David McCann

EXCLUSIVE: Doug Beattie’s Upper Bann constituency office manager Kate Evan quits the Ulster Unionists to sit on council as an independent. The move comes amid growing speculation that the former UUP leader could be considering leaving the party. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/…

Colum Eastwood reflects on the famous “Vote Colum, get Mike” moment, saying the SDLP/UUP partnership boosted transfers from “three or four percent” to “over 20 percent”. "It was sort of innocently done but it did cause some difficulty". He reveals he had no idea the phrase was coming, discusses the backlash that followed, and explains why he still believes the SDLP/UUP partnership was beginning to resonate with voters. #Stormont #Ukpolitics #VoteColumGetMike @dmcbfs @timcairns

☑️ | ELECTION ALERT Seán Kyne (FG) elected on Count 11 in Galway West. FG gain from IND. See the full result of this election, including tally by electoral district, at irelandvotes.com/elections/irel… #ByElections

From Irish unity to Labour’s struggles in government, this episode covers some of the biggest political questions we face. Colum tells us how nationalism needs a “commonality” on unity and says he’d “embrace working with Sinn Féin” to achieve it. “I'm not really worried about who I have to work with. In fact, I'd embrace working with Sinn Féin and other parties to get it done". #Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin @dmcbfs @timcairns

In this case, I am not sure SF's issue is a leadership issue. For years, there have been calls for the party to move to the centre. MLM has done this in some areas. I am just not sold on the idea that simply putting a new face at the helm of the party solves problems.

@Emerald87780831 SF vote in 2020 was just under 36% SF vote in 2026 was just under 18%.

@dmcbfs The turnout was under 40% so I don't see how you could come to this conclusion. The story here is that the combined FFG vote (two by-elections) continues to show a downward trend. SF remains the only viable alternative, albeit we have made mistakes recently.

Dublin Central has undergone a political transformation over the last 20 years. In 2007, Fianna Fáil under Bertie had an iron grip on the constituency. In 2020, Sinn Féin under Mary Lou. Now, both are fading away fast.

@JackJackmernag They've gone from just under 36% of the vote to under 18% in 6 years.

@dmcbfs SF fading is a bit of a stretch. Certainly not as high but easily winning a seat here in a GE

Dublin Central, Count 7 (Redistribution of the votes of McAdam, Ray): The top 3 on this Count are Ennis (SD), Boylan (SF), and Horner (GP). Candidate eliminated on this Count is Gerry Hutch (IND). LIVE results: irelandvotes.com/elections/irel… #ByElections26

“It's been a disaster from start to finish. He doesn't have a future, it's over. It's over and done with”. Colum Eastwood gives an assessment after a turbulent first year in government, describing Keir Starmar as a ‘terrible disappointment’ and ‘he's just not a politician’. Full Stormont Sources podcast out now. #Stormont #Ukpolitics #KeirStarmar @dmcbfs @timcairns

Galway West, 61% tallied: Thomas (INDIRL): 20.5% Kyne (FG): 20.3% Ogbu (LAB): 12.0% Welby (IND): 8.2% Keane (FF): 7.1% See the full LIVE tally as it comes in at irelandvotes.com/elections/irel… #ByElections26

Dublin Central, FULL tally: Ennis (SD): 19.6% Boylan (SF): 17.8% Hutch (IND): 11.7% Horner (GP): 11.6% McAdam (FG): 10.4% Steenson (IND): 9.5% Ó Ceannabháin (PBPS): 6.7% O'Dea (LAB): 5.8% Stephens (FF): 4.1% ... Full LIVE tally result: irelandvotes.com/elections/irel… #ByElections26

EXCLUSIVE: Jon Burrows & Doug Beattie are potentially on a collision course over Naomi Long's Justice Bill. Burrows has asked his Upper Bann MLA to withdraw an amendment raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12. Beattie has refused. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/…

Colum Eastwood says Sinn Féin shouldn’t leave seats empty at Westminster if a border poll is on the line. “I would just gently say to some of my colleagues at Sinn Féin we can't really leave 8 or 9 seats at home when this is such a big opportunity." "Potentially an historic moment for Ireland that we would just waste”. #Stormont #Ukpolitics #SinnFéin @dmcbfs @timcairns @columeastwood

@squinteratn @bbctheview Wild exchange

I’ve watched this five times already. Jim Allister accepting this as a compliment might be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in a political debate. ⁦@bbctheview⁩

“You can’t sell a united Ireland by saying everything stays the same.” @columeastwood argues voters won’t back constitutional change if Stormont continues as it is. Do you agree? #Stormont #Ukpolitics #ColumEastwood @dmcbfs @timcairns

Exclusive | Doug Beattie is on course to be reselected by his local UUP association when it meets to choose its Upper Bann candidates next month. ✍️ @SuzyJourno belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/…

"I, for one, would not want to see Stormont as part of a United Ireland. I think it would be a disaster"

.@columeastwood on whether he prefers the @niassembly over Westminster. "It's not a toy town parliament, which I think the Assembly has proven itself to be" Listen to the full interview on @StormontSources

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