Dom Tristram's Soapbox: Recent Episodes
Dom Tristram
I set out today to discuss the Conservative Party leadership election here in the UK and the implications of our new Tory leader. However, as events have unfolded across the Atlantic, my initial plan feels a bit trivial in light of the bigger picture. Like many, I presumed—perhaps naively—that the American election would head in a different direction.
Yet, here we are: Donald Trump has won.
While the outcome of the Conservative leadership contest certainly holds significance within British politics, it pales in comparison to the potential ramifications of Trump’s return to power. The issues we face with certain Tory figures, however controversial or disagreeable they may be, cannot compare to the scale of dismay surrounding Trump. Unlike Conservative leaders, Trump openly denies climate change, has a history of convictions and accusations of sexual assault, and is embroiled in controversies ranging from mishandling state secrets to even more shocking accusations. Despite any criticism one might level at Kamala Harris or the American Democrats, the contrast in leadership styles and values between the two parties is stark.
Certainly, I have my qualms with the American Democrats. They aren’t truly left-leaning, and their pro-Israel stance, particularly regarding the ongoing Gaza conflict, is far from something I align with. Nonetheless, whoever they put forward—whether it’s Biden, who many argue is too old, or Harris, with her policy positions that I can’t support—is fundamentally better for democracy than someone with Trump’s record. Here is a man who openly admits to behaviour many would find repulsive, has mused about using military force against his political opponents, and has even chosen a running mate who has questioned the voting rights of childless women. It’s a surreal scenario, almost like something out of a dark political satire.
When Trump lost the last election, he didn’t just concede quietly; he attempted a coup.
The images of him hoarding classified documents in his bathroom, allegedly sharing secrets with foreign powers, paint an astonishingly grim picture. Meanwhile, figures like Elon Musk and other so-called ‘crypto bros’ are aligning themselves with Trump, seeing in him an easily manipulable figure who could serve their interests. It brings to mind the oligarchs in 1990s Russia, only this time it’s in America, with the ultra-wealthy vying to consolidate power.
Some might try to dismiss this outcome with the assurance that it’s only four years, and people will see reason in time. Yet, America’s political landscape doesn’t work that way.
The politically appointed Supreme Court is already stacked in the Republicans’ favour, and within the next four years, Trump could appoint additional justices. This would likely solidify a hard-right majority, capable of dismantling rights and protections long held dear by many Americans. Even if something were to happen to Trump, his influence would remain entrenched in the judiciary and the Senate for years, shaping policy far beyond his own tenure.
What’s particularly staggering is that this time, Trump might even have won the popular vote, a feat he didn’t achieve in his first election. It’s baffling to think that so many could support a figure who openly disregards democratic principles and exhibits disdain for so many groups within his own voter base—women, non-white citizens, and immigrants, to name a few. It’s enough to make Brexit seem like a minor hiccup in comparison.
While I still hold the belief that people are generally decent, albeit sometimes misled, today has sorely tested that faith. Watching the outcome of this election unfold, I find myself deeply concerned about what lies ahead. America’s leadership doesn’t only impact its own citizens but has a ripple effect on global issues—especially the climate crisis and conflicts in places like Ukraine.
In any case, here we are on November 6th, faced with an unpredictable and turbulent path ahead. Perhaps, when the dust settles, I’ll muster the energy to revisit the topic of the Tory leadership. But for now—well, let’s just brace ourselves.
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Earlier this week I had an appointment to go to my GP for my annual flu and Covid vaccinations. The vaccinations themselves were very well organised and I was in and out of the surgery within five minutes.
On the walk home I started to think about how lucky I am, compared with so many in the UK, that I can walk from my front door to my GP in less than five minutes. It made the whole thing take less than quarter of an hour. How long would it have taken if I had been forced to drive? How many people would find attending their vaccinations difficult if they had to? This is especially important for seasonal vaccinations given that many of the people receiving them are older.
The concept of a 15 minute city is very simple: all necessary services should be within 15 minutes active travel from your home. Obviously this is difficult to achieve in rural areas, but in anything larger than a small town it is absolutely possible. Not only is it possible, but it is desirable - why shouldn’t everyone enjoy what I experienced with my very quick visit to my GP today? Unfortunately there is money and electoral gains to be made by making people fear that the 15 minute city concept is more something more sinister. This is a real shame, because so many of us would have our quality of life improved if the concept was applied in every town and city.
If you want to read more about the ideas behind the concept, this is a good start.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com
We need to talk about what the Tories are doing when it comes to the environment and how dangerous it is.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristram.substack.com
Should we ban #bullyxl #dogs? Yes, almost certainly. But we need to go further than that. #dangerousdogs
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has spent public money to paint over murals (designed to make the place just a bit nicer) in a detention centre for unaccompanied child asylum seekers.
What sort of man decides to do this, and should such a man with these morals have a say in anything at all?
The Labour Lords have abstained (so effectively supported the Tories) on Green peer Jenny Jones' bill to stop the government using unprecedented
powers to attack our right to protest. What's the point of Labour?
Generated transcript:
I just wanted to say a quick thing on, the UK net migration figures, which are a record breaking high up 20%, 606,000 people, I think, are the latest figures per year. I think it's worth just dwelling on the fact that many of the people who voted for Brexit did so because they didn't like the idea of migration and how they must be feeling now because we've gone from lower numbers of people coming in and let's face it, not liking migration is often, not always, but often due to racism, you know?
People who don't come from here coming in. And so these brexiters, now these, people who voted sometimes with a racist motive against staying in EU because they didn't like migration, now have far more immigrants. But, those immigrants are now much less likely to be other white Europeans and much more likely to be people from other countries of different races. Now, how do you think they feel about that?
I think if there is a silver lining from Brexit, and I don't think there is particularly, but if there was one, it might be just imagining how many extremely annoyed racists there are at the moment.
A number of peaceful protestors were arrested at the Coronation. Why should we be concerned?
On the local #election results in Bath and NE Somerset and the Tory collapse #GetGreensElected #bathneslocals23
Turnout is always low in local elections, and yet they are your best opportunity to elect people you agree with. Here's why you should always vote.
Why have the Right suddenly started attacking plans to create cities where people live close to essential services?
Today there are many unions taking industrial action, including teachers and train drivers. In fact, over 50,000 people are on strike. A number of unions got together in Bath to hold a 'Day of Action' to show solidarity with the strikers. I went along to talk to some of the people involved, and (it turns out!) to give a speech.
New medical schools are being built, such as the one in Worcester (see https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/14/ministers-refuse-fund-medical-school-uk-doctor-shortage), but the UK government is refusing to fund more places for UK students despite the NHS being short of nearly 11,000 doctors (not including GPs). Why?
You will have seen lots of advice about how to live an 'ethical' Christmas. I don't want to do that again here. This is about consideration when giving what you have already decided to give.
I don't want to hear false sympathy from this government - I want them to accept responsibility
The Kent refugee detention centre attack by a far-right suicide bomber on Sunday, and why nobody seems to be talking about it.
Nicola Sturgeon is right to say that people who do despicable things should be called out on it.
The government has announced a ban on future solar farms built on agricultural land, but this is ideological, not logical. Here's why.
The government is going to cut public services by another £18bn just days after we, the public, had to bail-out government bonds by £65bn down to the crash caused by the 'mini budget'.
The Tories have released a 'mini budget' which has been designed to transfer yet more wealth to the rich. So why do they hate the poor? I don't think they actually do - they simply don't think about that at all.
The Tories have released a 'mini budget' which has been designed to transfer yet more wealth to the rich. So why do they hate the poor? I don't think they actually do - they simply don't think about that at all.
Under 'first past the post', which they insist on supporting, it's not Labour's job to be 'radical'.
As I recorded this it had just been confirmed that the maximum temperature ever recorded in the UK had been broken as a temperature of over 40 degrees was measured at Heathrow. But this was avoidable. Why aren't we acting?
Kier Starmer has just ruled out the UK joining the single market or customs union under a Labour government. This is wrong.
Should government ministers be using the time and offices we pay for to do work, or to partake in the sort of activities that would get pretty much anyone else sacked? Is it right that triggering the only mechanism for holding them to account for doing so is, in this case, the decision of the person who would be under investigation?
The right to abortion is under attack in the US and this has been widely reported. But such rights are safe in the UK... or are they? Did you know 100 UK MPs recently voted to ban abortion here?
Number 10 pulled a story which is almost certainly true out of The Times, and other news sources. How is it acceptable for a government to have the power to spike news stories which are true but inconvenient for them?
With the legal challenges to government plans to force asylum seekers on flights to Rwanda, what does this say about the UK? What can we do?
The government is considering extending the 'right to buy' to Housing Association properties. Will this help anyone? If so, who?
Content note: I mention a third of people used to live in Council housing. The actual figure was higher - 41% did by the end of the 1970's.
It's Jubilee weekend and I hope you are enjoying some time off - something we can do whether or not we are monarchists. I have nothing against the Queen personally, but I don't believe in inherited power. So what should we change, and how?
Yes, it's a 'dead cat on the table', but we need to talk about this, knock the lies on the head, and move on.
With the much delayed publication of the Sue Gray report into 'party gate', we can tell a lot about the nature of the government by how they have reacted and what they have said. Some will say that we should 'let it go' and party gate isn't important, but it is, and here's why.
We are not all equal before the law - the rich get punished less for breaking it. Why? And how do we fix it?
The government is going to 'improve' public services by cutting 90,000 staff, and eliminate opportunities for those from poorer backgrounds by scrapping the award-winning Civil Service Fast Stream.
I want you to cast your mind back about a week to when MPs and porn were in the news, particularly Neil Parish.
But this news won't have been a surprise to anyone who knows about very recent Parliamentary history, and the fact that the Tories removed data a few years ago that very clearly showed that this was a problem. Let's talk about it.
We've had the results from the last set of local elections and they've gone really well. But how have the media been reporting what happened, and why?
There are elections for many people all around the UK tomorrow. They are important. But what are they for? And who can win? And who should you vote for anyway?
The government's Elections Bill passes, fundamentally changing the democratic process in the UK, disenfranchising millions of voters in order to favour the Conservatives. At the same time, the 'independent' body that makes sure elections are fair, the Electoral Commission, has its independence removed. Despite the limited powers the Electoral Commission has, this move to put it under government control is deeply worrying.
Last night the Lords failed to back an amendment to ensure that the government's Nationality And Borders Bill should ensure that the UK keeps its commitment to the 1951 Refugee Treaty, agreed in the aftermath of WWII to help prevent genocide. The amendment could have been made, but Labour whipped their Lords to abstain. The 1951 Refugee Convention: https://www.unhcr.org/4ca34be29.pdf What the Nationality and Borders Bill means for those fleeing persecution: https://togetherwithrefugees.org.uk/we-will-fight-on/
The government is threatening to privatise the Passport Office (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61233206). This makes no sense if efficiency or improved service is the goal. I explain why.
A recording from the 'Greens In Office' public event, held in Bath on the 18th November 2021. On the panel are: Molly Scott Cato, ex-MEP for the South West, and party external communications co-ordinator Paula O'Rourke, councillor for Clifton and leader of the Green group (the largest in England) on Bristol City Council Joanna Wright, Green councillor for Lambridge in Bath and NE Somerset Sam Ross, Chair of Farmborough parish council
The event is chaired by Jonathan Oates.
In the last episode Dom went to the first ‘Solidarity for Greta’ vigil in Bath which took place in October 2018. This vigil has been repeated every week with another on Saturdays, and the number of people involved has been steadily growing. Extinction Rebellion is now quite a large and dynamic movement. The school strikes, inspired by Greta Thunberg, have spread and now take place around the world. Today, the 15th of February, was the first nationally co-ordinated ‘School Strike 4 Climate Action’ in the UK. School children around the country walked out to take part in protests and vigils, with organisers claiming more than 10,000 took part. The largest protest was in London where around 3,000 children participated, with other large gatherings in Oxford, Exeter, Leeds, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield and Glasgow. Being close to Bristol many children from Bath opted to attend the larger demonstration there, but a good number came to the Guildhall for a lively demonstration in the city. Dom went along to take part and talk to the people there. The show finishes with a word from Bath's MP Wera Hobhouse and Lin Patterson, Green councillor promoting the petition to the council to declare a climate emergency.
At the end of November Dom went along and joined the first Extinction Rebellion ‘Solidarity with Greta’ event outside the Guildhall in Bath. Extinction Rebellion is social movement using non-violent direct action to try to avert catastrophic climate change. It is quite new, being formed at the end of October 2018, but is growing rapidly. Many areas have their own groups, and the one in Bath is active and growing quickly. ‘Greta’ is Greta Thunberg, a 16 year-old student in Sweden who has made international news for starting the first school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament building, inspiring many other school children around the world to follow her example. As well as her school strike Greta has participated in UK extinction rebellion events and addressed the United Nations climate change summit. In December 2018 she was named one of Time Magazine’s most influential teenagers of the year. Dom spoke to some of the people attending the Bath event and asked them why they were there.
Some policies which other parties are presenting as radical today in 2018 have been Green Party policies for a long time. This is a recording of a 2013 public meeting in Bath featuring Natalie Bennett and Molly Scott Cato talking about how the Green Party is the real alternative and presenting our radical manifesto for change. The meeting was held as part of the campaign for the 2014 European elections which saw Molly elected as an MEP for the South West. All of the points and topics discussed remain just as important today.
With the developing crisis in Syria, Syrian refugee families in Bath have organised an event to draw attention to what is happening in their home country. Dom goes along and talks to the people there about what the event means to them, including Bernie Howley, chair of Bath Welcomes Refugees and Tim Warren, leader of Bath & NE Somerset Council.
It's spring 2017 and after years of 'austerity' the cuts are really starting to hit home. Many local authorities have or are planning to cut services. In Bath this includes plans to dramatically alter libraries. With a population already angered by a completely unsuitable park and ride proposal, even people who had never protested before are beginning to take to the streets. Dom joins in and chats to other protesters about their reasons for being there.
Yesterday was International Women's Day. In Bath a march was organised to 'reclaim the night' for women. Dom went along to talk to those who came out and ask them why it was important for them.
In this episode, Dom heads to his local hospital, Bath's RUH, to talk to striking junior doctors about why they are taking industrial action.
As negotiations for the UK's departure from the EU draw towards the date set for our supposed departure, here's a recording from possibly the last European Election campaign. Soon-to-be MEP for the South West, Molly Scott Cato, presents the Green Party vision for Europe. She then takes questions along with me (I'm there in my capacity as the parliamentary candidate for Bath in the 2015 General Election). The work of MEPs does not receive the media attention it deserves, and in part that resulted in the vote to leave the EU. The packed hall that came to listen to Molly, as well as the questions asked, shows that there is a large appetite for normal people having a directly democratically elected voice on the international stage - something that may well be taken away from us all in a few months time.