Six people are smiling at the camera, wearing casual clothing with two wearing patterned scarves. The background is abstract with white and muted colours.
The Big Story

The British state is treating Palestine Action activists who targeted an Elbit Systems Israeli arms facility on the outskirts of Bristol like terrorists – subjecting them to repressive sanctions in jail as they await trial.

Join our newsletter

Get the essential stories you won’t find anywhere else

Latest stories

Callout: How is the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood impacting you?

The Cable wants to track the experiences of local residents during the trial scheme in late 2024 and early 2025 - so have your say!

Read more

Listen: People Just Do Something, with Joshua Dávila on putting the blockchain into use for the left

How do cryptocurrencies work? Why does the right love them so much? And how can blockchain technologies be used for more positive social purposes – or even authentically left-wing ones? Join Priyanka and Isaac to find out…

Are self-swab kits ‘the start of the end of sexual violence’, or could they cause more harm than good?

Against a backdrop of chronic underreporting of sexual assaults, thousands of self-administered rape test kits have been distributed across Bristol, targeting university campuses. But are users, already coping with trauma, being given the clarity they need to make informed choices?

Listen: Bristol Unpacked, with former Lord Mayor Paul Goggin on homelessness, mental health and the struggle for south Bristol votes

'It's been eventful', says Paul Goggin, of a life that has featured both rough sleeping and local politics. He joins Neil Maggs to talk housing, faith, and whether Labour should fear Reform in wards like Hartcliffe and Withywood.

Bristol Uni student calls out fossil fuel donations during graduation protest

The stunt was in response to the university’s decision to accept £3m from oil, gas and mining companies since 2017, which the student called 'rank hypocrisy'.

‘I feel like I can do anything’: breaking the ‘survival sex’ cycle

Women often feel trapped in massage parlour sex work, leaving only to be drawn back in 'when difficulty hits'. LoveWell, a Bristol company, aims to offer a route out of exploitation.

Keep the Lights On

Investigative journalism strengthens democracy – it’s a necessity, not a luxury.

The Cable is Bristol’s independent, investigative newsroom. Owned and steered by more than 2,600 members, we produce award-winning journalism that digs deep into what’s happening in Bristol.

We are on a mission to become sustainable – will you help us get there?

Join now

What makes us different?

Weekly podcasts

Read more

From audio investigations and Bristol Unpacked to deep-dives into local issues and recordings of live events.

Listen: People Just Do Something, with striking teacher Nik on trade unionism’s ‘ethical gravy train’

What is a strike? What are trade unions for? How can you organise your workplace? Teacher and NEU rep Nik steps away from the picket line for a 'union bro love-in' with Isaac that answers these questions and more.

Listen: People Just Do Something with Jake Hanrahan, more than just ‘a gritty Louis Theroux’

Why did Jake Hanrahan become a journalist, how did he turn war reporting on its head with Popular Front, and why does he reckon the industry is 'one of the most grotesque things I've seen in my life'? Join Priyanka and Isaac to find out.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Amanda Sharman on leading the charge for boat-dwellers’ rights

Who are the boat-dwellers living around Bristol's harbour, and why have they been at loggerheads with Bristol City Council? Neil Maggs chats to Bristol Boaters' Community Association co-chair Amanda Sharman to find out.

Our autumn print edition is out now!

Join 2,500 others to support independent, investigative local journalism, and get the next edition of the Bristol Cable in the post.

Become a member

Investigations

Read more

Uncovering injustice and wrongdoing

‘We need to move the dials’: Avon and Somerset Police must show real change on institutional racism

The police have been gaslighting us for generations – and officers’ use of intrusive stop-and-search powers is still blighting Bristol’s young Black boys, a local racial justice advocate argues.

Enduring trauma, and a struggle for justice: one year on from the Barton House high-rise evacuation

On 14 November 2023 an east Bristol tower block was evacuated over fears it could collapse, making national news. A year on, residents tell the Cable about the disruption to their lives, the ongoing impact on their wellbeing and their children's – and how a community has been left traumatised.

Black children and adults strip searched 25 times more often than white peers in Avon and Somerset, leaked report reveals

EXCLUSIVE: The sensitive ‘deep-dive’ review also reveals the police officers who prolifically and disproportionately stop and search Black people in Bristol

This Better Work

Read more

A series with in-depth and informative coverage on the world of work in Bristol and beyond.

‘Everyone should do something, but it needs to be useful’: unions walk out in support of Palestine

Workplace days of action encourage workers to engage in a lunchtime walkout in solidarity with the Palestinian people. The actions have generated debate within unions, but build on a long history of international solidarity in Bristol.

Explained: What is Labour’s new Employment Rights Bill, and what does it mean for Bristolians?

In October Labour introduced the Employment Rights Bill, calling it the 'biggest upgrade to rights at work in a generation'. Why does it matter, where could it be better – and when will it make a difference to people's lives?

Restructure of Bristol uni wellbeing services prompts staff unease and resignations

A proposed restructure of wellbeing services at the uni has been postponed from August until January. However, staff and unions remain critical of the move, arguing it has undermined morale.

Got a tip off?

Contact our journalists and share your stories securely and confidentially with The Bristol Cable.

Get in touch

From Bristol to the West Bank: the power of internationalism in Palestine

The Palestinian people have shown astonishing defiance and resilience in the face of Israeli violence and persecution. International volunteers, including Bristolians, are travelling to the West Bank to stand in solidarity with them.

Education is the great liberator: the Bristol activists forging links with teachers in Palestine

Yasmeen Eshtaya is a Palestinian teacher whose life has been deeply affected by the brutal violence of the Israeli state. But she is committed to reconciliation and forming bonds through teaching Arabic – including to people in Bristol.

‘The most liberating feeling’: how an ADHD diagnosis changed one Bristol business owner’s life

After her own personal journey, Lisa Whitehouse is determined to spread awareness and help others through her work.

Watch: How Section 60 contributes to rifts between police and the communities they serve

Youth workers, community leaders and the founder of a police monitoring group explain the damaging and traumatising impact of controversial 'suspicionless' search powers in Bristol.

VIDEO: Chief constable challenged on ‘anti-racist policing’ progress and stop and search reform

It’s been a year since Avon and Somerset’s chief constable Sarah Crew admitted her service was institutionally racist, but what is she actually doing about it?

VIDEO: What We Want – Meaningful climate action not culture wars

Extinction Rebellion activist Kathy says the Tory government's disgraceful legacy of weaponising action on climate change as part of culture wars.