Show Notes
In this episode of Stormont Sources, David McCann and former special advisers Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan break down the biggest political stories at Stormont.
🎙️ In this episode: Is Jon Burrows set to become UUP leader unopposed? Would a UUP leadership contest help or harm unionism? Is so-called “liberal unionism” finished in Northern Ireland? Can John O’Dowd’s multi-year Stormont budget survive executive opposition? Are cuts to health and education unavoidable? Should the Ulster Banner be replaced at the Commonwealth Games?
We unpack the real power struggles inside the Ulster Unionist Party, the growing budget crisis at Stormont, and why symbols and flags still dominate politics in Northern Ireland in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Stormont Sources
Sinn Féin is making bold moves ahead of the next Northern Ireland Assembly election. But can its election strategy deliver more seats at Stormont?
Is Gavin Robinson's leadership of the DUP under threat? Could Carla Lockhart leave the party? And what does the Drumcree dispute mean for the future of unionism and power-sharing at Stormont?
Northern Ireland’s political tensions are once again in the spotlight as the panel examines the ongoing Drumcree dispute and the challenges facing the Stormont Executive. With Michelle O’Neill facing questions in the Assembly, the discussion explores whether political leaders can find a way forward, what role the Secretary of State could play, and whether the controversy could have wider consequences for power-sharing.
The Drumcree parade impasse has returned to the headlines in 2026, triggering fierce debate, toxic chamber clashes in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and questions over the future of the Stormont Executive.
Jon Burrows, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, joins the Stormont Sources podcast to discuss the future of the UUP, Stormont reform, the constitutional debate and unionist cooperation ahead of the next Assembly and local government elections.