Stormont Sources

This week, the panel breaks down the massive public fallout over the Scarva Gaza march protests and the growing executive gridlock surrounding the "Good Jobs" Employment Rights Bill.

As summer approaches, localised flashpoints are exposing deep rifts within Stormont. Did DUP MP Carla Lockhart provide crucial leadership on the ground at Scarva bridge to prevent a volatile situation from escalating, or are unionist politicians simply "damned if they do, damned if they don't" by political rivals?

The team also turns their attention to the legislative logjam inside the Executive. With Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald facing intense pressure from the DUP to "split the bill," the panel debates whether the long-awaited Good Jobs Bill is effectively dead or if a compromise can be reached to save its most popular worker provisions.

Topics Covered:
-The Scarva Gaza March Clashes & Counter-Protests
-Political Fallout and Leadership of DUP MP Carla Lockhart
-The "Summer Hate Fest" & Rising Summer Tensions
-The Stalled Good Jobs Bill in the Executive

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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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinn Féin has officially launched its proposals to radically reform the Northern Ireland Assembly. Once the biggest skeptics of changing the rules, why has the party firmly embraced reform now?

In this episode of Stormont Sources we sit down with Sinn Féin MLA and Deputy Chair of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, Pat Sheehan, to dive deep into their 6 new proposals—including ending mutual vetoes on Executive formation, changing how the Speaker is elected, and handing greater fiscal powers over to Stormont. Is this a genuine path forward, or is the DUP being politically isolated?

Topics covered:
Doug Beattie Resigns From the UUP
Sinn Féin’s Journey to Reforming the Assembly
Is Mary Lou McDonald Blaming the DUP for Lack of Delivery?
The 6 Reform Proposals: Vetoes, Speakers, & the Justice Minister
Curbing the Power of the Stormont Speaker Explained
Should Stormont Have Income Tax Powers Like Scotland?
The "Other" Designation Problem: Are Some Votes Worth Less?
Paul Givan vs. Pat Sheehan: The School Inspection Bill War
The Restrictive Practices Controversy & The Uniforms Bill
Will the Legislation Pass?

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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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.