Welcome to the Stormont Sources Christmas Special, where David McCann, Michael McKernan and Tim Cairns review the political year in Northern Ireland.

In this end-of-year episode, the panel hands out the Stormont Sources Awards, debating:

• MLA of the Year – including John O’Dowd, Emma Little-Pengelly, Matthew O’Toole and Timothy Gaston

• Party of the Year – why all three agree the TUV had a breakthrough year

• Worst Performing Party – Alliance’s difficult year in government

• Biggest Political Moment of 2025 – from Sinn Féin’s White House boycott to parliamentary privilege drama

• Under-reported Stories – integrated education court rulings, anti-poverty strategy failures, and unionist realignment

• Unionism’s Future – DUP, UUP leadership tension, John Burrows, Robbie Butler and cooperation pressures

• Stormont Sources Highlights – behind-the-scenes reflections on interviews, viral moments and political rows

The episode closes with festive humour, Christmas negotiations nostalgia, and a reminder of Stormont’s most surreal moments — including DUP MLAs singing Christmas carols during all-night talks.

🎄 A must-listen for anyone following Northern Ireland politics, Stormont, or the road to the 2026–27 elections.

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