The first full year of Stormont Sources 📈 314,000 plus listens over the year 📈 More than 2.6 million engagements on social media.

The first full year of Stormont Sources 📈 314,000 plus listens over the year 📈 More than 2.6 million engagements on social media. We are delighted to be Northern Ireland's most listened to politics podcast

9 years ago today, we went to the polls in a snap election just 10 months after the last one. The Assembly is reduced to 90 seats. Turnout surges to 65%, and for the first time, Unionism loses its majority in the Assembly.

Good luck to any Labour MP with a majority 10,000 and under at the next election

On the podcast this week ⚖️ Is the leadership of reaching out over? 🏛️ What reform could actually mean 💷 Why MLA pay has everyone running for cover 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts

10 years ago today, Ireland heads to the polls....

In today's @irishnews.com arguing why our MLAs should be paid more. The final power on who serves in that chamber rests with us. www.irishnews.com/opinion/davi...

Profs @katyhayward.bsky.social , @jontonge.bsky.social & @stephenfarry.bsky.social @sjamcbride.bsky.social, @markdevenport.bsky.social & Allison Morris will reflect on the political implications of Brexit Get your tickets imaginebelfast.com/event/10-yea...

Great to have @markcarruthers7.bsky.social speaking to @ulsteruni.bsky.social politics students today about political journalism and politics in a digital age

As part of Imagine join Ann Watt @pivotalpolicy.bsky.social Jodie Carson @ulsteruni.bsky.social & Suzanne Breen @belfasttelegraph.co.uk sluggerotoole.com/2026/02/23/s...

Was on Sunday Politics today talking about MLA Pay and the upcoming Gordon and Denton by-election. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

One year of Stormont Sources Today, we examine comments on whether a United Ireland is inevitable and reflect on one year of the podcast. More than 250,000 listens and downloads in our first year. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeOw...

On Stormont Sources today 🟥Is a United Ireland inevitable? 🟥Should the Irish government make an apology for events during the Troubles? 🟥We reflect on one year of Stormont Sources. 🎧Available later today

% of the Assembly made up of MLAs by designation 2022 U: 41% N:39% Oth: 20% 2017 U: 44% N: 43% Oth: 12% 2016 U: 52% N: 37% Oth: 11%

10 years ago this week, David Cameron agreed a reform deal with the EU. This paves the way for the referendum, which he announces will be held on 23rd June.

Support this 100%. FPTP is not fit for purpose in a multi party system. It makes parties internally ungovernable and distorts the will of the electorate. Keir Starmer was not elected in a landslide in 2024, the system distorted the actual will of the people.

Over 50 academics have written to the government to warn that the current voting system risks producing distorted results on an "unprecedented" scale at the next general election. www.politicshome.com/news/article...

🆕This week, we discuss the recent announcement of the loan to the Executive. Breathing space or sticking plaster? 🎧Available wherever you get your podcasts

Was on View from Stormont with Clare Rice discussing the future of Keir Starmer and current polling ahead of the devolved elections. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iffK...

We are going to dust off the explanations for why, in a parliamentary democracy, you elect a party rather than a leader. No General Election needs to be called because the PM changes. Oppositions always call for them and then ignore the same standard when they get into govt.

Winning popular vote/% share 2024: Lab, 9,708,716 votes: 33.7% 2019: Con, 13,966,454 votes: 43.6% 2017: Con, 13,636,684 votes: 42.3% 2015: Con, 11,334,726 votes: 36.9% 2010: Con, 10,703,654 votes, 36.1% 2005: Lab, 9,552,376 votes, 35.3% 2001: Lab, 10,724,953 votes, 40.7%

Interesting that some consideration is being given to changing the Assembly's sitting days.

🆕 Episode is now live 🟥 Are we too negative about Stormont? 🟥 What went wrong on rates? 🟥 What happened with Timothy Gaston? 🎧 Available wherever you get your podcast

The natural state for any nation is to be independent’ - Plaid Cymru leader @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

In today's @irishnews.com I speak with @plaidcymru.bsky.social Leader @rhunapiorwerth.bsky.social 🟩Ahead in the polls, we talk about how his election could impact the UK 🟩His relationship with Sinn Féin 🟩His admiration for Ireland 🟩His advice on how to promote language rights

The latest @StormontSources is now live. We discuss the @lucidtalk.bsky.social poll and whether Gordon Lyons should resign. 🎧 Available now

"The reality is that unless a minister loses their party leader’s confidence, they are basically untouchable. In a political culture already too skewed towards strong party discipline, our procedures make it harder, to hold our political representatives to account." Read: tinyurl.com/y2eukv3f

Today's @irishnews.com column If you want accountability at Stormont, you need a properly funded opposition www.irishnews.com/opinion/davi...

The Jan 2021 LT poll correctly captured the overall trend for what would happen in May 2022. The SDLP was a bit high on that. SF/DUP typically gain a bit of ground towards the campaign as some voters return to what they know. The big talking point for 2027 could be who comes 3rd rather than 1st.

Remembered today the @lucidtalk.bsky.social poll published around this time five years ago, which reported a steep drop in DUP support to 19% and SF becoming the largest party. One of the first polls to indicate that outcome. Arlene Foster was ousted 3 months later

[email protected] poll Jan 2021 SF: 24% DUP: 19% APNI: 18% SDLP: 13% UUP: 12% TUV: 10% Results on Election Day 2022 SF: 29% DUP: 21% APNI: 13.5% UUP: 11.7% SDLP: 9% TUV: 7.6%

This week's @StormontSources has @katenicholl.bsky.social speaking to us about the tone of politics and how to make Stormont work better. Plus Unionist Unity and listener questions.

One of Australia's most successful political partnerships has collapsed for the second time in a year. The National Party have left the coalition with the Liberals www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2zd...

Does Northern Ireland need Reform? Red Lines @markcarruthers7.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

"We will be lucky if 1,000 people listen to an episode" Throughout 2025, @StormontSources was listened to/downloaded: 249,000 times. Our social media impressions are just over 2.3 million. Huge thank you to those who have listened since February and to all our guests.

Jon Burrows is the third leader to hail from North Antrim. His two predecessors also faced no contest. Since 2003, no UUP leader apart from Mike Nesbitt has fought two AEs in a row. (I am counting 2016/2017 in that). Of the four most recent leaders, just 1 led to an AE.

All five main parties at Stormont have leaders who were elected unopposed. Mary Lou-SF ~(2018) MON (2017 if you count her) Gavin-DUP (2024) Naomi-APNI (2016) Jon-UUP (2026) Claire-SDLP (2024)

Will @JonBurrowsMLA take the @uuponline.bsky.social into opposition? "If we go into opposition, I can tell you this, it will be something different to what you have seen before"

If I am reading standing orders right, there are just a matter of weeks left for Alliance or the UUP to withdraw from the Executive and become part of the Official Opposition. Executive returned on 3rd February 2024. The rules are that you have two years to join.

Was on #BBCRedLines discussing the @uuponline.bsky.social leadership contest. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Our mission is to build a new Ireland by winning a referendum. That means we need to understand the needs, hopes, concerns and fears of everyone but particularly people in the middle who are open to change. @columeastwood.ie speaking to @dmcbfs.bsky.social at Féile an Phobail.

"Even in Northern Ireland, we have witnessed numerous shifts in policy and approach over the years, from Sinn Féin changing their policy on abortion numerous times to the DUP on sharing power with Sinn Féin" Read David McCann: tinyurl.com/4m6jjm5r

Julian Smith: ‘I think we are coming to the end of the road in terms of any party pulling down Stormont’

🆕 Stormont Sources speaks with the Economy Minister @caoimhearchibald.bsky.social about what Sinn Fein wants to achieve by 2027. We also chat about the recent Lucid Talk poll. Available to listen here and wherever you get your podcasts stormontsources.com

🚨@StormontSources is now Live! This week @sdlp.bsky.social Leader @clairehanna.bsky.social is on the podcast to discuss their budget ideas and how they will work with other parties to achieve unity. Plus, some discussion on compulsory voting and the EU/UK deal Listen: stormontsources.com

🆕What's the Labour Government doing for Northern Ireland? @dmcbfs, @timcairns and Michael assess Sir Keir Starmer's policy announcements on immigration and more. Plus: Eurovision. 🎧Streaming now on your podcast app and on YouTube.

Latest Stormont Sources is now live! Have a listen stormontsources.com

The video edition of StormontSources is now up on Youtube. Discussing Kneecap, why NI seems like we cannot build anything, and the Canadian Election, where we find Mark Carney and Tim Cairns have something in common. youtu.be/J4ulicv0EcE?...

New: Stormont Sources N. Ireland Politicians’ Reactions to the Death of the Pope. Plus, the Aontu Bill on presidential voting rights for Northerners. 🎧Streaming now on your podcast app, and on YouTube. stormontsources.com

Latest column in today's @irishnews.com www.irishnews.com/opinion/davi...