Bristol Unpacked

Edson Burton: what is culture and who does it belong to?

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0100

Dr Edson Burton wears many different hats, both figuratively and literally. He’s a writer, performer, historian, poet, well-dressed man about town, and – as you’ll know if you follow his social channels – physical training enthusiast. So who better to wade into one of the thorniest issues of the day: what is our culture, and who does it belong to?

In a freewheeling chat with Neil, Edson speaks about his personal experience of moving between worlds: working-class Bedford roots to academic institutions; Radio 4 to grassroots venues; poetry to dancefloors. Rather than “cutting himself off” from any part of his life, he describes identity as something we carry — and something that keeps evolving.

That applies not only to individuals but also Bristol, and to the wider UK as it wrestles with economic and political changes, the temptation of populism and questions over who we even are as a nation now. With our city vying to become UK City of Culture in 2029, Edson and Neil explore how culture can people can get out of their silos and find the things that unite us. It’s an epic chat that Neil admits he'd have happily carried on for another few hours – enjoy.

The Bristol Cable is Bristol's community-owned cooperative newsroom – fiercely independent journalism that puts people before profit. Since 2014, we've been holding power to account through investigative reporting, community campaigns, and democratic media ownership. Because when journalism serves the community, not shareholders, real change becomes possible.

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Joe Joyce: rugby, resilience and returning to the West Country

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0100

When you’re known as the ‘King of Southmead’, how does it feel to be copping abuse on social media from the good people of Bristol?

That’s the situation that former longtime Bristol Bears lock Joe Joyce, who grew up on the north Bristol estate, has faced this year after it was announced he will return to play rugby in the West Country – for rivals Gloucester.

This week, with the Six Nations well underway, Bristol Unpacked is taking one of its periodic forays into the world of sport as Neil – himself a former sports journalist – sits down with Joe to discuss his return from Connacht in Ireland, as he enters the autumn of his career.

What’s it like as a 32-year-old elite sportsperson to confront the fact that your playing days are numbered? What is Joe planning to do next? And how has rugby changed since he got his breakthrough – both in terms of its ties to the public school system and its famous association with hard drinking? Find out on the latest Unpacked – hope you enjoy.

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Ani Townsend: art, inequality and the case for universal basic income

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0100

Universal basic income means the state providing citizens with a bare-bones income that allows them to survive and keep a roof over their head.

It’s an idea that’s been kicking around for decades. But with AI threatening people’s jobs and many arguing the benefits system is not fit for purpose, it’s seeing renewed interest and Bristol councillors passed a motion calling on the council to ask government for a trial here.
This would focus on people in the creative sector – an area that’s getting plenty of attention as Bristol bids to be the 2029 UK City of Culture.

This week, we’re speaking to the Green politician who put forward that motion, Ani Townsend who represents the Bristol Central ward and has worked for decades as a costume designer and milliner (hat maker).

So why does it makes sense to give people free money? Why can supporting the arts sector help address class inequalities? And with the Greens riding high in polls, is leader Zack Polanski’s brand of ‘eco-populism’ is what the left needs in the age of Reform?

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Clare Moody: policing, power and a political cancellation

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0100

How does the Labour politician who oversees policing in Avon and Somerset feel about being cancelled by her own party after less than 18 months in office?

This week we’re talking to Clare Moody, Avon & Somerset’s police and crime commissioner (PCC), who beat her Conservative predecessor Mark Shelford by 5,000 votes in 2024, albeit on a low turnout of 23%.

In November, as we were finalising the guest booking, policing minister Sarah Jones announced that the Starmer government would be scrapping PCCs, which were set up under the Tories in the 2010s, with a statement calling the role a "failed experiment". The Police Federation, which represents the rank and file, backed the move.

In this first Unpacked of 2026, Neil asks Moody about whether her job still matters, and what comes next, about the state of policing nationally and here in Bristol, and about what forces need to do to regain the trust of communities they serve. Enjoy.

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Bristol Temple Quarter: can regeneration be inclusive?

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0100

Bristol Temple Quarter is the biggest redevelopment the city has seen in at least a generation, and will transform a vast area around Temple Meads station, St Philips Marsh and the Dings beyond recognition.

Much of this has been untouched for decades, and while it’s mostly current or former industrial land, it also sits next-door to some of the city’s poorest communities around Lawrence Hill and Barton Hill.

This week on Bristol Unpacked, we talk to the woman overseeing the massive project. Lyn Garner is chair of the Temple Quarter partnership, which brings together the city council, Homes England, Network Rail, and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

So what impact will the Temple Quarter have on the lives of people in the city? What is it going to do for Bristol’s big issues – like housing, jobs, education and transport? And with the plans going big on words like equity and inclusivity, how can these kinds of schemes bring on board and deliver for the people most affected by them?

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DIY wealth redistribution, with Bristol Redistro’s Frances Howe

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0100

Taxing and redistributing wealth to reduce inequality is an idea popular on the left, and is being pushed by some politicians including Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

But it’s loathed by others who believe people should be able to hang on to what they have, whether that’s earned or inherited.

This week we’re joined by Frances Howe, co-founder of local collective Bristol Redistro, which rather than a top-down tax asks people who have more money than they need to voluntarily chuck some of it into a pot.

This is divided up by a panel of locals and given to grassroots organisations. Its most recent funding round helped groups in Knowle West, St Paul’s, Hengrove and Hartcliffe as well as others serving marginalised communities across the city.

How does this work, and what difference does it make? Why is it different from giving to charity? And with the cost of living biting, why should people be giving up their wealth in the first place? We get into these questions, and more on this latest episode of Unpacked.

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Unpacked – Darren Jones: from Lawrence Weston to Starmer’s right-hand man

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0100

Bristol North West MP Darren Jones is a man whose political rise has been rapid.

From growing up in a Lawrence Weston council flat to representing his home turf as an MP, and since September assuming a new role as Keir Starmer’s chief secretary, Jones’ story is rooted in Bristol. In this week’s episode he talks to Neil about that journey and how his early experiences shaped his politics.

But Jones’ recent promotion comes as Labour faces plummeting public support in the face of policy flip-flops, challenges from Reform and, from some sections of the electorate, from the Greens and Lib Dems. He’s said his role is to “fix government delivery, help improve communications and help change the country”.

What does Jones make of Labour’s gloomy polling figures and the missteps that have fuelled them? How can the government connect with the public – and why is he turning to YouTube in an attempt to reach younger voters? Tune into the first episode of a new Unpacked season to find out.

The Bristol Cable is Bristol's community-owned cooperative newsroom - fiercely independent journalism that puts people before profit. Since 2014, we've been holding power to account through investigative reporting, community campaigns, and democratic media ownership. Because when journalism serves the community, not shareholders, real change becomes possible.

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WECA Mayor Helen Godwin - redefining regional leadership and sorting out the buses

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Our guest today is no stranger to the show. Back in 2020, Neil spoke with Helen Godwin when she was a Bristol City Councillor. A lot has changed since then. Not only has the Bristol mayoral role been abolished, but a new Labour government is in power, and Helen Godwin now holds one of the West Country's most important political positions: the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

In May, Helen won the election and has since been settling into her new role. We've brought her back on the show to get the inside scoop on her first few months in office. What has she accomplished, and what challenges has she faced? We unpack what it's really like to be the WECA Mayor.

Helen has often described herself as an empathetic and caring leader, a stark contrast to her predecessor, Dan Norris, who was known for his disagreements with local leaders. We explore her plans for building better relationships with local bigwigs and improving morale within the WECA office. What does she think she can realistically achieve during her four-year term?

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Lee Haskins: The world champ boxer who never left Lockleaze

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Neil scored a conversation with Bristol's homegrown boxing legend, Lee Haskins. You might know him as a former world champion, but today, ten years on from that victory, the two catch up to talk shop about Lee's ongoing legacy.
He now runs his own family gym, Round One Boxing, where he trains and teaches alongside a roster of other professional fighters.
They talk family life; some of Lee's kids are following in his footsteps and stepping into the ring. Is that hard to watch as someone who's been through the highs and lows of professional sport?
You don't need to be a boxing fanatic to appreciate this one. Lee is a local and global legend and has an interesting and engaging outlook on life, health, family, Bristol and of course boxing.

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Mythbusting Islam & Islamophobia, with Rizwan Ahmed

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Trigger Warning: Contains discussions about grooming gangs in the second half

This week it’s another episode of Bristol Unpacked. Islam is back in the firing line of the culture wars, with a new legal definition being drafted by Labour, and the grooming gang scandal very much overlapping with far-right narratives about the religion. We wanted to hone in on this national issue, as it's one having a ripple effect in neighbourhoods across the nation, including in Bristol.

Bristol Muslim Cultural Society Director, Rizwan Ahmed, joined Neil to debunk common misconceptions about Islam, and to talk through his mission to strengthen inter-faith community ties through education. Rizwan gives us an insight into the normalcy of life as a British Muslim and answers some of those burning questions many non-Muslims might have: What are the foundations of the faith? What is the deal with Sharia Law? And perhaps most importantly; how can you spot a British Muslim in Mecca?

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£20m for Hartcliffe: Kirsty Tait on climate change, class & community

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Join Neil Maggs alongside councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood Kirsty Tate, to talk about class & climate justice in her community.

Kirsty is the Climate Action Manager at Heart of BS13, and is a co-author of The Just Transition Declaration which is all about ensuring climate policies are fair for everyone especially those most negatively impacted. This is particularly relevant in Bristol, where controversies like the Clean Air Zone and East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood have sparked debate topics we’ve covered on Unpacked before.

Hartcliffe has just received £20 million as part of a national government scheme to support communities in driving change. The goal? To ensure ‘left behind’ areas are ‘no longer ignored’ in the government’s own words. Hartcliffe is one of only two areas in our region (the other being Swindon) to secure this funding.

So, what does this mean? How should the money be used? What matters most locally? And how can residents shape these decisions?

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From Eastville to LA (via Wigan): Bristol Northern Soul Club

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

We're going up north – or actually, the north is coming down south to Bristol. You've probably clocked by now that there's been a massive Northern Soul revival in the city, so we thought we'd unpack what it's all about.
This week, Neil talks to Levanna McLean and her mum, Eve Arslett. It started when Levanna began doing Northern Soul dances during lockdown. Her mum filmed it, they pushed it out on socials and it blew up. They've featured everywhere: from BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour to the New York Times.
They then set up the Bristol Northern Soul club night. It kicked off at The Assembly in Old Market and has recently moved to the Eastville Social Club – an historic working men's club in an Ikea car park.
So, why is a scene that started in the sixties taking off in Bristol now with a whole new generation? We try and unpack all of this...

Bristol Northern Soul on Headfirst

Levanna McLean

Kalpna Woolf: From migrant kid in London to High Sheriff of Bristol

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

This week we’ve got the next instalment of Bristol Unpacked for you. Neil managed to get a chat in with our new High Sheriff, Kalpna Woolf. Its one of those mysterious, archaic titles that somehow has stood the test of time, but as Kalpna details, is a world away from its original purpose of enforcing the monarch’s will and collecting taxes… Kalpna talks us through her upbringing as a first generation migrant kid in London and the life experiences which led her to this point, as an ambassador of community cohesion across cultural divides. It’s a good one, and feels poignant in this current political climate where migrant has become a dirty word.

Kalpna founded 91 Ways – an organisation using the power of food to connect Bristol's 91 language communities. She also set up the Be Onboard initiative which aims to diversify boardrooms, making them representative of the communities they serve. She's been a boss at the BBC and a board member for University of the West of England.

A year of Green power in Bristol with council leader Tony Dyer

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 19 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

One year into his leadership of Bristol City Council, Green party councillor for Southville Tony Dyer sits down with Neil to talk about it. Is he a Noel type? or a Liam? or a Bonehead? (apparently these are references to a band called Oasis).

They touch on the Green Party's internal dynamics, financial hurdles, and the significant political changes occurring within the city, such as the appointment of the new West of England Combined Authority mayor, Labour's Helen Godwin.

They unpack some key local issues from the past year, including the controversial East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme, Yew Tree Farm and more generally, budget constraints impacting public services. Also, the rising wave of right wing populism and how that might impact Dyer's stomping ground in South Bristol in the years ahead.

What is a citizens' assembly and how do they work?

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 05 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

With faith in democracy – and in particular in traditional political parties – at a low ebb, in the UK and elsewhere, this week Unpacked wrestles with whether citizens’ assemblies offer a chance to rekindle the public’s affection. Neil is joined by David Jubb, co-founder and co-director of Citizens In Power, which as its name suggests aims to enable citizens to lead decision-making and shape the future.Citizens’ assemblies offer a representative group of people the chance to deliberate on thorny issues – such as abortion or assisted dying – in a much more nuanced way than, for example, the Brexit referendum did. They are meant to provide a safe space for people to respectfully disagree, something that has become harder in our age of polarised opinion, and to find solutions that are acceptable for all.This year, Jubb will be collaborating with Trinity Community Arts and St Paul's Carnival on Citizens for Culture, a West of England-wide project to explore how creative opportunities can be more inclusive and accessible for everyone in the region. How will that work then? Who will be involved? And what would success look like? Tune in for another thought-provoking chat…

Cider, jet skis and the WECA mayoral election: BBC journalist Pete Simson

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In this instalment of Bristol Unpacked, Neil is joined by BBC Politics West editor Pete Simson to unpack the upcoming West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Mayoral election. Simson, a veteran political journalist, offers his expertise and breaks down key aspects of the election, discussing the major candidates, voter engagement strategies, and the complexities of local political dynamics here in Bristol.
How do you cover local political content in an engaging way? And what might be the impact of recent scandals and controversies on the WECA election results? Listen on to find out.

Politics West

Legendary Bristol photographer Colin Moody

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000

This week, we’re diving into Bristol’s vibrant nightlife. Neil talks with legendary Bristol photographer Colin Moody who has has been wide awake, capturing the city after dark in his latest project.

Colin is no stranger to documenting Bristol’s characters; his previous photography books have brought the streets of Montpelier and Gloucester Road to life. Now, he’s turned his lens to the nightlife, working for the past five years (yes, even through lockdown) alongside Jasmine Yaba Ketibuah-foley.

Neil chats with Colin about his new book, the decline of nightlife across the UK, and why clubs are closing left and right. Is it the cost of living? Post-pandemic struggles? And what about the rave scene—is it still the cultural force it once was?

Plus, should a man of Colin’s age really be out until 4 AM taking photos? Shouldn’t he be at home with a cup of cocoa? Tune in for a brilliant conversation about art, nightlife, and the soul of after-hours Bristol.

From the archive: Carla Denyer becomes Green party co-leader (2021)

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0100

This week we’re bringing you another episode from the Bristol Unpacked Archives; its Green party MP Carla Denyer who was interviewed by Neil in October 2021, just after her election as co-chair of The Green party and 3 years before her election to parliament as the MP for Bristol Central in 2024.
How has she measured up against early commitments expressed in this interview? Check out her voting record and see for yourself.

Original Copy - October 2021:

Carla Denyer, an elected councillor in the city, has just won the leadership of the Greens alongside Adrian Ramsay. With Labour shifting to the right, and concern about the climate crisis starting to become mainstream, Denyer thinks this is the moment for Greens, in the UK and beyond. But can they get out of their pigeon-hole and reach a wide range of society? Will internal divisions rock the party like they have others? And what does this all mean for Bristol? Join Neil for an in depth interview on Carla's background, politics and plans.

An audio excerpt of a council meeting is used courtesy of Bristol City Council.

From the archive: Jayde Adams, the slap, Bristolian accent, grief and coming home

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0100

From the archive
April 2022

"As the slap reverberates around the world we talk all things comedy with Jayde Adams - who went from working in Asda Bedminster to her own Amazon Prime Special. She just starred in a new BBC documentary following her move back to Bristol. Going deep about how the death of her sister made her so driven, are there red lines in comedy, and what it is like coming home."

Barrister Lucy Reed on opening up the secretive family courts

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0100

Lucy Reed is a barrister in the family courts, where separating couples hammer out child custody arrangements and where, in one of the most severe decisions the state can take, orders are made to take children into care, separating them from their families. On 27 January, journalists were for the first time allowed, with some restrictions, to report from any family court across England and Wales. Why is this a big deal? And with the system under pressure, why do so many kids get taken into care, and what needs to change?

Lucy's blog Pink Tape
Family Court Information

Dr Patrick Hart: Just Stop Oil petrol station sabotage court case - From the archives

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0100

From the archives - an update
Today we bring you an episode from the archives with Dr Patrick Hart. Patrick took action in August 2022 to demand an end to new licences and consents for oil and gas projects in the UK, something which has subsequently become government policy. He disabled petrol pumps at an Esso garage on the M25 on the 24th August 2022.

On August 24, 2022, he disabled petrol pumps at an Esso garage near the M25. He was found guilty of Criminal Damage in October 2024 and appeared before Judge Mills at Chelmsford Crown Court on January 7 of this year.

Dr. Hart has already been fined in civil court for this action, as the Thurrock Esso petrol station is subject to a private injunction. He has also been referred for a disciplinary hearing by the General Medical Council (GMC) and will face a tribunal. In the past 12 months, the GMC has suspended two doctors from the medical register following convictions for non-violent climate protests. Dr. Hart now faces penalties in three separate proceedings for the same incident.

Before sentencing Dr Hart said:
“Right now, the greatest health threat to all of us is the unfolding climate catastrophe. It is the greatest health threat we have ever faced. All healthcare workers have a responsibility to protect the health of their patients. If we do not stand up to the oil and gas executives who are wreaking havoc on our climate and the politicians who enable them, if we do not end the burning of fossil fuels, then we will have failed as a profession and the health systems that we have developed over centuries will collapse. I will continue to fight against the death sentence of fossil fuels for as long as I have strength in me. I have no greater duty as a doctor at this moment in history.”

Original copy:
Just Stop Oil protestors have been disrupting business as usual since April 2022. A Daily Mail article called them “a deranged criminal eco-terrorist cult”. But who are the people behind the headlines? Neil sits down with Dr Patrick Hart, a local GP who has been putting his career and liberty on the line through direct action protests, including the smashing and spray painting of a petrol station. Dr Hart believes we have run out of time for purely legal ways of pulling the world back from what the UN has called “the brink of climate catastrophe”. But are these tactics effective? Are protestors losing public sympathy? Does that matter? Listen in for a conversation far and away from the soundbites of Good Morning Britain

Ex-Lord Mayor Paul Goggin talks homelessness and mental health

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0100

It’s the coldest time of the year, and Bristol’s homelessness crisis is as bleak as ever. How does it feel to be out on the streets? This week, Neil puts the question to Paul Goggin, ex-Lord Mayor of Bristol, who went through a period of sleeping rough after a relationship breakdown. Goggin has also been open about his mental health struggles – does the UK need a different approach? And as Labour councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood, does he fear the rise of the Reform Party? Listen in to find out…
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Amanda Sharman on leading the charge for boat dwellers' rights

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0100

Bristol is famous for being a maritime city, and its harbour – a vast area of water and historic docklands regenerated from dereliction since the 1990s – draws tourists from all over the world. But who are the people living on the many vessels moored there? What has led them to choose a boat-dwelling life? And why are they protesting against how the council is managing the harbourside? Join Neil Maggs, in conversation with chair of the Bristol Boaters’ Community Association Amanda Sharman, to find out.

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Samira Musse on community power and giving children confidence

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0100

When authorities make plans that affect people’s lives, what do they get wrong – and how can they do better at working with communities? What are the lessons here for the council in Bristol, as it continues to face blowback over traffic restrictions in east Bristol? And why is it more important than ever for young people to have access to safe spaces, and adults they can trust? Join Neil and Samira Musse, from Barton Hill Activity Club, as they get deep into these issues and more…

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Barry Parsons on Green Party power in Bristol – and whether they can do anything about the housing crisis

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0100

A year on from the Barton House tower block evacuation, and six months after the Green Party became the largest party on Bristol City Council, what has changed as Bristol continues to grapple with a brutal housing crisis? How are the Greens finding being the party of leadership rather than opposition? And if they seized power at a national level, would they tone down their combative comments on Donald Trump? Join Neil Maggs in conversation with Easton councillor and housing committee lead, Barry Parsons, as a fresh series of Unpacked gets underway.

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Bristol Unpacked Election Special - Emma Edwards // Green Party

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:43:13 +0000

Emma Edwards is the leader of Bristol Green Party who could well be in charge of the council for the first time after May's local elections. She chats to Neil about the Green's vision for doing politics in a more transparent and collaborative way, how they'd sort out our public transport, and whether they're ready to make the tricky transition from party of opposition to party of power.

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Bristol Unpacked Election Special - Mark Weston // Conservative

The Bristol Cable — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:50:04 +0000

Neil Maggs sits down with Mark Weston, who was first elected as a councillor nearly 20 years ago, and has led the local Tory party for a decade. On the eve of the local elections, they discuss the Tories miserable national polling, the so-called 'war on motorists' being waged by Bristol City Council, and the cultural divides between Bristol's inner city and suburbs.

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Bristol Unpacked Election Special - Jos Clark // Liberal Democrats

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:21:28 +0000

Jos Clark is an experienced local councillor now leading the Lib Dems into Bristol's local elections. A party that used to have strong support in the city has seen its seats dwindle over the last decade. The critic of Marvin Rees and the mayoral system, who helped manoeuvre the referendum on introducing the new committee system, talks to Neil Maggs about libraries, Bristol's failing bus services and her prediction that Labour will take a kicking after eight years in power

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Bristol Unpacked Election Special - Tom Renhard // Labour

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:42:08 +0000

Just three years after being first elected as a councillor, Labour's Tom Renhard is now leading the party into May's local elections.

Neil Maggs asks him about his record as the city's housing chief, why he thinks the Greens aren't up to the task of being in power and Labour's plans for building new homes, campaigning for rent controls and bringing buses back into public ownership.

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Salma Najjar on experiencing the Gaza war as a Palestinian in the UK

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:29:24 -0100

Salma, a lawyer who spent her childhood in Gaza, shares the 'dystopian' experience of life under occupation and knowing your family are in a war zone, as well as discussing happier memories and pro-Palestinian activism in the UK.

Content warning: contains graphic descriptions of war and violence

Salma Hajjar is a young trainee solicitor who spent her childhood up to age eight in Gaza, where decades of oppression and violence have been succeeded by a return to the horrors of all-out war.

In the latest episode of Bristol Unpacked, the last of the current run, Salma offers a devastating personal perspective on the war – which has taken the lives of some of her loved ones – and on the “dystopian” experience of living under occupation. She reflects on happier memories of the beauty of Gaza – its beaches, its food and its community – and on the pain and loss of being separated from home, and the desire to return one day.

Salma, who has now lived in Bristol for five years, also discusses her love for the city, the solidarity she has found, including from Jewish friends, and the value of activism in changing public opinions – and holding politicians’ feet to the fire.

With the International Court of Justice recently demanding measures to reduce the suffering inflicted on Palestinian civilians – and continuing to weigh a genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa – pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza is continuing to mount.

But under what conditions can such a deal take place? Do the court’s actions go far enough? And are there any grounds for longer-term optimism around an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict and progress towards a two-state solution?

Join Salma and Neil Maggs for a sometimes harrowing but always thought-provoking finale to the winter season of Bristol Unpacked – and with elections on the horizon, be sure to stay tuned for the team’s next moves during the spring.

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Ruth Pitter on the role of the charity sector, pioneering Black theatre and her recent MBE

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 11:14:02 -0100

Neil chats to Ruth, a daughter of the Windrush generation, on her decades of work with Bristol's voluntary and community groups, how that's changed as public services have been cut – and whether she feels conflicted about receiving an honour associated with empire

Ruth Pitter has been a stalwart of Bristol’s voluntary sector for decades – and in January 2024 was awarded an MBE as part of the New Year’s honours list for ‘services to equality, charity and community’ in the city.

This has included work with Voscur, the umbrella organisation that supports Bristol’s voluntary sector, and SARI, which battles racism and provides support for people who have faced hate crimes. She has also been a pioneer in the local community arts space, co-founding two unique theatre companies – Breathing Fire and Black Women Let Loose – for women of African and Caribbean heritage.

Ruth’s career has spanned a period during which councils have faced massive cuts, with community organisations expanding and competing to fill the resulting gaping holes in services – and often bringing innovation to how things have done. What is the role of the voluntary sector these days? Is it right that things have to be this way in the UK? Do countries like Germany, where the state still takes care of things, offer a better model?

What has been the impact of Ruth’s theatre companies among communities who are much less likely to feel represented in the audience – or the productions – of mainstream Bristol theatres such as the Old Vic?

And as a daughter of the Windrush generation who has spent her life fighting for fairness, does Ruth feel conflicted about accepting an honour that is inextricably linked to empire?

Lock in with Neil and Ruth as they chew over these questions and many more, in the latest unmissable episode of Bristol Unpacked.

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BBC journalist Lucy Proctor on mad cows, Covid and conspiracy theories

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 04:01:07 -0100

Bristol Unpacked with BBC journalist Lucy Proctor on mad cows, Covid and conspiracy theories

Thirty years ago, BSE was spreading across the UK while the government insisted beef was safe. Neil asks Lucy, producer of The Cows are Mad podcast, about the scandal – and how conspiracy theories have thrived as trust in the establishment has nosedived.

Over the past few years, BBC podcast producer Lucy Proctor has built a reputation for shining a much broader and more searching beam into the world of conspiracy theories than most other mainstream journalists.

Last year, her 10-part series The Cows Are Mad looked back more than 30 years to the BSE scandal, which sent shockwaves through Britain's meat industry. It re-examined how the UK government repeated the line that beef was safe, with those questioning the mantra dismissed as cranks.

Since 1996, 177 people have gone on to die from the human form of 'mad cow disease'. But the truth of its origins remains a mystery, leaving theories to fill the vacuum.

The intervening 30 years have seen public trust in the establishment nosedive, both here and across the Atlantic. Competing narratives, misinformation and politicians' lies over a more recent public health crisis, Covid, have only fuelled the process. As Lucy and her colleague Gabriel Gatehouse explored in their 2022 podcast The Coming Storm, which looked at the QAnon movement in the States, it’s becoming increasingly difficult even to agree on what’s real any more.

So how did we get here? What has been the impact of mainstream media skirting round difficult issues, failing to report important stories properly and reducing people with ‘fringe’ views to caricatures? How have canny operators exploited information gaps and deployed social media to supercharge the spread of conspiracy theories? And is there any way back for trust in the powers that be?

Join Lucy and Neil as they chew over these weighty questions and, getting back to mad cow disease, discuss whether Bristol was ground zero for the epidemic. It’s almost certainly lashing down as you read this, so find somewhere dry and cosy and settle in for the first Unpacked of 2024…

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Watershed CEO Clare Reddington on cinema, class and council cuts

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:06:23 -0100

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Watershed CEO Clare Reddington on cinema, class and council cuts

As Bristol City Council slashes spending on venues including arthouse cinema Watershed, Neil asks its boss Clare why funding the arts matters, and whether the sector's reputation as catering mainly to the well-heeled is justified.

Over the past year Clare Reddington, the chief executive of Bristol's flagship arthouse cinema Watershed, has not been shy about fighting her corner in the midst of a tough financial environment.

Back in the summer Clare, who has been at the venue for 20 years and in charge for four, sounded a warning that indie cinemas' business model was under threat from soaring inflation and the big streaming operators gobbling their market share. This month she blasted Bristol City Council bosses for lacking a "clear cultural strategy" after they cut funding from Watershed as well as other renowned arts centres including the Old Vic theatre.

With the cash-strapped local authority struggling to keep crucial services such as social care afloat, is this simply entitled moaning from a venue – and sector – seen by some as catering mainly to well-heeled cinephiles still able to afford £6 pints alongside their culture fix? Or does that viewpoint itself represent a bad case of inverted snobbery by suggesting that only the middle classes enjoy a bit of high art?

Why does it matter that the arts get funded, even while public services are getting sliced left, right and centre? Is the picture in Bristol really bleaker than in other provincial cities? And do the market pressures facing the wider cinema industry – which have seen big operators closing their doors here recently – present an opportunity for canny independents to grow their business and boost their inclusivity?

As 2023 draws to a close, join Neil and Clare for a wide-ranging chat over these issues in the final Bristol Unpacked of the year. We'll be returning right after the Christmas break for the rest of the season, so stay tuned.

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ACORN's Wesley Bear on the Barton House evacuation and housing activism in the city

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 11:42:14 -0100

In the last few months, Wesley Bear has been at the forefront of actions by ACORN. That's the community union known nationally for taking direct action to stand up for tenants' rights, which originated in Bristol almost a decade ago.

On 17 November Wesley, ACORN's communications officer, was involved in an altercation with security guards at the Holiday Inn in Bristol city centre. Residents of the Barton House tower block evacuated that week have been temporarily housed in the hotel – in conditions many have complained are far from suitable for families.

A recording heard at the start of this week's episode captures Wesley trying to speak to Bristol's mayor, Marvin Rees, during the incident, which he claims ended with him being assaulted by those security staff. The exchange, in which Wesley calls Rees a "villain" of the situation, marks the latest downward spiral in relations between the mayor – and the council more widely – and ACORN activists.

Over recent weeks the union has been calling out the council over its handling of the high-rise evacuation. People were moved out very suddenly over fears the structure is unsafe – and ACORN is calling for an independent inquiry into what happened. It's also been taking the council to task over proposals to reduce council tax relief for the poorest households – which have now been scrapped.

Things weren't always so oppositional. So what has turned them so sour? What exactly does ACORN believe the council has done wrong in its handling of the tower block emergency? Does the union really speak for the wider Barton Hill community? And does Wesley – as a communications man – see any way back to friendlier ties between ACORN and the powers that be?

Join Neil Maggs for another engrossing chat as he puts these questions, and many others, to Wesley.

ReplyForward

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Filmmaker Aodh Breathnach on surviving being stabbed – and documenting the aftermath

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:08:42 -0100

Content warning: audio contains graphic discussions of violence

Eight years ago, filmmaker Aodh Breathnach was stabbed multiple times during a night out on Stokes Croft, and rushed in a taxi to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Aodh was lucky. He recovered from injuries to his head and body within a few weeks and tried to put the attack out of his mind, deleting photos from his phone and throwing away the clothes he had been wearing.

But the mental scars the stabbing inflicted proved far more resistant to healing, leaving him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): night terrors, panic attacks and an ever-present feeling of fear.

The aftermath of trauma led Aodh into therapy and, several years later, to make a documentary based on his experience – and that of other people who have been victims of knife crime, which have been tragically common in Bristol and other cities.

As part of the process, Aodh went as far as meeting his attacker to explore the impact of restorative justice. Can this technique, in which the survivors, their families and perpetrators of crime open up channels of communication, begin to repair the terrible harm that violent incidents cause? What support is out there to help people move on from the impact of PTSD? And how does it feel for someone accustomed to documenting others' personal experiences to turn the camera back on themselves?

In a fascinating first episode of a brand-new series of Bristol Unpacked, join Neil Maggs in a conversation with Aodh exploring these issues and discussing his thought-provoking film, Scars: Surviving a Stabbing.

Aodh Breathnach’s documentary, Scars: Surviving a Stabbing, is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

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Babbasa CEO Poku Osei on working from the inside to change the system

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:23:57 +0000

Poku Osei transitioned from hustling to sell sugar and DVDs in Ghana to running one of Bristol’s most celebrated social enterprises. Babbasa focuses on helping young people access and thrive with new opportunities, including through alliances with corporates and big institutions. But does this ‘social mobility’ approach undermine more wide scale change by lifting up individuals but not addressing why their communities are under served? Neil and Poku get philosophical and pragmatic on whether a system can or should be changed from the inside.

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Kill the Bill riots ex-prisoner, Jasmine York

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:18:25 +0000

"F*** the police!", "Sluts Against Cops" and “We will burn your fucking cars.” These are some of the things Jasmine York said or graffitied during the ‘Kill the Bill’ riots in March 2021. The biggest incidence of unrest in mainland Britain in a decade.

Jasmine was jailed in the aftermath for arson. As an activist and now ex-prisoner, what’s Jasmine’s take on what went down? Regrets? Didn’t it play into the government’s hands? And what is the big idea behind the abolition of prisons?

Neil and Jasmine get into the events and significance of several days that rocked the city and what it meant for someone at the centre of it.

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Inside the city’s Labour party machine with local fixer Kelvin Blake

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:24:04 +0000

Behind every politician is a fixer. For many years Kelvin Blake has been behind the scenes as a key figure in the city’s Labour party, working on key campaigns that have seen Labour secure the lion's share of political power. But what exactly goes on behind the scenes and where next for Labour as the Greens challenge the party’s establishment status?

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Councillor Christine Townsend, on taking on the Merchant Venturers over educational inequality

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 12:18:36 +0000

It's been three years since the Colston statue was toppled, thrusting the Merchant Venturers - the elite club with a history of the worst kind - into the limelight. But for many years prior, Christine Townsend had been on a mission to fight what she sees as discriminatory practises of pupil selection, starting off with Merchant Venturer run schools in Bristol.

Now a Green Party councillor, Christine is a thorn in the side of the Mayor and others. But with the Greens poised to win further power in Bristol at the next local elections, how might an activist move into a position of power and all the challenges that entails?

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Leftwing rabble rouser and co-founder of Bristol Transformed Isaac Kneebone-Hopkins

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 25 May 2023 13:27:21 +0000

Bristol has long had a reputation as a hotbed of leftie radicals. Most recently, the movement that was built and surged during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party.

Isaac has been a prominent activist with socialist campaign Momentum and as a co-founder of Bristol Transformed, a festival of radical ideas that will return to Bristol on the weekend of 16th of June.

But the scene has attracted fierce criticism from across the party and political spectrum, as out of touch and perhaps a touch sanctimonious, and blamed for Labour’s crushing defeat in 2019. With the left thoroughly on the backfoot, what now in Bristol and beyond?

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Bristol Cathedral's city chaplain Phil Nott, a reverend on a mission for social justice

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 05 May 2023 08:15:32 +0000

How can a stuffy institution with deep links to British Establishment power play a role in bringing about social justice on Earth, in Bristol and beyond?

Neil gets deep into a challenging conversation on the spiritual and political with Phil Nott, an experienced Church of England priest who is on that mission – and has just started a six-month role as the city chaplain at Bristol Cathedral, with a remit of working with the city's diverse communities.

Reverend Nott might not conform to the stereotypical image of an Anglican minister. But how can this vocal ally of LGBTQ+ communities, and outspoken voice on the Church's historical role in racism and injustice, work with an organisation still steeped in conservatism?

Listen in for a fascinating conversation that transcends earthly boundaries.

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Headteacher of Redcliffe Nursery School Sam Williams

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:46:00 +0000

A large part of raising the early years of the next generation is entrusted to nurseries. But the sector is in a protracted crisis of funding and stability. Childcare costs in the UK are among the most expensive in the world, and direct government support for nurseries has not kept up with increasing needs. Especially in the context of an austerity ravaged nation.

So how to do the best for our young ‘uns? Sam Williams is the recently appointed Headteacher of Redcliffe Nursery, set within a diverse and working class community. Neil and Sam chat about the context, forward thinking approaches to child development and what has to happen to give all kids the best start.

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Labour’s Nicola Beech on who’s getting the best deal out of the city: developers or the public?

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:02:34 +0000

Nicola Beech has got a big portfolio at City Hall - Strategic Planning, Resilience & Floods, plus representing St George Central. So how does she juggle the complexity with the pressures and controversies of political life? In this episode, Neil and Nicola dig into what it means to try to lead a city, and why it sometimes seems like developers are giving the council the run around.

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Bristol City FC meets community and politics with James Edwards

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:45:23 -0100

While the Robins set their sights on promotion, James Edwards is working off the field to promote opportunities for the community in and around Bristol City FC, with the club’s community arm the Robins Foundation. But with the furore over Gary Lineker’s comments, what is the role of football in community and political life? Listen in with Neil and James as they discuss how the beautiful game can have an impact beyond the agony and ecstasy of Ashton Gate.

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The city’s new Green Party leader, Emma Edwards, on being the biggest political force in these parts

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:24:40 -0100

Has Bristol’s local politics caught up with how many outsiders see the city: Full of cycling vegetarian activists? The Green Party are now the biggest group on the city council, and Emma Edwards the councillor for Bishopston and Ashley Down is charged with leading them through a tumultuous period as the city gears up to ditch the mayor and move to a committee system. The Greens are no strangers to criticism from the left and right, and from Mayor Marvin Rees. How will a party proud of its record on protest and with limited experience of governing work with others in the city including their antagonists on the Labour benches? How can the Greens continue to reach out beyond the central leafy or leftie areas to represent the diversity of Bristol’s communities?

Sit in with Neil and Emma as they get stuck into this and more.

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The armed robber turned TikTok addiction mentor, Paul Simmons

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 13:01:08 -0100

Paul Simmons’ mugshot appeared on the front page of the Bristol Evening Post in 2004. Fast forward through many years in jail, crimes and devastating addiction Paul appeared on the front page in November 2022 for very different reasons. Having served 22 years in 20 prisons over various sentences since 17, the care leaver is now making a name for himself on social media. With daily videos on TikTok (@pauladdictmentor), podcast appearances and Youtube videos, Paul was working through his own traumas, regrets and challenges - and helping many others too.

Join Neil and Paul for a raw and fascinating story of the care to prison pipeline, mental health in men’s prisons and how Paul is finding redemption and recovery his own way.

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The doctor prescribing ketamine to assist therapy, Dr Ben Sessa

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:56:09 -0100

Depending on who you ask, Ketamine conjures up different images and associations. For Dr Ben Sessa, a leading authority and practitioner of psychedelic assisted therapy, it is a powerful aid to helping people suffering from trauma and addiction. Sessa is the co-founder of Awakn, a company leading the burgeoning movement to use powerful drugs for healing with a clinic in Bristol and internationally. Tune in with Neil to explore the science, philosophy and context of this exciting field with a raver, campaigner and medical professional.

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Editor of Bristol 24/7 and Hotwells election hopeful Martin Booth

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:37:09 -0100

From Boris Johnson to Marvin Rees will Martin Booth the editor of Bristol 24/7 become one of a long line of journalists who enter political office?

Booth is in the running as an independent in the by-election for Hotwells and Harbourside ward. As editor of a local publication, what are Martin’s motivations and inspirations? Can anyone be really independent, including Bristol 24/7’s owners and shareholders?

The area is the site of a major battle over the future of Bristol - the transformation of Cumberland Basin into Western Harbour. But what’s the big idea? Who wins and who will lose? Listen in!

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Working to welcome refugees amid the culture wars, with Fuad Mahamed, founder of Ashley Community Housing

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:38:44 -0100

Arriving to the UK in 1998 as a refugee from Somalia, Fuad Mahamed soon left behind a career as an engineer to work on his passion: Supporting people who, like himself, had newly arrived to the UK often fleeing war and oppression. Founded in 2008 in St Pauls, Ashley Community Housing (ACH) is a leading organisation on the integration and support of refugees and asylum seekers with offices in Bristol and the West Midlands. But with immigration often at the centre of a fraught political context, how has Fuad navigated this personally and professionally? Join Neil and Fuad for an in depth conversation with one of Bristol’s newly appointed International Ambassadors.

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Local GP Dr Patrick Hart fresh from court for sabotaging a petrol station with Just Stop Oil

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 09:48:52 -0100

Just Stop Oil protestors have been disrupting business as usual since April 2022. A Daily Mail columnist called them “a deranged criminal eco-terrorist cult”. But who are the people behind the headlines? Neil sits down with Dr Patrick Hart, a local GP who has been putting his career and liberty on the line through direct action protests, including the smashing and spray painting of a petrol station. Dr Hart believes we have run out of time for purely legal ways of pulling the world back from what the UN has called “the brink of climate catastrophe”. But are these tactics effective? Are protestors losing public sympathy? Does that matter? Listen in for a conversation far and away from the soundbites of Good Morning Britain.

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Labour MP Kerry McCarthy on if Tories can be friends and the coming fights on migration, taxation and climate

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:59:17 -0100

Kerry McCarthy, the Labour MP for Bristol East, is the city’s longest serving representative in Westminster. Sometimes described as a ‘Brownite’ having been an ally of the former PM the last time Labour were in power, Kerry is now Shadow Minister for Climate Change. But is the party going far enough to confront the climate crisis? Can the Starmer’s ‘sensible centre ground’ coexist with the Left on key issues of immigration and taxation? How does a vegan, punk music lover get along with Tories in the House of Commons?

Listen in with Neil and Kerry to hear from the person representing 70,000+ in Bristol East on the biggest issues of the day.

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The first Black president of a county cricket club, who's had bananas thrown at him on the field

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:21:27 +0000

From striking fear into the hearts of opponents with fearsome fast bowls to a gruesome career ending injury forcing retirement at 29, David ‘Syd’ Lawrence is a cricketing icon in Bristol and beyond. But it wasn’t all plain sailing in a sport known for its elitism for a self-described ‘tear-away kid’ of Black Caribbean heritage. Listen in with Neil and Syd as they discuss the trials and tribulations of making it in the game, a move into nightclubs and now his first year as the first Black president of a County Cricket Club at Gloucestershire.

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Why journalists are striking at the corporate publisher of Bristol Live

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:39:17 +0000

Reach PLC is one of the largest commercial publishers in the UK, which owns household brands like the Mirror and the Daily Star as well as the majority of local titles including Bristol Live, and pulls in millions in revenue. But 1,000 journalists employed by Reach PLC started striking yesterday (Wednesday) after rejecting a 3% pay rise.

As reported by the Cable earlier this week, junior staff at Bristol Live are paid under £20,000 while senior staff are on just £25,000. These low salaries are forcing some journalists to resort to using food banks to feed their families, and all the while the chief exec of Reach PLC Jim Mullen took home £4m last year – 104 times more the median salary of a Reach PLC employee.

Listen in to this week's episode of Bristol Unpacked with Neil and local NUJ member Paul Breeden on what's at stake for the Bristol Live strikers, and whether the economically and reputationally battered news industry can ever improve its service to the public.

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A senior school leader, race specialist and equality campaigner on stopping the ‘school to prison pipeline’

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:46:59 +0000

When does bad behaviour get so serious that a young person should be permanently excluded from the mainstream school system? No More Exclusions, a campaign Lana co-founded, says never. For Lana, doing so is the result of a failed and often racist system. As an educator with decades of experience in Bristol and the region, Lana has a powerful vision that refuses to give up on any child. But what about the other 29 pupils who just want to get on? Neil and Lana chat through the politics and practicalities of a renewed education system, including why teachers have had enough and might be joining many other workers on strike this year.

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Bristol City Women's FC captain on two footing sexism in sport and growth in the women’s game

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 11:07:08 +0000

Women’s football was banned by the Football Association in 1921. Lasting for 50 years, the grandees of the football establishment deemed the sport “quite unsuitable for females”. Now, teams such as Aimee Palmer’s Bristol City are seeing an explosion in interest and fans. With England’s Lionesses eyeing up victory at the ongoing Euros, Neil and Aimee chat about her difficult journey as a professional player and what needs to happen to dismantle barriers for everyone who wants to play the beautiful game.

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From the St Monica's care homes picket with a trade union organiser

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 11:00:56 +0000

Suddenly everyone is talking about trade unions in the struggle over who will bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis. We speak to someone at the forefront of organising a local dispute between workers and employers, part of a wave of workplace unrest taking place across the country.

Josh Connor is a local organiser for trade union Unison, and is supporting care workers to take strike action at St Monica’s Trust, the Merchant Venturer-connected care homes in Bristol, in a dispute of jobs, pay and conditions.

Neil and Josh discuss the background and detail of the strikes and what it means for the current rocky political moment locally and nationally.

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The outgoing artistic director of Bristol Old Vic on culture, who ‘the arts’ are for and having a genius brother

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 07:45:55 +0000

Tom Morris says he has an “almost indecent passion” for Bristol Old Vic, the oldest theatre in continuous operation in the English speaking world. But how has the Kings Street institution evolved? Has it changed enough to justify huge amounts of public money and reach all communities with top quality art? Amid some fawning by Neil about Tom’s brother, Chris Morris, they chat about the simmering culture war over arts and the future of Bristol’s theatrical centrepiece.

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Paul Hassan, the community sector leader who says a mayor is best for the city and the vote is ‘self-indulgent’

The Bristol Cable — Wed, 04 May 2022 11:23:20 +0000

Opposition councillors say they have been shut out of scrutinising and making decisions, but Paul Hassan says the mayoral system has provided a focal point of leadership for the city as a whole to come together and solve common problems. Hassan came to Bristol in 1987 and doesn't remember the committee years fondly - and neither does he think May's vote will help address the deeper issues that Bristol is currently facing. Listen to the fourth of our mini-series on Bristol's referendum.

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Nicola Bowden-Jones, the ex-Labour councillor who says the mayoral system is ‘sexist and anti-democratic’

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 03 May 2022 10:01:22 +0000

Nicola Bowden-Jones was at the heart of Bristol’s Labour Party for years, but is now at odds with the city’s Labour administration in a big way. Having resigned amid a dispute with the mayor, Bowden-Jones is now campaigning to scrap the role altogether on the basis that it is anti-democratic. Some say this is a personal vendetta against Marvin Rees, but Bowden-Jones says for the city to move forward the mayor must be scrapped. Listen to the third of our mini-series on Bristol’s referendum.

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Ellie King, the Labour councillor coming out to bat for the mayoral system and take on critics

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:31:25 +0000

The city’s Labour administration says this referendum is an expensive distraction from the big issues the city faces. But have they brought it upon themselves? Opponents say the referendum is due to failure to engage with opposition councillors and a tendency to handpick who is involved in city governance, including too much influence of business. Ellie King, Labour’s cabinet member for Public Health and Communities says that the current mayoral model has delivered for the city in a way that the alternative committee system never could through clear leadership of the city as a whole. Listen in with Neil to find out from a leading voice in the pro-mayoral camp, in the first of four episodes in this referendum mini-series.

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Alex Hartley, the Lib Dem councillor that forced the vote on the future of Bristol’s political set-up

The Bristol Cable — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 12:50:35 +0000

The Lib Dem councillor who ‘prides himself on being a thorn in the mayor’s side’ led the vote on securing the referendum on whether to scrap the mayor. Representing Hotwells and Harbourside, Alex Hartley has compared the mayoral system to a post-Soviet oligarchy. Is this ridiculous exaggeration by a party set to gain the most from an insider’s political dispute, or a fair comment on a lack of true democracy in Bristol’s City Hall? Listen in with Neil who unpacks the issue with our first guest in a mini-series on the referendum set for 5th of May.

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The slap, Bristolian accent, grief and coming home

The Bristol Cable — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 15:07:26 +0000

As the slap reverberates around the world we talk all things comedy with Jayde Adams - who went from working in Asda Bedminster to her own Amazon Prime Special. She just starred in a new BBC documentary following her move back to Bristol. Going deep about how the death of her sister made her so driven, are there red lines in comedy, and what it is like coming home.

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The militant trade union, P&O sackings and a leftist view on Ukraine

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 14:28:54 -0100

The Railway Maritime and Transport trade union are no strangers to controversy, from winning massive pay rises for their members through sustained strike action, to an unapologetically socialist stance and recent accusations of being ‘Putin apologists’. But what role does an “industrially and politically militant union” play today? Neil speaks with RMT regional organiser and Bristolian Brendan Kelly on recent strife on the railways, ferry ports and a take on the war in Ukraine that has stirred up longstanding debates about foreign policy.

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The Bristolian: Unfair troll or the city's smiter of the high and mighty?

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:51:33 -0100

The city's longstanding and self-proclaimed satirical scandal sheet has a reputation for not holding back on attacking local politicians, along with the great and the good for alleged wrongdoing. But what is the story behind the anonymously produced publication? Once nominated for a Paul Foot award, is their approach of journalism mixed with what many see as relentless trolling relevant in a changing media environment?

Neil Maggs and a long-standing contributor to The Bristolian hash it out.

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The struggle for autism justice in the city and Somali community, campaigner and Tory, Nura Aabe

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 12:02:10 -0100

Nura Aabe as a mother and campaigner in the city's special needs crisis, and being Black and a Conservative.

A mother of a son with autism, Nura Aabe has been a central figure in the struggle to secure better special educational needs support in the city - in schools, the council and the Somali community. As a former local candidate for the Conservatives, Neil and Nura also discuss politics and why she has chosen a party historically not representative of migrant communities.

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The Metro-Mayor for the West of England on time in Blair's government, plans for the region and beef with other leaders

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:29:25 -0100

Dan Norris is Labour's elected Metro-Mayor for WECA, aka the West of England region. Norris is the second in the role, following the Conservative's Tim Bowles and brings experience as a minister in Blair's government. So what are his politics and policies now? And, with some simmering beef with other local leaders, how does he plan to manage the various challenges and conflicts with the aim of getting a better deal for the region?

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Bristol Rover’s new CEO on embracing the modern game while keeping true to traditions

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 23:41:53 -0100

The Gasheads have a new CEO. Tom Gorringe joined the club as commercial

director in 2017 and says he is determined to drive the club forward and

bring everyone along with him as CEO.

But the club has some challenges on its hands, on and off the pitch.

Including questions over a new stadium, Wael al-Qadi’s ownership and how

the Rovers can embrace the modern game while keeping true to traditions.

Listen in to Tom’s chat with Neil Maggs about the future for the club

and its loyal community of fans.

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New Chief Constable on crime, protest and building an "anti-sexist and anti-racist" police force

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 11:08:24 -0100

Bristol has found itself at the centre of national and even international conversations about policing, protest, and criminal justice. At the top of the police chain of command is the Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset (ASP). The force covers approximately 1.7 million people across Bristol, Bath, and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

And now there is a new sheriff in town. After a selection process led by Mark Shelford, the elected Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Sarah Crew was appointed Chief Constable in November 2021.

So who is Crew and how will she handle this powerful and influential role, and deal with the diversity of policing issues in the region?

In an interview on Bristol Unpacked, the Cable’s podcast, Crew chatted with Neil Maggs about challenges, priorities, and controversies for the force - from protests to sexual violence and the war on drugs.

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Hard decisions as council down 23 million a year

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 23:49:10 -0100

Craig Cheney is the local lad and councilor for Hillfields that is the controller of the purse strings at Bristol City Council. After 12 years of central government-imposed austerity, that purse is much smaller than it needs to be. Now as the council is planning for the new year's budget they need to fill a £23 million sized hole in the finances. With the threat of cuts and sales of council assets, Neil and Craig discuss the challenges of local government finance and what that means for Bristolians, whether so-called 'town hall fat cats' should take a cut and if the council is getting the best deal from Bristol's status as an increasingly attractive and wealthy city.

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Living with a bank robber to a bit part in The Outlaws

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 12:59:33 -0100

What was it like acting with Christopher Walken when his next biggest role was playing a genital wart 20 years ago? Southmead-born Ian Aitchison runs cult record store Longwell Records. He and Neil talk about his cameo in The Outlaws made by his mate Stephen Merchant, growing up with a bank robber, his years as a drug worker, and the dangers of actors trying a Bristol accent!

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Former Bristol mayor on highs, lows, beef with Marvin, and being ‘radical’ as an ex-Merchant Venturer

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 13:03:12 +0000

What did he learn, regret and achieve during his time as mayor? Why does he hate tall buildings so much? And what is his big vision for the land at Bristol Zoo? Tune into the conversation with Neil and George to find out all this and more.

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Is Drill music is driving knife crime, and how to elevate youth in the city

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:31:44 +0000

In the wake of the tragic death in Lawrence Hill, Neil chats to Darren Alexander who runs Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE), a music mentoring organisation for youth in Bristol’s disadvantaged communities. Darren and Neil, who both knew the young man, discuss what’s behind youth violence, tackling root and systemic causes and whether, as Avon and Somerset Police have said recently, drill music is a concern.

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New Green Party co-leader on being a party of government as well as protest

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:28:13 +0000

An audio excerpt of a council meeting is used courtesy of Bristol City Council.

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Why he's proud to be a big bald Bristolian making it in the industry

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 12:09:24 +0000

Joe Sims is a well-known actor from Bristol. Having made it through the ranks of a notoriously elitist industry with a working-class background, Joe has a lot to say on and off-screen. Neil and Joe talk about his acting career, growing up in the city, and that video he made for Marvin Rees's re-election campaign.

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Sexual entertainment, dance floor etiquette and the vital recovery of a bruised industry

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:45:25 +0000

After a long stint working in Bristol's nightlife, in March Carly Heath was appointed by the council as Bristol's first ever Night-time Economy Advisor. Carly is charged with supporting a battered industry recover from the pandemic and for improving the vibrancy and safety of Bristol's nightlife for all. Neil and Carly cover the raging debate on sexual entertainment venues, drugs testing and a new set of 'Bristol Rules' to make the dancefloor safe and fun for everyone.

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Crime, riots and institutional racism in policing

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 13:49:43 +0000

Elected in May 2021, Mark Shelford is the first party political Police

and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Shelford is

responsible for helping to set the overall policing strategy for Bristol

and the wider region, covering 16 parliamentary constituencies. Neil and

Mark discuss the Police and Crime Bill, the riot and protests in Bristol

, and how policing can be just and effective in an area as diverse and

Avon and Somerset.

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The faults of the mayoral system, Labour's past failings, and the problematic Merchant Venturers

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 08:30:45 +0000

Karin Smyth became Labour MP for Bristol South in 2015 after a career working in the NHS. Since she has had to navigate the political turmoil of Brexit, snap elections, and infighting over the Labour leadership. She talks to Neil Maggs about her working-class background, why she thinks the mayoral system is undemocratic and why the influence of the Merchant Venturers should be limited.

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The Special Educational Needs crisis in Bristol

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:27:42 +0000

Kerry Bailes is a longstanding campaigner for Hartcliffe and a leading voice among parents seeking a solution for the Special Educational Needs and Disability provision crisis in the city. Elected as a Labour councillor in May 2021, Kerry is taking the fight inside the council and to represent Hartcliffe and south Bristol working class communities and make change happen for parents and special educational needs children.

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Master of the Merchant Venturers on whether they are an all powerful elite club, or just charitable business people

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:37:02 +0000

The Society of Merchant Venturers often gets talked about in

conspiratorial tones. Forced into the limelight by the toppling of

Colston, the Merchants have come under greater scrutiny for past and

present practices. According to the Society, they are opening up more to

the public, confronting their history and diversifying their membership.

They say that far from controlling the city they are just successful

professionals who donate time, skills and money to worthy causes. But

along with relatively low profile members, they also count some of the

city's biggest corporate big-whigs, controversial bosses, Conservative

Party donors and a leading climate change denier. Why does the Society

still exist and what are the roles it plays in the city today?

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On the 'free speech crisis' at universities

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 12:17:16 +0000

The government is introducing a new law claiming to defend freedom of

speech, amid an alleged crisis on British university campuses of 'cancel

culture' and de-platforming. But is it really the case that freedom of

expression is being unduly restricted in our society? Or is it an

exaggerated distraction from bigger issues? Harry Walker of Bristol

Uni's Free Speech Society has been at the centre of the debate. Neil

sits down with Harry to thrash it out.

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Undercover police spying on activists in Bristol

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:45:59 +0000

Chris Brian was a anarchist activist in Bristol and south Wales in the 90s and early 2000s. Unknown to him and fellow activists, deep undercover in in their groups were police officers.

For years, the officers immersed themselves with the activists, got stuck into direct actions and even had long term relationships and parented children under false pretences. The shocking revelations continue to come to light in a official inquiry that is on track to be longest ever in British history. Neil talks to Chris about his experiences as an activist and current work researching the activities of the officers, some of which he knew as friends and allies.

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Working class culture, the film industry and white privilege

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:07:51 +0000

Paul Holbrook is an award winning filmmaker from Hartcliffe, south Bristol. His diverse films range from horror to comedy, and are often rooted in the experience of council estates and working class communities.

Paul and Neil discuss ‘classism’ in the film industry, whether the importance of class is being underplayed in a national debate dominated by the media and cultural elites. They dive deep into the furore caused by a recent report by Parliament’s Education Select Committee, that implied that a focus on addressing racism toward students was leaving white working class children behind.

Paul's most recent film Hungry Joe (Content Warning) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj2NmOZ8i-s

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Pride Special - All things LGBTQ+

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 11:06:08 +0000

In this episode of Bristol Unpacked, presenter Neil Maggs interviews Ivan Jackson on coming out during the AIDs crisis, how Peter Tatchell fought for equality legislation and was hated for it, how to tackle countries where being LGBTQ+ is still punishable by death, the additions of trans and queer to LGBTQ, and transphobia and Twitter. Plus being left off the Bristol Live’s Pink List!

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On kneeling at the Euros, and nurturing diverse football talent with leading local sports coach Rayan Wilson

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 08:38:05 +0000

We're back with season 4 of Bristol Unpacked. We kick-off with a conversation with leading local sports coach Rayan Wilson. Rayan has been involved in training amateur and elite athletes in Bristol and beyond, and chats with Neil about the ongoing controversy over taking the knee and how clubs can do better at nurturing diverse and inner-city talent for the beautiful game.

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Election Special Independent and Smaller Party Mayoral Candidates

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 04 May 2021 09:38:44 +0000

A pub landlord, a socialist, a porn producer, an anti-lockdown advocate, and a tree lover: The five candidates from smaller parties or independents running for City Hall.

Interviews with the smaller party or independent candidates in the running for Bristol mayor:

Sean Donnelly, independent (01:53), Tom Baldwin, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (20:50), John Langley (35:11), Robert Clarke, Reform UK (53:52) and Oska Shaw, independent (01:04:10)

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Election Special with Labour Bristol Mayor candidate Marvin Rees

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 13:39:53 +0000

Marvin Rees is standing for the third time as a candidate for Bristol mayor. Having lost in 2012, Rees came back to comfortably win in 2016. Now after 5 years in office, Rees has a record to promote and to defend, attracting a lot of support and criticism from diverse quarters. In this in-depth interview, Neil and Marvin get into the personal, political and policy of the current mayor.

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Election Special with Lib Dem Bristol Mayor candidate

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 13:11:25 +0000

Caroline Gooch is hoping for a dramatic improvement on the party's 2016 result of 8,000 votes to clinch the mayoralty, and then work to scrap it by referendum in three years. Neil and Caroline talk about her professional background in the pharmaceutical industry, being the only women in the running and what the Lib Dems are offering voters.

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Election Special with Green Bristol Mayor candidate

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:00:41 +0000

The Greens are positioning themselves as the rightful heirs of Bristol’s green and progressive credentials. But having come fourth place in 2016, they have a hill to climb. Neil and Sandy chat about who will ‘get things done’ for the city and whether the Greens can cut through to the electorate.

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Election Special with Conservative Bristol Mayor candidate

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:11:16 +0000

Its hard to say that the Conservatives have a strong electoral record in the city, but the businessman and former councillor Alastair Watson thinks he has a shot at unseating Marvin Rees on May 6th. Neil and Alastair chat about the recent protests and policing and what he say’s he’ll do as mayor.

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Media, Meghan, racism and the Bristol History Commission facing up to the city’s past

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:18:34 -0100

Dr Shawn Sobers has been one of the key people behind groundbreaking documentary and community media exploring race and community in Bristol for some time. Now an Associate Professor at UWE’s Film and Journalism Department, Shawn is also on Bristol’s History Commission. Set up by the mayor in the wake of the toppling of Colston, the commission has attracted some flack for its membership and seemingly opaque goings on. Neil and Shawn dig into the context around the Meghan and Oprah interview and how the commission is coming along.

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Ageism and intergenerational divides

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:56:11 -0100

There’s often rumbles of ‘intergenerational divides’, whether it's over Brexit, if younger or older people ‘have it easier' and so on. At the same time, in a rapidly ageing population, older people are often neglected or sidelined unfairly and unnecessarily according to Ian Quaife of Bristol Older People’s Forum. Neil and Ian dig into the issues and explore how and why this is the case, and what can be done about it.

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Bristol City FC and the highs and lows of the beautiful game with football journalist

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 14:45:14 -0100

Big appointments, fan dissent and the trials and tribulations of covering Bristol City FC with Bristol Live’s dedicated club reporter, Gregor Macgregor. Neil and Gregor chat about nurturing talent, why City struggle sometimes and what’s next for the south Bristol team.

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The ‘war on woke’ and can patriotism be inclusive

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 09:10:27 -0100

The government has stepped up their so-called ‘war on woke’ in the ongoing contest for Britain’s historical memory. With Bristol finding itself at the centre of the debate, Neil chats with the director of the city’s most celebrated event, St Pauls Carnival, on whether patriotism can ever be inclusive to include pride in diverse communities, or is it just a right-wing obsession to whitewash the UK’s past?

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A thorn in the side of the mayor's Administration

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:09:14 -0100

A self-declared thorn in the side of the mayor’s administration, Clive Stevens has just stood down as a Green Party councillor in the city, due to stress brought about by the pressures of the job.

Well regarded across party lines, Clive is a stickler for detail and a campaigner for greater transparency from a mayoral administration that he says is secretive about key policies and projects, which in turn undermines democracy and better outcomes for the city.

Neil asks him if his approach is just blocking things getting done, and for his vision of how local government can be better.

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Bristol tackling the climate: Green washing or world leading

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:06:37 -0100

As a long-standing Labour councillor for Easton, Afzal Shah has been navigating the changing face of the neighbourhood and its diverse communities, including the recent dispute about the future of St Marks Road. But his recent appointment as the council cabinet member for Climate, Ecology and Sustainable Growth means an even bigger challenge: The struggle to get Bristol to its self-imposed deadline of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. With nine years to go, Neil and Afzal - old school mates from decades ago - discuss the successes and criticisms of the administration’s work so far.

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Getting emotional giving COVID jabs and 'vaccine hesitancy' in the BAME community

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 08:20:22 -0100

Ade Williams is a bit of a celebrity pharmacist. Both around his pharmacy in Bedminster, South Bristol and speaking up in the media for a community-minded approach to healthcare. Neil and Ade talk about the practicalities and emotions of the vaccination effort, and the background and reasons for high levels of scepticism or ‘vaccine hesitancy’ across communities.

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Marriage surviving gender transition and the dispute over transgender rights

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:39:41 -0100

Content warning: Mention of sexual assault in prisons, self-harm and suicide.

Steffi made national news with her story of transitioning gender later in life to officially becoming a woman while deciding with her wife to stay together.

Steffi Barnett has a fascinating story, is a prominent activist for LGBTQ+ rights and awareness-raising, a radio host on local BCFM radio and exec-producer of Shout Out Radio. In this episode, Neil and Steffi discuss her moving story, the often vexed conversation around transgender rights including the current court case about puberty blockers, and whether societies and families can grow to love and accept gender diversity.

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How resisting housing evictions can lead to a better world

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:11:09 -0100

There's a theory that in recent years some parts of the working class are being badly let down, and have sought answers elsewhere - contributing to the rise of right-wing populists and policies. This week we talk to Nick, one of the founders of ACORN, the community union who's main focus is on housing justice, but with much bigger ambitions to genuinely create working class solidarity and power as an alternative to the appeal of people like Trump. Started in Bristol based off a USA model of organising, they are confrontational, successful and controversial with branches all over the country. Nick and Neil talk about the journey so far, unpack some of the criticisms laid against ACORN and a vision for a different world.

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Men, Mental Health and Hope

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 08:28:14 -0100

Content Warning: Discussion of suicide

Listen up, particularly men and boys. It's dark, it's wet, there’s a pandemic on. It's taking its toll, particularly on mental health. But there is light, and no it's not Boris Johnson’s cavalry. It's your friends, family and other support and networks you can access and build. This week we’re chatting to Desmond Richards, formerly one of Bristol’s best breakdancers, but now working with young people in tough circumstances to stop their heads spinning, as a young person’s mental health worker. We have an intimate chat about personal experience, men's mental health and how its much about you, as the circumstances you’re living in. Just a little note that we do touch on suicide and other tough themes.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts reach out to the Samaritans on 116123, or go along to see your doctor/GP's mental health nurse, or if you feel that you are not safe call 999 or go to A&E. It is a tough old time, but it will get better.

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

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SEND funding crisis, losing a candidacy and feeling hopeful

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 06:59:55 -0100

Last week we had the Tory challenger for Bristol Mayor, and this week we

have a Labour party stalwart, councillor and cabinet member for children

services Helen Godwin. Helen recently lost the Labour election to be the

candidate for West of England Metro Mayor but is still a big player in

local party politics as council cabinet member for women and children

services. Neil and Helen chat about how youth services can be more

effective, the crisis in Special Education Need and Disability services

locally and whether women are just better leaders.

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Black, Conservative and proud

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:17:34 -0100

As the debate around the legacy and current effects of racial injustice rages, some Conservatives of colour are speaking up in rejection of what they see as the dominant ‘woke’ views.

Samuel Willams, the mixed-heritage Tory hopeful for Bristol’s mayoralty in May 2021 is one such voice. He chats with Neil about feeling patronised by the Left, being ostracised by others in the Black community and the Conservative Party’s successes and shortcomings in appealing to diverse communities.

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New wave of racism post COVID

The Bristol Cable — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 07:51:16 -0100

What does it mean to be Bristolian? Makala Cheung, born and raised in Knowle West of South-East Asian heritage, is a musician and creative director of the Filwood Centre in the South Bristol heartland.

Listen in with Neil as they explore the ongoing debate of who is or isn’t Bristolian, the rise in racism against Chinese people since COVID, and how the wider city sees Knowle Westers.

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Hartcliffe Lad & Green Party Politician

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 07:48:36 -0100

Tony Dyer has been around the political block in the city as mayoral, MP and councillor candidate for the Green Party. The Hartcliffe raised activist cannot attract the usual stereotypes associated to the party. With first hand experience of some of the most deprived places in Bristol and the UK, why did he never join Labour and where does he see politics in the city with an election around the corner?

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Trinity Centre, Covid and How to Save Culture

The Bristol Cable — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 08:17:01 -0100

Arts and culture is taking a massive hit as the fallout of the pandemic continues. Emma Harvey is the outspoken CEO of the renowned Trinity Arts Centre and is at the forefront of the struggle to defend and champion the sector as a whole, and stick up for grassroots community culture while big city centre venues dominate the headlines.

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Race, Class and Climate Change

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 05:22:47 +0000

As a leader of Bristol’s Black and Green project, Zakiya is bringing a background in broadcasting and research to connect the inner city with the natural environment. Featuring on BBC 4 and across many platforms with writing, Zakiya is a Jamaican born in London and lived most of her life in Jamaica and brings a fresh perspective on many issues, and wants to see more radicalism in our thinking about race, class and climate change...and for people to stop being so polite!

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Decolonising Education

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 06:28:08 +0000

From childhood experiences of being in care and bounced around different schools, to appearing on the front page of the Bristol Post last week talking about knife crime, Lawrence Hoo has a lot to say - often in poetry form.

As part of the Cable's Black History Month coverage, Neil and Lawrence talk about the renaming of Colston Hall to Bristol Beacon, how education and the arts are key to building positive paths for young people and the role a poet plays in the political process of the city.

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The House is on Fire

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 03:45:29 +0000

Public concern about climate change is at an all time high. Yet we are still hurtling towards, and seeing the beginnings of an unimaginable crisis. Among those standing in the way is Chloe Naldrett and Extinction Rebellion, sometimes naked sometimes not. Though criticised as extremists and criminals by some, and dismissed as naïve and counterproductive by others, XR has attracted huge support and continues to make waves.

Neil talks with Chloe, an active Bristol member, on where the movement goes next, how to diversify from its white middle class base, controversial tactics and why doing nothing is not an option.

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The housing crisis and how a socialist can be ‘credible’ to housing developers

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 03:10:26 +0000

The famously humorous Hartcliffe local was a city councillor in the 1990s, and then getting re-elected in 2016, bringing professional experience to the role of city council cabinet lead for housing.

Credited with doing a good job but now standing down to lead a large housing association, Neil Maggs asks have the council cosied up to big business and developers too much, or is that the only way to begin to address the housing crisis, how democratic is Bristol City Council, and where Labour will go next in the city.

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The Black activist overseeing Avon and Somerset Police

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 03:46:11 +0000

Desmond Brown, on reforming the criminal justice system and being called a ‘police informant’

Now at the forefront of conversations to reform the criminal justice system locally and nationally, Desmond Brown is an advocate for racial justice, especially since the Tasering of Ras Judah by police in 2017.

Desmond has been accused by some of being a police informant, due to his work with local institutions and the police, a claim he strongly refutes as ridiculous. The former chair of Bristol’s Commission for Race Equality, Desmond is now the Independent Chair of Avon and Somerset Police’s Lammy Review Group. The group, the first to be established outside of London, has been set up to help the police force and local justice system implement the 2017 findings of David Lammy MP’s review into the treatment of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals in the Criminal Justice System.

He talks with Neil on knife crime, police discrimination of which he has suffered, and his work with Growing Futures, an organisation working with disadvantaged communities.

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The worst two weeks in my years as a Head Teacher

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:07:32 +0000

Children's futures almost stolen, inequality made worse by algorithm and education in the time of COVID-19 in some of the UK's most deprived neighbourhoods.

This week Neil talks to Samantha Williamson, the Principal of Merchants Academy. The school responsible for educating children from Reception to 18 in Withywood and Hartcliffe, areas recognised as among the most deprived in the country.

As the school is operated by the controversial Society of Merchant Venturers, Samantha and Neil discuss discuss how she has felt leading a school connected to Edward Colston's former club, and their work on creating a new history curriculum to reflect Bristol's reckoning with its past.

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'People like to see a racist punched in the face'

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:55:17 +0000

Krazy is a rapper, producer and broadcaster, and a force to be reckoned with. As a white man he has been accused of cultural appropriation, despite growing up with in the scene. Was the way that Wiley was treated after his anti-semitic comments also racist? Draper discusses a video that went viral this week, where he punched a bigot.

Last Man Standing is a new digital rap battle platform championing new artists, which is Krazy's true passion. Why do Bristol artists get left behind? We hear what Draper is doing to solve this.

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How sport can help save us from climate change

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:14:27 +0000

David Goldblatt is an award winning sports writer and broadcaster living in Bristol. He is the author of The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Football which had been described as the "seminal football history book,”

His latest work has seen him look at climate change and its impact on sport in a report commissioned by the Rapid Transition Alliance. The remarkable results were recently covered in the guardian, BBC World Service, and BBC Radio 4.

He discusses this with Neil Maggs, and how climate change, will affect how people consume sport. And how a topic often depicted as middle class, will have a real effect on the lives of working class football supporters. Including those of his beloved Bristol Rovers.

They examine how we can get this message out to people more effectively, and how sport could be the porta and catalyst to which people start to wake up and demand action is taken.

They also talk about the war against slugs.

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Bristol Unpacked with Jimmy Galvin

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 20:14:15 +0000

Growing up in poverty on the north Bristol council estate of Lawrence Weston, Jimmy didn’t read a book until he was 20. His life changed when his girlfriend took him to the Tate gallery in London. Now Jimmy is a renowned artist, composer and curator and has exhibited alongside the UK’s leading figures, including Mark Quinn, sculptor of the Jen Reid Black Lives Matter statue that was temporarily on Edward Colston’s former plinth. He even brought Yoko Ono's work to Bristol, curating an exhibition of her work at the Georgian House.

He is eccentric, opinionated, and in many ways an outspoken outsider in the arts community, railing against what he sees as the dominance of the cosy art world of Banksy. Openly critical of ‘brand Bristol’, he challenges the appetite for urban edginess and cool chic, over the need for real and radical change.

His mission is to make art accessible and reclaim it for working class communities– in which all his heroes from Lennon to Bowie to Coltrane came.

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Bonus - Marti Burgess on Lakota's future

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 02:16:20 +0000

Marti Burgess owns Lakota, a club in Stokes Croft that turned 28 this year. Neil and her discuss the old days and the future of this stalwart of Bristol nightlife. From the heady days of the House scene in the early 90s to the rumours of an imminent sale.

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Bristol Unpacked with Marti Burgess

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 02:09:18 +0000

Marti Burgess hit the headlines as the first Black person to join the notorious Society of Merchant Venturers, the 500 year old business and philanthropy club of slave trader Edward Colston and other members of Bristol’s elite, then and now.

Marti is a corporate solicitor, chair of the Black South West Network and St Pauls Carnival and is involved with a multitude of other activities in the community including as the owner, along with her family, of Lakota night club in Stokes Croft.

So how could a Black person join such an organisation that some have declared as irredeemably racist and elitist? Marti explains to us her motivation for joining, and what she aims do from within.

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Bristol Unpacked with Delroy Hibbert

The Bristol Cable — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 03:00:58 +0000

Born and raised Bristolian, community activist and diehard Bristol Rovers fan, Delroy Hibbert is a Black Lives Matter backer. But he also attended the ‘All Lives Matter’ nationalist demonstration in Bristol the week after Colston fell. A Bristol Cable video seen by hundreds of thousands captured a very tense moment with agitated protesters, ending in an iconic photograph of Delroy and a veteran shaking hands in front of the Colston plinth.

Why, as a Black man, did he go? How does he respond to any criticism he may have received, what are the solutions to racial disparity in the city, and how can the black and white working class build bridges?

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Bristol Unpacked with Cleo Lake

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:39:45 +0000

Founding member of Countering Colston, Green party city councillor and former Lord Mayor, Cleo Lake has a lot to say on the big questions of politics, race, history and the future of Bristol and beyond.

Unafraid to speak truth to power, Cleo has challenged Mayor Marvin Rees on not having confronted Edward Colston’s legacy, having herself swiftly removed his portrait from the Lord Mayor’s office. A leading voice for reparations for the legacy and current damage of slavery and colonialism, Cleo is currently running for election as Deputy Leader of the English Green Party.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-maangamizi-we-charge-genocide-ecocide

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www.thebristolcable.org

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Bristol Unpacked Trailer

The Bristol Cable — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:40:06 +0000

Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs brings you fascinating and challenging conversations from characters of all stripes on big topics facing the city and beyond.

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