With all its chopping and changing of mayors and council leaders, Bristol has been no stranger to changes in terms of who holds the levers of power around the city. But how does it feel as an elected official to have the rug pulled out from under you by your own party?
That’s one of the big questions we’re asking this week’s guest, Labour’s Clare Moody who is the Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner (PCC) responsible for overseeing the force and holding it to account.
In November, just as we were confirming Moody as a guest, policing minister Sarah Jones announced plans to scrap the PCC role entirely from 2028, with its duties to be devolved to other elected officials such as the West of England mayor Helen Godwin.
The government’s statements did not hold back either, calling PCCs a “failed experiment” that most members of the public remained unaware of. When Moody beat her Tory predecessor Mark Shelford by 5,000 in the 2024 election, it was on a turnout of 23%, or less than one in four voters.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, was similarly disparaging, and like the government argued that the funding for PCCs would be better spent on frontline policing.
As someone whose journey into politics came via the trade union movement, how does Moody feel about the Fed’s statement? Are there plans afoot to challenge the government’s position, and how will she demonstrate the value of her role in the two and a half years left to her?
These are among the questions Neil is asking Clare Moody during a fascinating first Unpacked of 2026. We also get into the state of policing both in Bristol and further afield, and whether Avon and Somerset’s is making progress in improving its culture to better serve our city’s communities, after a critical Channel 4 documentary and admissions of institutional racism. Enjoy.
Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your audio. And check out our other shows.
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?
Comments
Related content
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?
