David McCann

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%

Another parallel, Australia went from 2007-2019 with no PM completing a full term. Rudd-Gillard-Rudd-Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison.

The UK is well on its way to the same outcome.

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

Only if Mr Socko makes an appearance

Did he turn into Cactus Jack or Dude Love during the interview?

‘The natural state for any nation is to be independent’ - Plaid Cymru leader Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is tipped lead the first ever pro-independence government in Wales. He spoke to David McCann about the future of the union, his admiration for Ireland, and what Sto...

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

.@lucidtalk.bsky.social 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.

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia) IN FULL: Nationals leader announces Coalition split | ABC NEWS

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...

BBC Radio Ulster - Red Lines, Does Northern Ireland need Reform? Will Nigel Farage's Reform UK party contest elections in Northern Ireland?

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.

Who took over your account?

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.

Red Lines - Contest or coronation - BBC Sounds Who can save the Ulster Unionist Party?

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’ He spent only six months in Northern Ireland, but Julian Smith is remembered as the most popular Secretary of State since Mo Mowlam. David McCann hears the inside story of devolution was restored in 2...

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.