Stormont Sources

Northern Ireland is facing a funding cliff edge — costing up to 400 jobs.In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Kearns and Michael McKernan break down the growing crisis in the voluntary sector, as funding for the Local Growth Fund drops from £25m to just £9m.Plus NICVA’s Celine McStravick spills on the real impact: services cut, organisations under threat, and thousands left without support.👉 Who’s responsible — the UK Government or the Northern Ireland Executive?👉 Can anything be done before it’s too late?PLUS:The DUP targets West Belfast — but can unionism really win there for the first time in 20 years?📩 Get in touch: hello@stormontsources.com📞 Voicemail: 0333 404 6507 (use code “Stormont”)****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.

Minister of Education Paul Givan joins Stormont Sources to issue a direct rebuttal to critiques of his landmark 'TransformEd' policy.Two weeks ago, we heard from Sinn Féin and Alliance members of the Education Committee. Today, the Minister himself responds to what he calls "misrepresentations" of his reforms. From the abolition of AS-Levels to the "test factory" culture in NI schools, we go into the weeds of the most significant education shake-up in a generation.In this episode, we discuss:The Rebuttal: Why Paul Givan issued a Ministerial Statement specifically about this podcast.TransformEd Explained: Addressing the 10 "myths" of the new curriculum.Exam Overhaul: The move away from modular GCSEs and the future of A-Levels.The Academic Selection "Elephant": Why the Minister isn't touching the transfer test.Stormont Culture: Is the atmosphere between parties becoming "toxic"?The DUP & Minimum Unit Pricing: Why the party is blocking Mike Nesbitt's health policy.

Did Andy Burnham miss the mark at the Alliance Party Conference? 🗳️In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Michael McKernan (former SDLP Advisor), and Tim Cairns (former DUP Advisor) dive into a packed week in Northern Ireland politics.We break down the highlights (and tactical errors) of the Alliance Party Conference, discuss whether Eóin Tennyson is the leader-in-waiting, and analyse the "shadow boxing" between Alliance and the SDLP.Plus, we head across the Atlantic to discuss the St. Patrick’s Day visits to Washington. From Donald Trump’s surprising comments on Irish Unity to the row over boycotting the White House - who were the "adults in the room"?****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.

In our first-ever LIVE podcast, we're recording from the Alliance Party Conference, David McCann, Tim Cairns, and Michael McKernan sit down with Alliance Leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long.We dive deep into the "toxic" atmosphere of the Assembly, why the Department of Justice is facing a massive budget crisis, and the national scandal of Lough Neagh. Naomi doesn't hold back on the "veto culture" between the DUP and Sinn Féin, her 20 years in leadership, and why the Alliance Party’s participation in the Executive should never be taken for granted.In this episode:The "demonisation" of Naomi Long in unionist communities.Why the Stormont "hamster wheel" of arguments needs to stop.The truth about MLA pay rises and the "Thunderdome" chamber.A special look at the Lough Neagh environmental crisis.🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Spotify/Apple Podcasts📧 Get in touch: hello@stormontsources.com 🚨 Subscribe for more insider Northern Ireland politics.

In this edition of Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan dive into the "breakneck speed" of Education Minister Paul Givan’s new A-Level reforms. Is the move to modular exams a "once in a generation" improvement, or a "headline-grabbing" risk for working-class students?We also sit down with Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole to discuss the SDLP’s controversial motion to rename the First and Deputy First Minister titles. Why did Sinn Féin abstain, and why is the DUP resisting a move toward "Joint First Ministers"?In this episode:Education Reform: Sinn Féin’s Cathy Mason (South Down) and Alliance’s Michelle Guy (Lagan Valley) debate the impact of the new exam structures.The "Gove" Comparison: Is Paul Givan taking a leaf out of the Michael Gove playbook?Equality in Schools: The ongoing battle for school uniform affordability and the "trousers for girls" legislation.The Title Row: Matthew O'Toole on why the "First Minister" distinction is a "distinction without a difference."MLA Pay: Should Stormont representatives get a pay rise amidst a delivery crisis?****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.

Did Michelle O’Neill just hand the DUP a political win?In this episode, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan break down the fallout after the First Minister declined to attend UK government security briefings on the escalating Middle East crisis — a decision that sparked sharp criticism from unionists and raised fresh tensions at Stormont.With Emma Little-Pengelly stepping into the spotlight, has the DUP seized the political initiative — and was this an own goal for Sinn Féin?We also ask a bigger political question: where are the Greens in Northern Ireland politics? After the Green's triumph in Manchester's Gorton and Denton by-election, the Green Party in Northern Ireland still struggles to break through...so why hasn’t the “green surge” arrived at Stormont?Plus, Tim explains why he got ID'd at Gatwick Airport - and what this has to do with intelligence and human trafficking.In this episode:- The Stormont row over the UK security briefing boycott- Did Michelle O'Neill misjudge the politics?- The DUP’s response and political positioning- Why the Greens are still missing from the big political conversation- The Intelligence behind ID'ing at airports📌 Subscribe for weekly insight on Northern Ireland politicsOr get in touch:📩 Email us: hello@stormontsources.com📱 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507🎙️ Part of the Sources Network (Holyrood Sources, Whitehall Sources & Senedd Sources)

Stormont reform is back on the table — and not everyone’s happy about it.Former First Minister Arlene Foster warns that calls for change could “tilt the constitutional balance”, while former SDLP leader Mark Durkan says reform was always part of the plan.So… is this sensible modernisation — or a power shift in disguise? David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan unpack the facts.⚖️ Unionist fears of change🏛️ What reform could actually mean💷 Why MLA pay has everyone running for coverPlus:🔥 Martin McGuinness’s 2009 condemnation of dissident republicans — and what it tells us about political leadership🤝 Has Northern Ireland ever truly embraced reconciliation?🧱 Are politicians just “managing division” rather than healing it?📌 Subscribe for weekly insight on Northern Ireland politicsOr get in touch:📩 Email us: hello@stormontsources.com📱 WhatsApp: 0333 404 6507🎙️ Part of the Sources Network (Holyrood Sources, Whitehall Sources & Senedd Sources)Like, subscribe, and let us know — is Stormont due a shake-up?

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.