Was on Red Lines this week speaking about what Andy Burnham could mean for NI If he is successful and goes all the way to No.10, there would be three First Ministers and a PM whose central political thesis is that Westminster is not working. What does all that mean? www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

🆕On the podcast today 🟥We discuss Sinn Féin's Assembly reform proposals with Pat Sheehan and why the party are opposing Paul Givan's latest bill on inspections. 🟥What next for the @uuponline.bsky.social following the departure of Doug Beattie? 🎧Available now.

Latest Stormont Sources 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? youtu.be/npiAT4fLI4Q?...

Today's @irishnews.com column The recent by elections show that Sinn Fein is losing support. Some are arguing to get rid of Mary Lou but the party has more soul searching to really do than replace one person. www.irishnews.com/opinion/davi...

Did you know I love elections? Today, we recorded the one-year-out Redlines podcast with Mark Carruthers, Jayne McCormack, and Suzanne Breen. There are some cracking contests and variables coming up next year. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

🆕 @columeastwood.ie tells us about how the first official opposition was formed a decade ago. Plus, why he wants to work with other parties, including Sinn Féin, on unity. 🎧 Streaming now

🆕Our latest episode is live. 🟥We chat with @calumam.bsky.social and @akmaciver.bsky.social from @holyroodsources.bsky.social about the devolved elections and the future of the UK. 🟥Then we discuss the selection rows within the UUP.

How do independents fare in elections after they have left the UUP? Ans: not well. Just 1 since 1998 has been re-elected: an IND, David McClarty, in ELD. John McCallister lost in 2016 Alan McFarland lost in 2011 Ivan Davis lost in 2003

For the wider Unionist picture, Upper Bann is a top target for SF. Whilst APNI would be a target for them, a split could help sink a unionist seat. Liam Mackle (SF) got the highest FPV of any candidate not to win a seat in 2022. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In the 21st century, the UK has had 8 Prime Ministers. Only two of them have fought more than 1 general election as leader. Blair and Cameron. The rest were 1-and-done, except for Liz Truss.

Was on Sunday Politics this morning speaking about the outcome of the devolved and local elections last week. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Here's another stat: the Labour collapse in Wales is higher than Fianna Fáil's at the peak of the Financial Crisis in 2011. 2026: 25.1% drop for Labour (9 seats) 2011: 24.2% drop for Fianna Fail (20 seats)

444,000 votes is the largest popular mandate any Welsh party has received in the history of devolution. With more than 35%, the @plaidcymru.bsky.social vote share is higher than the SNP in 2007, which got just under 33%, or Sinn Féin in 2022, which got 29.1%.

Interesting that the combined pro-independence votes are roughly on par with each other in Scotland and Wales. Around 42% in both places on list votes.

And there it is, the SNP and Greens now have 65 seats combined. The pro-independence majority is locked in.

@sorchaeastwood.bsky.social tells us why Keir Starmer needs to go and why she doesn't miss Stormont. Plus we ask whether a collapse is coming. 🎧 Available now

One year to go until #AE27 and #LE27

A good listen here if you’re going out for a walk or something this evening 🎧 Thanks lads @ciarandunbarrach.bsky.social @dmcbfs.bsky.social shorturl.at/d1Uhv

Great to chat with @ciarandunbarrach.bsky.social for the @belfasttelegraph.co.uk podcast about @sinnfeinireland's prospects ahead of next year's election youtu.be/CzonoDxRY7k?...

Had a good natter with @dmcbfs.bsky.social and Michael about my article. I also did it on four hours sleep!!

This week on the podcast @saraita101.bsky.social talks to us about Unionist identity We discuss Paul Doherty's resignation from the SDLP Then we also talk about the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. 🎧 Available now

Took a look at the state of play for Sinn Féin for @brownoconnor.bsky.social ahead of next year's elections. www.brownoconnor.com/news-insight...

Today's column in the @irishnews.com I have heard numerous dates for when we have a border poll. They have come and gone. Now we are on 2030. Setting dates far out is constitutional procrastination. www.irishnews.com/opinion/davi...

Analysis: Greatest hits and some new material played at Sinn Féin ard fheis www.irishnews.com/opinion/anal...

Was a part of a group of walkers who tested a route for a camino in Belfast. We went across all parts of the city today. Great idea, and hopefully it gets up and running.

I think this is the first time in the SDLP's history that it has had zero representation at any level in West Belfast The party has always had either an MP, MLA or Councillor in the constituency.

Some thoughts on day 1 of #sfaf26 sluggerotoole.com/2026/04/24/o...

On this week's episode 🟥We discuss the most recent @LucidTalk poll 🟥What is the future of Keir Starmer? 🟥Plus the Executive's approach to public service transformation.

With just over a year to go until the next Assembly Election, I was on The View with @jontonge.bsky.social , @markcarruthers7.bsky.social and @gavreilly.com discussing polls ahead of May 7th 2027 and the two upcoming by-elections in the Republic. Watch here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Was on View From Stormont last night talking about the recent LucidTalk poll and how the Executive is spending (or not) their transformation fund. www.itv.com/watch/news/v...

At UTV tonight doing View from Stormont with @vickiutv.bsky.social and noticed this on the wall from the 1969 Stormont Election. The last election to the old NI Parliament.

A year out from AE22, polls had it as this SF: 25% DUP: 16% UUP: 14% APNI: 16% SDLP: 12% TUV: 11%

The race for third place is fascinating. A tie between four parties. SF on 24% would be back to 2016 levels of support. Meaning those 2-3 seats they'd hope to gain wouldn't come about. DUP would be back to 1998 levels of support. Drop in combined DUP/SF support could be talking point of AE27

🆓 On this week's episode We discuss Danny Bakers PMB on Holiday Hunger Plus we take your questions answering whether DUP ministers are out performing their counterparts and the Taoiseach's approach to NI. 🎧 Available now

Since 1998, the Foyle constituency has had a co-option in every mandate, except the brief 2016-2017 Assembly. It has never gone a full term without a co-option.

Why the pro-unity parties need to spell out their vision for what a United ireland would look like for them.

🆕Deborah Erskine joins us this week to discuss Maternity Leave provisions for MLAs. ☑️We also discuss the @ireland_thinks poll and ask why Irish unity is not higher up the list of priorities and whether it matters.

As the Troubles approached their zenith, Taoiseach Jack Lynch privately pressed Ted heath to back Irish unity, declassified file shows, but the PM refused, telling him most in NI were unionist and "he wasn’t prepared to tell them what they ought to want".

As reported on @virginmedianews.bsky.social at 12:30: Government fears one major retail fuel operator will have empty tanks nationwide as early as tomorrow, if ongoing blockades of fuel depots are not ended. A source said this was “unconscionable” when Ireland does not have an actual fuel shortage

POLL: Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks (April 3, MoE 2.8%) Sinn Féin 22 Fianna Fáil 19 (+1 in five weeks) Fine Gael 17 Social Democrats 9 (-2) Aontú 6 Ind Ireland 6 (+1) Labour 5 (+1) Greens 3 (-1) PBP-Solidarity 3 Inds/others 10 (-1)

On this week's podcast We have @nicva.org CEO on the crisis in the sector Plus, we ask if the @duponline.bsky.social can win a seat in West Belfast 🎧 Available now

400 days until #AE27 and #LE27

Brilliant news that the Assembly will be increasing from 90-126 MLAs after the next election. I know it's unpopular but we need more MLAs. 7 seats per constituency will make for some cracking contests.

Catherine Connolly announces Councll of State nominees: Fionnuala Ní Aoláin (QUB lawyer) Linda Ervine (Unionist Gaeilge advocate) Colin Harvey (QUB human rights) Kathleen Lynch (UCD sociology) Donncha O’Connell (Uni Galway law) Conor O’Mahony (UCC law) Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh (former pres Uni Galway)

On Monday the Society hosted two panels in Belfast on the anniversary of the EU referendum. You can read a short write-up of them here: https://consoc.org.uk/constitution-society-northern-ireland-event/

I was on Sunday Politics this morning with Mark Carruthers Speaking about third sector funding cuts with Celine McStravick and David Babington Plus a day in the life of an MLA with Peter Martin www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

My interview in The Irish News with Former Head of the Civil Service Sir David Sterling KCB is now available online. www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

In today's @irishnews.com I speak with former Head of the Civil Service, Sir David Sterling, about being left in charge of Northern Ireland from 2017-2020, how we just missed out on water charges, and the challenges facing the Executive. Available in shops today and online this weekend.

"Let’s demonstrate to voters who cherish their Britishness that, whilst this is not the constitutional option they want, they need not fear change if it does come in the future." Read: tinyurl.com/yc5rwfwy