It’s cold – very cold at the time of writing. We absolutely know that as a direct result of welfare cuts made by the Starmerite Labour government, thousands of pensioners are at risk of dying from hypothermia.

Transform has decided that each month the Party will focus our campaigning around one particular issue. This December’s theme is the winter fuel allowance. We’re asking members to find out what you can, go big on this on social media, share posts and petitions from the Party and from other members, let’s get making noise about this appalling injustice.

For more useful information on winter fuel payments for pensioners, and for some great campaigning ideas, see these campaigning resource pages:

Unite

Age UK

The Canary

Traffic jams on the road to Zero Carbon

“We need to do something about climate change, but this is not the way”

The goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to keep global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees was a central part of the 2016 Paris Agreement. Leaving aside the question of whether the goal could have been more ambitious, it’s in all of our interests that our countries set these goals. Take renewables: they’re cheaper and more sustainable than fossil fuels, and over time will bring down our energy bills (with the added bonus that they’ll also help to save the planet).

The net zero goal is broadly popular: it has majority support across the UK and the EU. But continuing support can’t be taken for granted. When climate talks happen, they don’t fill everyone with hope and optimism. Some feel frustrated that more isn’t being done, and others are fearful that what is being done isn’t in our best interest. Diametrically opposed reactions, but both rooted in feelings of alienation from the negotiating process. We have to be honest: not every American who voted for Donald Trump is a climate change denier. Many of them are worried about jobs and about the cost of living, and are cynical about a process from which they’re excluded, but some powerful business interests are not.

At COP29, around 80,000 suits descended on the oil state of Azerbaijan, racking up the air miles as they came, doing lots of dining and schmoozing, and no small amount of self-publicity. The optics wouldn’t matter if there was visible progress, but no amount of spinning could mask the fact that things weren’t going terribly well. A key “achievement” was signing off on new rules on carbon trading, which were condemned by various environmental organisations. They argued that the rules were a charter for polluters to keep polluting which had been shoehorned through without adequate debate, and that in the past decade carbon credits had been proven to be of little environmental benefit.  

Why a social mandate matters

Firstly and most obviously, if there’s no social mandate for the big changes that are needed, then environmentally minded politicians will be distrusted, and you’ll get more Donald Trumps.

Secondly, a social mandate gives politicians the confidence to push the agenda forward and take the necessary action to meet their targets. For example: Keir Starmer, who is spineless on all issues of principle, is careful not to get his name linked in any way to Ulez or to 20mph speed limits, as he perceives these policies to be unpopular. Whereas a conviction politician might have said right, what we need here is a joined up transport policy, which includes investing in public transport and subsidies for businesses which move to low emission vehicles – and by changing the terms of public debate, make it much easier to roll these policies out more widely.

Despite poor leadership, the UK is outperforming most other developed countries on reducing its carbon emissions. The OECD’s latest Climate Action Monitor reports that projected levels of carbon emissions in 2030 are still much too high to restrict global warming to just 1.5 degrees. And it may get worse yet: of 110 countries that have set net zero goals, only 27 nations and the EU have made these goals legally binding. In addition, there’s been a slowdown in the last couple of years in the numbers of new climate policies being put forward. The report was written before Trump was elected President.

This sorry state of affairs was entirely predictable. The fundamental flaw in the COP model was that it placed responsibility in the hands of governments of a very capitalist persuasion, virtually all zealously seeking economic growth and reluctant to stand up to big corporations.

A third reason why a social mandate matters is that individual consumption is important. Analysis by the Government’s Climate Change Committee shows that 60% of emissions reductions will require consumers to do things differently – insulating our homes, driving electric cars, taking fewer flights, and so on. Starmer said the other week “what we’re not going to do is start telling people how to live their lives” – but as usual he’s being disingenuous. While it may not be the wisest thing for governments to tell people how to live their lives, they do have a duty to explain how the choices that we make today can affect our future safety and wellbeing.

So what might a people-powered climate policy look like ?

A people-powered climate policy

Let’s return to our politician who proposes a joined-up transport policy. For the policy to have its desired effect

t, people’s behaviour has to change. You’re hoping that they make fewer short car journeys, cycle to work, or make more use of public transport, and at some point invest in an electric car.  What will make people more likely to do this would be if they feel listened to and involved; if they know that the needs of vulnerable people in the community are being met; and if the benefits of the policy have been explained.

Climate Assembly UK was a Citizen’s Assembly convened by six select committees of the House of Commons. Members selected from different walks of life held a series of meetings in central Birmingham between January and March 2020, and then online during lockdown.

On weekend three (pre-Covid), they discussed possible ways to a net zero society. One of the topics was air travel. They listened to a range of expert views, and considered alternatives. While they supported investment in new green technologies, they strongly rejected the idea that improved technology and fuel efficiency would provide a complete solution. They agreed that there should be higher taxes on aviation, but it was important to them that these taxes should be fair, so they came up with the idea of a frequent flyer levy, targeted at those who flew more often and flew further. Under such a levy, the burden of any new taxes would fall on the 23% of the population who fly more than once a year.

The big takeaway here is that one small experiment in direct democracy can achieve more in terms of real solutions than endless rounds of COP talks. Politicians should be listening to people, not to polluters. They should be up front with us about what it is that they’re trying to achieve, enabling debate, and taking action where necessary to safeguard the needs of vulnerable groups.

Defend the Right to Protest

The Court of Appeal have agreed to review sentences for four different groups of Just Stop Oil activists in one extraordinary mass hearing, listed for 29th and 30th January 2025 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The four cases are all unique in various ways, but what links them is that all the actions were non-violent, were driven by the desire to avoid climate catastrophe, and were met by disproportionate sentences. The sixteen appellants, who call themselves political prisoners, have been jailed for a total of 41 years.

This is a defining moment for the right of protest in Britain. JSO spokesperson James Skeet responded: “We’ve passed the 1.5 degree threshold that was supposed to keep us safe, as governments continue to serve the oil and gas lobby, whilst locking up young people for trying to preserve their chance of a future. In years to come, people will question the priorities of our judiciary, and will ask ‘who were actually the real criminals’?”

Ecosocialism Conference

John McDonnell MP and Asad Rehman of War on Want are among the speakers at this one day event organised by Anti-Capitalist Resistance and supported by Transform. It’s this Saturday, 7th December, at London South Bank University and online. Click here for further information and a registration link.

By-election watch

In the last newsletter we reported that Transform were supporting two candidates in council by-elections on November 28th. If you’ve not seen the results yet, they both did rather well.

In Islington’s Junction Ward, Jackson Caines got 550 votes or 28.3%, coming a strong second to the Labour candidate. He says that “my Independent campaign forced Labour to throw everything they had at defending a supposedly safe council seat.”

In Enfield’s Jubilee Ward, Khalid Sadur – also standing as an Independent – came third with 208 votes. He says that “as a local community-led grassroots organisation, we are barely 9 months old, but have already become the main opposition to the mainstream parties in Enfield.” 

Transform Talksback

This Friday is a Talksback Friday: 6th December at 6.30pm on Zoom.

Outraged at another Trump presidency? Can’t take any more of Starmer? Horrified at Gaza? Enjoying Bluesky? Our Transform Talksback sessions are there to get you connecting with like-minded comrades with a glass of your favourite tipple in hand. They are hosted by someone whose sole role will be to create the opportunity for as many people to speak as possible within the time we have.

Come and see for yourself what it’s all about. The Zoom registration link is here.

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A special mention also to our website https://transformpolitics.uk/. You may have noticed some changes there lately, and there are more exciting changes on the way.

And finally

Transform has exciting plans for the New Year. To be absolutely honest with you though, we need more members. The more of us there are, the more things we can be involved in, and the more that we can achieve. Please invite people you know to join Transform – and consider joining us if you’re reading this and not already a member. If you have any questions about Transform, it’s the same email address that you use to contact the Newsletter Team:  info@transformpolitics.uk.

In solidarity,

Transform Newsletter Team