Dom Tristram's Soapbox

The government has announced a ban on future solar farms built on agricultural land, but this is ideological, not logical. Here's why. 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 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'. 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 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. 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

Under 'first past the post', which they insist on supporting, it's not Labour's job to be 'radical'. 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

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? 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

Kier Starmer has just ruled out the UK joining the single market or customs union under a Labour government. This is wrong. 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 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? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

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? 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

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? 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

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? 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 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit domtristr...

A no confidence vote has been called for Boris Johnson. What does that mean for us? 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

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? 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

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. 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

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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

We are not all equal before the law - the rich get punished less for breaking it. Why? And how do we fix 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

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. 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 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss th...

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? 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

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? 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 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 co...

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 Nati...

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. 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

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...

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...