Spring Newsletter 2025
Charlie Maynard MP waxing lyrical at our Spring Climate Matters meeting.
Next meeting:
You’ll know already that we hold quarterly Climate Matters meetings at which Charlie presents himself to our agreed agenda and a hall full of eager constituents. Thus it was at our meeting on April 12th. Be sure to note the date, time and venue of the next meeting – Saturday July 5th from 11am. You’ll need to register via Eventbrite, for security reasons, and we’ll publicise this nearer the time. You’ll have seen a picture very like this one before and undoubtedly will again, next quarter.
The spring meeting:
The agenda asked Charlie to speak to improving the response and performance of ‘politics’ to climate change, to the ongoing saga of Thames Water and to the proposal to rebuild the rail link Carterton-Witney-Eynsham-Oxford which we so desperately need. In the event, the Thames Water issue was under a strict embargo until the following Tuesday when the High Court would issue judgement on the appeal Charlie had mounted against the decision to allow yet another loan of £3 billion. This meant that Charlie could say nothing about it at our meeting.
A bee in the bonnet and an important movement as addressed by the chair: Hugo spoke about improving parliament’s performance, specifically about obliging MPs to desist from untruths; from “deliberate deception” as the Welsh Senedd has it. We feel honesty in politics is very much a climate-related issue. It’s fundamental. Our only hope, very literally, is to “follow the science” and facts are foundational to such a project. MP Watch Witney needs to pursue this issue vigorously, and is doing so. If politicians are allowed to smother truth with lies, politics won’t be usable and we won’t be able to deal successfully with climate change.
Hugo pointed out that an estate agent is obliged to report if a house for sale has been flooded but a politician can declare that climate change isn’t man-made, or doesn’t matter, or that net zero would “bankrupt” the country with absolute impunity. He also pointed out that the Welsh Senedd has produced a report exploring ways to sanction what they call “deliberate deception” by members and that the government there has accepted most of their recommendations. They are producing a template as to how to sanction Senedd Members who lie, in short.
But what about Westminster?
Hugo went on to say that the parliamentary standards committee in Westminster is not presently looking into this issue but suggested they should. And finally, he suggested that the Lib Dems might be the parliamentary force to change this. In today’s parliament they are insufficiently numerous to affect votes in the House, yet numerous enough to be heard. They are thoroughly embedded in parliament, with a Lib Dem on almost every select committee, including Anna Sabine on the standards committee. Hugo wondered whether the 72 Lib Dems might adopt developing a formal process which would oblige MPs to tell the truth as an important part of the electoral reform so dear to the Lib Dem heart.
For those who prefer video , this is part of Hugo’s introduction:
On the issue of truth in politics and the imposition of sanctions on politicians who deceive, Charlie was, of course, obliged to be circumspect. He pointed out the shades of deceit inherent in politics – the selection of facts to suit a case, the implied statement, the sins of omission and all the other tricks of rhetoric. But he accepted the desirability of honest politics as foundational and undertook to take the subject further and discuss it with Anna Sabine after the Easter break. He pointed out that ‘information’ today was considerably online, and its currency was soundbites and slogans - headlines rather than pages of well-reasoned argument. Generally, today’s media, and social media in particular, do not go into detail on serious issues.
The steel question:
Nationalising steel was being debated in Westminster as we were meeting. Charlie reminded us that he is on the Business and Trade select committee, which is where his expertise lies. Steel, he told us, is a highly carbon-intensive product, in part due to the energy demanded to heat ore, or even scrap iron, and in part to the quantities of raw material and finished product being imported and exported. It is a very major contributor to Britain’s carbon emissions. Whether Britain should maintain a steel industry, or of what size, is a moot point. Conceivably, it is a security issue, although we often import particular kinds of steel we do not make ourselves, to build defence equipment. If we are to make steel, we must at least change to electric arc furnaces, or possibly green hydrogen produced for the purpose.
Some generalities:
Charlie told us that although Johnson and Theresa May were quite ‘green’ the present Conservative party is not. In the Labour party, Ed Miliband was doing well, but experiencing considerable resistance and his party was focused on upcoming elections and making decisions for political reasons. Wind power needs to be increased rapidly but it is not clear that this is being seriously planned for. Solar panels should be installed on new build housing and commercial properties, but this is not happening. Since Brexit, we are no longer part of the ‘single day ahead coupling system’ which automatically trades electricity, matching excess supply to shortfall demand across Europe (and charging appropriately). This system is much ‘greener’ and makes economic sense. The civil service, Charlie felt, contained the expertise – failures are generally in political decision-making, not in knowledge.
The rail link:
On the Carterton - Witney – Eynsham - Oxford rail link, Charlie reported that he’d met the leadership of district and county councils to discuss ‘land value capture’ along the route. Then, the plan would be to approach Homes England for further contribution. The Department of Transport remains interested and has asked Charlie to move ahead. There are currently some 45,000 houses in West Oxfordshire and we are mandated to build 10,000 more. The average A40 Witney-Oxford trip, already a costly nightmare, is projected to lengthen by a further 30 minutes as a result, without the rail link. [This is an important topic on several levels, climate included, and we will return to it in future meetings.]
Going to school:
MP Watch Witney has been to school. Gavin and Phoebe gave a presentation to the sixth form at Henry Box in Witney. They explained who we are and why we are, and then explored the topic of climate change, bravely using a new technique through Mentimeter. This enables an audience to input the words which spring to mind when thinking about climate change (for example) and this is presented as a word cloud and projected onto the main screen. You can read a full account here.
Pavement campaigning:
The not-so-young wing of MP Watch Witney also campaigns, notwithstanding, on the Witney pavement. Our usual stall question (are you worried about climate change & do you think enough is being done about it?) reveals an answer close to the national average findings – some 80% of us are worried and a similar number are not sure politics is responding appropriately. Many people can be induced to talk about it, and most are warmly disposed to such action. An alternative topic might be honesty in politics. Should MPs be made to tell the truth (and if so, how)?
We’ll get back to you on that one…
If you see us out campaigning, please stop and chat. We love friendly chat. This is Sheila and Caroline engaging with the people of Witney.
The silent majority and the 89% project:
When out on the stump, politicians say that “climate never comes up on the doorstep.” This is our fault, of course, and is dangerously wrong. We’ve got to talk about climate, everywhere and often. We’re a majority, but we’re silent. It’s no good being a majority if we’re silent. A silent majority can be (and will be) ignored and business as usual will run on. This has to stop! We’re all constituents and citizens and taxpayers and we’re all worried about climate, but if we never tell anyone nobody will know, and nothing will change.
And it’s good to talk!
Recent research has shown that well over 80% of people world-wide are worried about climate and don’t believe enough is being done about it. BUT (and this is the important bit) these worried people think that only about 40% of their compatriots share their worry. This may be why nobody ever brings the subject of climate change up and it remains smothered in silence. We need to talk to everyone to break this vicious cycle. If we all stay silent, we lose everything. Here’s a useful starter article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/22/89-percent-project-climate-change.
A date for your diary…
On the evening of September 18th 2025, in the Methodist church in New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, we’re hosting a meeting with speakers
Lord Deben (John Gummer as was)
Roz Savage (the lady who rowed across three oceans and presented the Climate and Action Bill in parliament earlier this year)
Anneliese Dodds (MP for East Oxford)
We’re not asking them to talk about climate change as such – we’ll assume everyone knows the basics – but about why our political system doesn’t grapple better with it. What is it about our political system, or about politics itself, which makes it so difficult for real change to be brought about even when everyone agrees that it’s desirable, even necessary? As part of this we’ll ask them to address the possibility of sanctioning politicians who deliberately deceive us.
“Homework”
We will, from time to time, write to you to suggest you write a letter or email – as we have just asked you to write to the standards committee: standards@parliament.uk
…about enforcing more honesty in politics. If we do not continually make ‘politics’ aware of what we think and what we want, how will they know and why would they do anything? Let’s get talking and writing. If, for example, enough people write to the standards committee demanding action on truth in politics, we will see some – especially if we engage MPs up and down the country to the same end. Democracy is possible, and something we must continually battle to preserve and update.
Joining us:
We’re a nice team, but a small one. If you’d like to help us, you’d be very welcome. Everyone has skills which are relevant and there will always be a job which suits yours. Our email address is mail@mpwatchwitney.org
Hugo – for MP Watch Witney.