platform X (formally twitter): “I’m not someone who is obsessed with “local candidates” nor do I think the nec doesn’t have a role in candidate selection this close to an election But the way a number of selections have been handled is incredibly troubling, and speaks to an incredible level of arrogance.
“Hopefully the inadequates that seem to occupy the boys club that is LOTO won’t be able to damage the much needed Labour Government, because they’ve certainly damaged the party.
“This whole selection palaver only reinforces the notion that the UK Party and the PLP have little to no regard for devolution. I can’t help but wonder if a Welsh leader who was in a stronger position might have changed the course on some of this.”
Mr Bell is no stranger to the Labour Party, having previously masterminded Ed Milliband’s literal carving of Labour’s 2015 manifesto promises into stone in a much maligned PR stunt.
Mr Bell’s lack of Swansea connection has drawn a cheeky offer from Mike O’Carroll, the Liberal Democrat’s Swansea West candidate to “show [the] London Labour candidate around Swansea”
Mike O’Carroll said: “Labour have a record of parachuting candidates into Swansea, and it isn’t fair on either candidates or more importantly on the voters of Swansea West who feel taken for granted by Labour.
“That’s why I’ve offered to show Torsten around our city – it’s important that those who want to represent the area know every inch of the constituency and what the big issues are.”
On his appointment as Welsh Labour candidate, Torsten Bell said: “This election is our chance to turn the page on 14 years of stagnation.
“I’m excited to be Welsh Labour’s candidate for Swansea West and to be campaigning for a changed Labour Party with Keir Starmer.”
(Lead image: Resolution Foundation)
It doesn’t matter who’s parachuted into Swansea for the election, the populace would vote for a chimpanzee as long as he wasn’t Tory