Stormont Sources

Listen on your podcast app // David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan take you inside Northern Irish politics // Email: [email protected]

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

This week the panel discuss whether the party is losing voters on both the left and right, if mixed messaging on issues like immigration could become a problem, and what the future holds for figures like Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald.

Plus, a look at unionism, leadership battles and whether personality politics can really survive without party backing.

#IrishPolitics #NorthernIreland #SinnFein

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

Could Sinn Féin ever be led from the North again?

Tim questions whether voters in the Republic would accept a leader from Northern Ireland or Donegal leading Sinn Féin into a general election.

Full episode out now.

#SinnFein #IrishPolitics #NorthernIreland

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

On this weeks podcast Michael argues that most voters still back party labels over personalities and says many politicians overestimate how much their personal profile matters at election time.

“People vote for parties in the main.”

Could Doug Beattie survive politically as an independent?

#UKPolitics #DougBeattie #UUP

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“Back in 2020, Sinn Féin became the one-stop shop for the protest vote. That’s no longer the case."

David McCann explains how Sinn Féin are now being squeezed from both directions politically, losing voters to right-wing independents and fringe movements, while also seeing support drift towards Labour, the Social Democrats and other parties on the left.

#IrishPolitics #SinnFein #UKPolitics

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“Is this the deck of cards falling apart for Jon Burrows?”

On the latest episode we discuss the pressure facing Ulster Unionism, whether Jon Burrows’ leadership is actually under threat, and why the next MLA selections could shape the future of the party.

#NorthernIreland #UKPolitics #UUP

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“Is this the deck of cards falling apart for Jon Burrows?”

On the latest episode we discuss the pressure facing Ulster Unionism, whether Jon Burrows’ leadership is actually under threat, and why the next MLA selections could shape the future of the party.

#NorthernIreland #UKPolitics #UUP

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“Mary Lou is still by far their best performer but the act is getting a little tired.”

Political commentator Michael McKernan joins the podcast to break down Sinn Féin’s recent struggles, disappointing election results and whether the party’s populist approach is finally catching up with them.

From migration to messaging, this is a sharp conversation on where Irish politics could be heading next.

#Politics #IrishPolitics #SinnFein

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[David McCann @dmcbfs]

Latest @StormontSources now live!

This week we discuss;

Is Doug Beattie on the way out the door?
What is going wrong south of the border for Sinn Fein?

https://t.co/AW9o4H5Ins

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“Mary Lou is still by far their best performer but the act is getting a little tired.”

Political commentator Michael McKernan joins the podcast to break down Sinn Féin’s recent struggles, disappointing election results and whether the party’s populist approach is finally catching up with them.

From migration to messaging, this is a sharp conversation on where Irish politics could be heading next.

#Politics #IrishPolitics #SinnFein

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[David McCann @dmcbfs]

On @StormontSources today

We ask whether Doug Beattie is on a one-way ticket out of the UUP?

Where next for Sinn Féin after the recent by-elections?

Dropping into your podcast feeds later today.

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

On this week’s podcast, Colum Eastwood opens up on one of the biggest strategic decisions of his leadership, whether the SDLP should have gone back into government at Stormont.

"I strongly believe that being out would have been better for us in that moment, but I also strongly believe that was impossible given that we had been out of government for what, three or whatever it was years".

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #SDLP

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

From Irish unity to Labour’s struggles in government, this episode covers some of the biggest political questions we face.

Colum tells us how nationalism needs a “commonality” on unity and says he’d “embrace working with Sinn Féin” to achieve it.

“I'm not really worried about who I have to work with. In fact, I'd embrace working with Sinn Féin and other parties to get it done".

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

Colum Eastwood reflects on the famous “Vote Colum, get Mike” moment, saying the SDLP/UUP partnership boosted transfers from “three or four percent” to “over 20 percent”.

"It was sort of innocently done but it did cause some difficulty".

He reveals he had no idea the phrase was coming, discusses the backlash that followed, and explains why he still believes the SDLP/UUP partnership was beginning to resonate with voters.

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #VoteColumGetMike

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

From Irish unity to Labour’s struggles in government, this episode covers some of the biggest political questions we face.

Colum tells us how nationalism needs a “commonality” on unity and says he’d “embrace working with Sinn Féin” to achieve it.

“I'm not really worried about who I have to work with. In fact, I'd embrace working with Sinn Féin and other parties to get it done".

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“It's been a disaster from start to finish. He doesn't have a future, it's over. It's over and done with”.

Colum Eastwood gives an assessment after a turbulent first year in government, describing Keir Starmar as a ‘terrible disappointment’ and ‘he's just not a politician’.

Full Stormont Sources podcast out now.

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #KeirStarmar

@dmcbfs @timcairns

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

Colum Eastwood says Sinn Féin shouldn’t leave seats empty at Westminster if a border poll is on the line.

“I would just gently say to some of my colleagues at Sinn Féin we can't really leave 8 or 9 seats at home when this is such a big opportunity."

"Potentially an historic moment for Ireland that we would just waste”.

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin

@dmcbfs @timcairns @columeastwood

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

Colum Eastwood says Sinn Féin shouldn’t leave seats empty at Westminster if a border poll is on the line.

“I would just gently say to some of my colleagues at Sinn Féin we can't really leave 8 or 9 seats at home when this is such a big opportunity."

"Potentially an historic moment for Ireland that we would just waste”.

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin

@dmcbfs @timcairns @columeastwood

[David McCann @dmcbfs]

.@columeastwood on whether he prefers the @niassembly over Westminster.

"It's not a toy town parliament, which I think the Assembly has proven itself to be"

Listen to the full interview on @StormontSources

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

🆕 @columeastwood tells us about how the first official opposition was formed a decade ago.

Plus why he wants to work other parties including @sinnfeinireland on unity.

🎧 Streaming now

[Stormont Sources @StormontSources]

“You can’t sell a united Ireland by saying everything stays the same.”

@columeastwood argues voters won’t back constitutional change if Stormont continues as it is.

Do you agree?

#Stormont #Ukpolitics #ColumEastwood

@dmcbfs @timcairns