Welcome to the Stormont Sources Christmas Special, where David McCann, Michael McKernan and Tim Cairns review the political year in Northern Ireland.
In this end-of-year episode, the panel hands out the Stormont Sources Awards, debating:
• MLA of the Year – including John O’Dowd, Emma Little-Pengelly, Matthew O’Toole and Timothy Gaston
• Party of the Year – why all three agree the TUV had a breakthrough year
• Worst Performing Party – Alliance’s difficult year in government
• Biggest Political Moment of 2025 – from Sinn Féin’s White House boycott to parliamentary privilege drama
• Under-reported Stories – integrated education court rulings, anti-poverty strategy failures, and unionist realignment
• Unionism’s Future – DUP, UUP leadership tension, John Burrows, Robbie Butler and cooperation pressures
• Stormont Sources Highlights – behind-the-scenes reflections on interviews, viral moments and political rows
The episode closes with festive humour, Christmas negotiations nostalgia, and a reminder of Stormont’s most surreal moments — including DUP MLAs singing Christmas carols during all-night talks.
🎄 A must-listen for anyone following Northern Ireland politics, Stormont, or the road to the 2026–27 elections.
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