Welcome to issue 18 of the Transform newsletter. We hope that you’ve got some space in your diaries, because there’s no shortage of events and activities coming up.

Trump 2.0

In Issue 15 we highlighted some of the differences between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0. This time he has a much clearer agenda, and all the power he needs to implement it. There’s a disconnect though between this agenda and his promises to the American people. For instance, he bragged “Vote Trump and your incomes will soar. Your net worth will skyrocket. Your energy costs and grocery prices will come tumbling down,” In reality, key policies such as imposing trade tariffs and deporting millions of immigrants would likely lead to declining economic growth and rising inflation.

The new oligarchy

Many seasoned analysts are saying that some of Trump’s more extreme promises are unlikely to ever see the light of day, or will be watered down to limit any damage they may cause. This is a dangerous assumption for a number of reasons.

When Trump was first elected in 2016, he had to battle from day one with a Republican establishment who distrusted Trump and his methods. Many of his appointments were made from the ranks of the establishment, and they were able to exert some constraints on policy.

In 2025, the Republican Party is completely subservient to Trump. Everyone knows that there’s no future for them in the Party if they show dissent.

To describe this though as a Republican presidency is to miss its essential nature. Trump 2.0 is a new kind of presidency, a one-man oligarchy. We see this firstly in his appointments: people grossly underqualified for the roles they’ve been appointed to, rewarded for their loyalty to Trump. Lack of political experience is an asset, because it makes them easier for Trump to control. Elon Musk is unlikely to survive long in the Trump administration, as his naked ambitions of personal power pose a threat to Trump.

Trump is obsessional, erratic, vain and obstinate. He had no political experience before being catapulted into office, and has never shown any political nous. He prefers listening to conspiracy theorists on social media than to scientists and experts. So having people around him whose job it is to tell him that he’s right means that we could be in for some wild half-baked decision making.

It’s not just about jobs in politics. If you want to be running public services, universities and prisons in America; if you want your corporation to be getting the tax breaks; then in all likelihood you’re going to need to butter up Trump’s ego. Since the election, such people have been queueing up to dine at Mar-a-Lago. It’s patronage, cronyism, corruption – all of these things. The expectation is clear: you win Trump’s favour, you prosper, you get access to power. You oppose him, and he’ll take it personally, and make you and your company pay.

War of ideas

Trump’s approval rating is currently at an all-time high. This isn’t uncommon for incoming presidents, and things may change when people wake up to the fact that Trump’s America will bring a bonanza for billionaires, while the majority who’d been promised a better life will be left to struggle with high cost of living, high inflation, cuts to public services, and the effects of runaway deregulation.

But it’s not just about the size of the gap between rich and poor: it’s about who controls the narrative. Oligarchs aren’t always unpopular – Putin is an obvious example. Trump’s not as smart as Putin, but he has been taking a few lessons from him. Control of the media is key. Elon Musk has made Twitter/X into a MAGA forum. Now Zuckerberg has bent the knee to Trump and is starting to take Facebook, Instagram and Threads in the same direction. What next ? Print media have long been in Trump’s sights, and recently he has upped the stakes with lawsuits against ABC News and the Des Moines Register. In the coming years he’ll undoubtedly be using every possible avenue to shut down his critics in the media, and to strongarm newspaper magnates into compliance.

From their media powerbases, Trump, Musk and their acolytes will denigrate with a thousand slurs all those who protest and campaign against them and for the rights of ordinary people; and will call for protests to be banned and for peaceful protestors to be locked up.

Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed champions of “free speech” will cheer these attacks all the way.

Activists outside the US embassy in London last weekend, protesting over Trump’s climate denial and embrace of fossil fuel interests.

Responding to the rise of the Far Right: online conference 9th February

On Sunday 9th February, you’re invited to an online conference from 3 to 6pm on the theme How does the left respond to the rise of the far right?

This is a free public event organised by Transform. You can register for it here.

Panellists will include Jaime Driscoll from Majority, Molly Shelton from Assemble, GE24 Independent candidates Pamela Fitzpatrick, Khalid Sadur and Nandita Lal, and Anwarul Khan from Transform.

We promise that this isn’t going to be another event where you just get talked at by the great and the good. The event will follow a participatory format, starting with a workshop in which the audience decide on questions to be asked. A Q&A session then follows, chaired by journalist Ed Sykes from The Canary, with a second workshop after to reflect on the discussion and identify next steps for both audience and panellists.

Our movement needs solutions, not speeches. We call on all people of conscience to come and be part of finding those solutions.

Never in our lifetimes have we seen such unpopular and incompetent government ministers. All that we hear from those in power are lies and broken promises. Most Covid deaths in Europe, after Russia. Energy prices the highest in the world, despite having our own North Sea gas.  People are literally freezing. Stubbornly low growth figures, while again and again the poor and the vulnerable are asked to pay the price.  Whenever we think we’ve seen the worst, each year brings new horrors and new political lows.  

The far right is feeding on the cynicism towards Westminster politics and is growing in strength. Once a laughing stock, Farage is being spoken of as a real potential PM.  Tommy Robinson, although in jail, is being courted by Elon Musk who is interfering in our electoral system.  Reform has more members than the Conservative Party and is polling on par with Labour.  

Shooting holes in anything that the far right say is not difficult. Socialism can do more than this though: it can offer real solutions to the crises engulfing the capitalist world. That’s why socialists have so often been the best anti-fascists.

Palestine talk on 23rd January

On Thursday January 23rd we’re holding the first in a series of online events. Tobie Glenny from Colchester Transform will be speaking on Palestine and the Middle East. The event starts at 7.30pm, and you can sign up at this link.

Tobie tells us that “the purpose of this talk is to address several issues:

– Why did Hamas launch Operation Al-Aqsa Flood? What have been the consequences for both Palestinians and the State of Israel? And what are the possible outcomes of this struggle?

– Why is it that Hamas, like so many of the other anti-colonial organisations in the middle east, is Islamist in orientation; when the Middle East has had such a rich heritage of political organisation? And what are the implications of this, for us on the left, in terms of offering solidarity?

– What are the wider implications of the conflicts in the Middle East, in the struggles for global change?”

National March for Palestine 18th January

The Met Police are using new powers to ban Saturday’s march from assembling as planned outside BBC Broadcasting House on the basis of spurious safety concerns. If like us, you’re angry that the BBC is being shielded from scrutiny, you’re in good company ! Read more here about the background to the decision, and why pro-Palestinian groups have challenged it.

The march itself is very much on. It will now assemble in Whitehall. If you’re going to be there, why not join us behind the Transform banner. We’ll be meeting up at the corner of Whitehall Place, where it joins Whitehall, at 11.45am. The intention is to then march in an orderly fashion towards the BBC. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign issued this statement on Monday, explaining what had gone on, and calling on the Met “to drop these repressive restrictions and accept our right to demonstrate at the BBC”.

UK Women’s March 18th January

On Saturday marches will also be taking place in cities around the UK, including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Brighton, Canterbury, Cambridge, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

It’s no accident that these marches are taking place on the eve of Trump’s inauguration. They’re part of a global action to defend reproductive rights, to highlight the epidemic of violence towards women, and to stand up with oppressed women everywhere. The organisers have also made it very clear that the marches will be supportive of trans rights.

The event social media platforms are buzzing. More women of all ages are joining all the time, asking questions, helping to make signs and banners. To find details of what’s happening near you, follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok.

We’re hoping to have a Transform banner on the Bristol march: to hook in with us there, contact Mandy at mandyparrytraining@gmail.com and join the Transform Bristol WhatsApp thread for updates.

A reminder that our call to action for Transform members for January 2025 is on the topic of women’s rights. Start the year right by signing and sharing this petition on the decriminalisation of abortion – thanks!

Anti-fascist demonstration 1st February

On Saturday 1st February, fascist Tommy Robinson is calling on his thuggish supporters to take to the streets of London to “free the political prisoners”. This is a reference to the racist rabble who pleaded guilty of causing riots and disorder last summer. It’s absolutely clear what he’s doing: he hopes to fan the racist flames as he did in the runup to the riots.

Stand Up To Racism have called a counter-demonstration. If you’re planning to attend this, please don’t go alone. For information on how to meet up with Transform members, contact John Morgan at johnmorgan101@btinternet.com and click on our Demos WhatsApp thread for more updates.

We want more organisers

This may seem a packed agenda, but it’s only a fraction of what’s coming up over the coming month.

We believe that building campaigns and building a political party go hand in hand. It matters that every march is as powerful and effective a statement as possible. But unless a march leaves something behind in terms of grassroots organisation, the danger is that all the energy that went into it will dissipate and be lost.

If you’re not politically aligned, make 2025 the year when you join Transform. If you’re already a member, we can help you become an organiser. For information on what being an event organiser for Transform involves, please see our Event Organiser Information Sheet, and to discuss further, contact Mandy Parry on mandyparrytraining@gmail.com or WhatsApp 07811101740.

As ever, please tell us about events coming up that you’ll be attending, and send us photos and reports from those that you’ve attended.

Next Newsletter

The Newsletter is now on a 3 week cycle. The next newsletter will be out on Wednesday 5th February. You can contact us at any time at info@transformpolitics.uk: please mark your email for the attention of the Newsletter Team.

In solidarity,

Transform Newsletter Team