Stormont Sources

This week on the one year anniversary special of Stormont Sources, David McCann is joined by Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to break down the political storm following comments from former UUP councillor Lindzi McLaren suggesting Irish unity may be “inevitable.”Her remarks come just days after SDLP Leader, Claire Hanna argued that while Irish unity is desirable, it is not inevitable. So who’s right?We also examine UUP leader John Burrows calling on the Irish government to apologise for its role during the Troubles — a call rejected by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.In this episode: Is unionism facing an identity crisis?Are hardline voices reshaping the debate?Does the Irish government owe an apology?David, Tim and Michael also reflect on a year of Stormont Sources and look back at some of their favourite moments. 🎧 Stormont Sources takes you inside Stormont and the decisions shaping Northern Ireland.📩 Get involvedWhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 (start with Stormont)Email: hello@stormontsources.com👍 Like, subscribe & turn on notifications for weekly Northern Ireland politics.

In this episode of the Stormont Sources podcast David McCann, Tim Cairns, and Michael McKernan discuss the recent £400 million loan from Westminster to Stormont, the implications of this financial aid, and the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Keir Starmer's leadership in the UK. They also address listener questions regarding the potential for a united unionist party and the future of Northern Ireland's political landscape amidst calls for electoral reform and discussions on partition.🎧 Stormont Sources takes you inside Stormont and the decisions shaping Northern Ireland.📩 Get involvedWhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 (start with Stormont)Email: hello@stormontsources.com👍 Like, subscribe & turn on notifications for weekly Northern Ireland politics.

Two years after devolution returned, has the Stormont Executive actually delivered for Northern Ireland?David McCann is joined by former Special Advisers Tim Cairns (DUP) and Michael McKernan (SDLP) to assess the record of the O’Neill–Pengelly Executive — from childcare and health waiting lists to major project delays, civil service power, and whether Stormont ministers are really in control.They debate:Has the Stormont Executive achieved anything significant?Why major Northern Ireland projects keep stallingAre civil servants running departments instead of ministers?Is Stormont about to rush bad legislation before the next election?Why the political tone at Stormont is deterioratingThe controversial suspension of TUV MLA Timothy GastonDid the Assembly overreact — or is political conduct getting worse?With the next Assembly election approaching, is Stormont finally finding its footing — or drifting again?PLUS: Inside discussion on how policy really gets made behind the scenes in Northern Ireland departments.

In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Michael McKernan and Tim Cairns analyse the two stories dominating Stormont this week — from a revealing LucidTalk poll to the political fallout over Gordon Lyon's controversial Facebook post.- The LucidTalk poll explained: winners, losers and warning signs- Why Alliance and the SDLP are fighting - What Jon Burrows’ leadership means for the Ulster Unionist Party - Has the Is pre-election phase already begun at Stormant?- And did Gordon Lyons' Facebook post really cross the line?

In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann and former special advisers Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan break down the biggest political stories at Stormont.🎙️ In this episode:Is Jon Burrows set to become UUP leader unopposed?Would a UUP leadership contest help or harm unionism?Is so-called “liberal unionism” finished in Northern Ireland?Can John O’Dowd’s multi-year Stormont budget survive executive opposition?Are cuts to health and education unavoidable?Should the Ulster Banner be replaced at the Commonwealth Games?We unpack the real power struggles inside the Ulster Unionist Party, the growing budget crisis at Stormont, and why symbols and flags still dominate politics in Northern Ireland in 2026.

In this episode of the Stormont Sources podcast, John Burrows discusses his candidacy for the leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and his vision for the future of unionism in Northern Ireland. He emphasizes a fact-based approach to politics, moving beyond traditional ideological labels, and advocates for a strong unionist position. Burrows addresses key social issues, including assisted dying and equality, and expresses a commitment to engaging in the constitutional debate surrounding the union. He outlines his policy differences with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and stresses the importance of collaboration within the executive. Education reform and the need for an integrated society are also highlighted as critical areas for development.****Click stormontsources.com to listen and for all of our episodesWelcome inside politics in Northern Ireland. Listen to the podcast which brings you analysis, insight and experience from Stormont. Join journalist, David McCann, plus Tim Cairns, a former Special Advisor to Peter Robinson and Head of Policy for the DUP and Micheal McKernan, a former Special Advisor in the SDLP worked in the Executive from 2007-2016.

The Sources Podcast hosts come together for a special New Year 2026 UK politics preview, analysing what could be the most volatile year in British politics for a generation.With local elections in England, Scottish Parliament elections, Senedd elections in Wales, and mounting pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive, this episode explores how the rise of Reform UK, growing voter fragmentation, and Labour’s governing challenges could reshape the UK’s political map.🎙️ Featuring voices from:Whitehall SourcesHolyrood SourcesStormont SourcesSenedd Sources🔍 In this episode:Is Reform UK becoming a permanent force in British politics?Can Keir Starmer’s Labour government survive a brutal May election?Why the Greens and Gaza independents are threatening Labour in citiesWill SNP dominance in Scotland finally crack — and if so, who replaces them?Could Plaid Cymru lead Wales for the first time?How stable is Stormont, and could it collapse again before 2027?What a fragmented UK means for the future of the UnionThis is essential listening for anyone trying to understand UK elections 2026, Nigel Farage’s influence, Labour’s political future, and the growing instability across Britain’s devolved governments.📌 Subscribe for weekly insider analysis from Westminster, Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd.****Click stormontsources.com to listen and for all of our episodesWelcome inside politics in Northern Ireland. Listen to the podcast which brings you analysis, insight and experience from Stormont. Join journalist, David McCann, plus Tim Cairns, a former Special Advisor to Peter Robinson and Head of Policy for the DUP and Micheal McKernan, a former Special Advisor in the SDLP worked in the Executive from 2007-2016.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll joins Stormont Sources for one of the most candid political interviews of the year.In this final episode of Stormont Sources for 2025, host David McCann, alongside Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan, speaks to Gerry Carroll MLA about:🔴 Gaza and the Palestine debate at Stormont🔴 The controversial tweet that made him a lightning rod🔴 Sinn Féin, Brexit and the EU referendum fallout🔴 Why the radical left has struggled to grow in Northern Ireland🔴 Housing, Lough Neagh and working-class politics🔴 Unionism, nationalism and the constitutional question🔴 Ukraine, NATO and EU militarisation🔴 Whether Stormont can ever deliver real changeThis episode explores 10 years of People Before Profit in Stormont, the limits of devolved power, and why Northern Ireland politics remains so polarised.🎧 Stormont Sources takes you inside Stormont and the decisions shaping Northern Ireland.📩 Get involvedWhatsApp: 0333 404 6507 (start with Stormont)Email: hello@stormontsources.com👍 Like, subscribe & turn on notifications for weekly Northern Ireland politics.