Dom Tristram's Soapbox

You’ve probably seen the news over the past couple of days: Reform has been floating the idea of concentrating people going through the asylum and immigration system into camps, and then deliberately placing those camps in areas controlled by the Greens, as a form of (what they consider to be) political punishment for Green-voting constituencies. It’s abhorrent. It’s also almost certainly never go...

Transcript: One of the current bugbears of the Right seems to be solar farms, because obviously they don’t like the idea of energy we make ourselves cheaply. Their main criticism seems to be about the “good quality agricultural land” that’s going to be “wasted”. There’s lots of reasons to argue against that - you can still use the land for agriculture - but there’s one thing I wanted to flag up: s...

You might remember some of the really pretty awful things Trump has been saying about Gaza: how he was going to get all the Garzas out and redevelop it as what sounded like a resort of his own. Well… have you seen what he put out on social media just today? Here are the lyrics: Donald’s come set you free, bringing delight all to see No more tunnels, no more fear, Trump Gaza is finally here. Trump...

Yesterday (6th January 2025) the Labour government announced of a significant increase in the use of private healthcare providers to address NHS waiting lists . While some may argue this is a pragmatic response to backlogs, the implications of this policy confirm a deeper, more troubling shift. A Pattern of Privatisation I have long pointed to the Labour Party’s pro-privatisation stance, but this...

Nigel Farage and Reform UK have previously criticised the influence of billionaires (and ‘foreigners’ such as President Obama) on British politics. On donations from billionaires - I agree! It’s not ideal for a democracy to have its political landscape shaped by the whims of the ultra-rich. But, as is so often the case, there’s a twist when it comes to Farage and his ‘principles’. While he has spo...

In case you missed it, the government has just approved the sale of a majority stake in Royal Mail to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group. This means that one of the UK’s most historic institutions will now be predominantly owned by a foreign national. Many were surprised by this news, with some mistakenly believing this marks the start of Royal Mail’s privatisation. However, the truth i...

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...

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 les...

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 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

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? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

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? 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

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 fr...

A number of peaceful protestors were arrested at the Coronation. Why should we be concerned? 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

On the local #election results in Bath and NE Somerset and the Tory collapse #GetGreensElected #bathneslocals23 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

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. 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

Why have the Right suddenly started attacking plans to create cities where people live close to essential services? 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

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

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? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

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. 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

I don't want to hear false sympathy from this government - I want them to accept responsibility  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

The Kent refugee detention centre attack by a far-right suicide bomber on Sunday, and why nobody seems to be talking about it. 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

Truss has gone, as was pretty much inevitable. What's next? 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

Nicola Sturgeon is right to say that people who do despicable things should be called out on it. 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