Stormont Sources

Is the Ulster Unionist Party on the verge of a total meltdown in Upper Bann? In this week's edition of Stormont Sources, Northern Ireland’s most-listened-to political panel dives headfirst into the growing internal warfare ripping through the UUP.

Host David McCann is joined by former DUP Special Advisor Tim Cairns and former SDLP Special Advisor Michael McKernan to break down the shock resignation of Councillor Kate Evans, the public clash between leader John Burrows and Doug Beattie over the criminal age of responsibility amendment, and rumors that Beattie may be preparing to exit the party.

Topics Covered
Internal Party Warfare and Leaks in Upper Bann
The Resignation of Councillor Kate Evans
The Policy Clash Over the Criminal Age of Responsibility
Doug Beattie's Electoral Future as an Independent
Sinn Féin’s By-Election Vote Collapse
The Political "Pincer Movement" Crushing Mary Lou McDonald

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Click stormontsources.com to listen and for all of our episodes

Welcome 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.
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In this episode of Stormont Sources, we sit down with Foyle MP and former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood to look back at the chaotic "Vote Colum, Get Mike" era, his testy private showdown with Martin McGuinness, and why he believes the Northern Ireland Assembly is failing to deliver for the public.

Topics covered in this episode:
The 10-Year Anniversary of Official Stormont Opposition (2016)
Colum Eastwood’s Showdown with Martin McGuinness
The Reality of Being a Smaller Party in Government
"Vote Colum, Get Mike" and UUP Politics
Why Stormont is a "Toy Town Parliament"
The Future of Irish Unity
The Irish Government's Role
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On this special edition of the Stormont Sources podcast, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan take at look ahead to this year's politics A-Level and provide their advice on how to do well.

You can read Tim's model essay answer here: https://stormontsources.com/exams
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In this explosive edition of Storming Sources, David McCann, Tim Kerns, and Michael McKernan break down a historic week that has reshaped British and Irish politics.

We are joined by Andy Maciver and Calum Macdonald from the Holyrood Sources podcast to analyse the 2026 Scottish and Welsh election results. With Nationalist First Ministers now leading in Scotland (John Swinney), Wales (Rhun ap Iorwerth), and Northern Ireland (Michelle O’Neill), is the United Kingdom facing an existential crisis?

Topics covered:
The Scottish Verdict: The SNP secures a 5th term but loses seats.
The Welsh Earthquake: Plaid Cymru ends 100 years of Labour dominance.
The Starmer Survival Watch: With Wes Streeting mulling a leadership challenge and Labour support collapsing across the UK, how long has Keir Starmer got left in Number 10?
UUP Internal Wars: Is Doug Beattie facing deselection?
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Sorcha Eastwood talks through Keir Starmer, Stormont reform, and the pressures on households — but are politicians actually delivering any real change, or just more of the same?

In this episode of Stormont Sources, host David McCann is joined by regulars Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan to talk to the MP for Lagan Valley, Sorcha Eastwood.

Sorcha has been a vocal critic of Keir Starmer’s Labour government in the House of Commons. We dive deep into why she feels the Prime Minister has "disconnected" from the public, the devastating impact of the Local Growth Fund cuts in Northern Ireland, and why she believes the current two-party system is fraying at the edges.

Topics covered in this episode:
Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Stormont reform.
The impact of recent economic decisions.
Growing security concerns in Northern Ireland.
Andy Burnham’s appearance at the Alliance conference.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.