David McCann

David McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

McDonald: “That future calls to each one of us. And, my friends, we will answer. So, let’s win it now.”

| Readers 1194

The Sinn Féin President, Mary Lou McDonald, addressed party members in Belfast tonight, covering the cost of living, Irish unity and foreign policy. On a United Ireland, she said; Ireland’s future will be shaped by the strength and resilience of our people. We will match that courage with tireless work, purpose, and commitment. To be their voice. To fight their corner. And never, ever back down. This is a time for belief. For every person to claim their place in …

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Paul Doherty quits the SDLP

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Former Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Black Mountain has quit the SDLP. A gain for the party in a bad election in 2023 and the best prospect for a gain next year, this is a big loss for the SDLP. I have left the SDLP with immediate effect. My focus will remain on the ground in my community, representing the people of West Belfast. For clarity, I was not at the hastily arranged Belfast City Council meeting this week – …

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O’Neill: The DUP “yearn for the days of unionist misrule.”

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More than 700 delegates filled the ICC hall tonight to hear the First Minister, Michelle O’Neill. In what can only be described as a pre-election warm-up speech, O’Neill attempted to sell to delegates what Sinn Féin has achieved in the Executive, their frustrations with the DUP and even lent support to her nationalist counterparts in Wales and Scotland. On Sinn Féin’s performance in the Executive; “Politics works best when people work together with a common purpose. I believe that all …

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Slugger Event: Two Years Down, One To Go

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The NI Executive has been back up and running for two years. The next Assembly election is just over a year away. The campaigning is already underway. Given their track record of delivery, we ask whether the Stormont institutions are living up to expectations, and what’s stopping them delivering on the ambitions, hopes and dreams upon which MLAs are elected? Join Ann Watt (director of Pivotal thinktank), Professor Jodie Carson (Professor of Strategic Policy in Practice at Ulster University) and …

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Benn: “It’s a long way off because no one who is calling for a border poll can actually argue that that condition is currently met in Northern Ireland.”

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The Secretary of State, Hilary Benn joined the Stormont Sources podcast during the week to discuss the budget, Stormont Reform and a border poll. “It’s a long way off because no one who is calling for a border poll can actually argue that that condition is currently met in Northern Ireland.” Secretary of State @hilarybennmp sets out the criterion for a border poll and why it is not currently being met.@dmcbfs |… pic.twitter.com/q80p2GT68I — Stormont Sources (@StormontSources) December 4, 2025 …

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#DUP25 conference fires the opening shots on their next campaign

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The DUP went back to the La Mon Hotel for the first time in nearly a decade. Several hundred delegates gathered as the party marks 18 months back in government and is gearing up for the 2027 Assembly  and Local Government Elections. The party ministers spent time firing shots at Sinn Fein and the TUV, with Upper Bann MLA, Jonathan Buckley played the role of delivering the message to the base with a speech focusing on immigration. Leaders speech bu …

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Abuse of our MLAs

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The View had an excellent report last night highlighting some of the threats and abuse faced by our MLAs. An Electoral Commission survey on the 2024 UK general election found that many candidates continue to experience unacceptable levels of intimidation and harassment. A group of leaders from the Centre for Democracy and Peace’s Fellowship Programme have called for action to tackle the abuse. Backed by the Electoral Commission, they have called for legislative change to strengthen protection for candidates and …

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The State of the State Report 2025 .

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Powered by RedCircle The State of the State Report is back for 2025. With a full year of devolution under Northern Ireland’s belt, this report surveys sector leaders in Northern Ireland the public to find out their attitudes towards key issues. Northern Ireland has the biggest appetite for lower taxes of any region in the UK. 42% of people said they favoured lower taxes and lower spending. 27% said they preferred the opposite. For the third year running, the cost-of-living …

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Happy World Poetry Day

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  Happy World Poetry Day, everyone. A great moment to flag one of my favourite poems called For A Leader by John O’Donohue May you have the grace and wisdom To act kindly, learning To distinguish between what is Personal and what is not. May you be hospitable to criticism. May you never put yourself at the center of things. May you act not from arrogance but out of service. May you work on yourself, Building up and refining the …

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Look North Festival is back with a Slugger Event

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The Look North Festival is back this Friday and will run throughout the weekend, promoting the best of North Belfast. We are back with our event, which will examine some of the challenges and opportunities facing North Belfast with some former politicians in the area. Political Commentator, Lecturer and Election Nerd David McCann will host a panel of former politicians to look at the challenges facing North Belfast and some future opportunities. This will be a chance to hear about …

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Michelle O’Neill addresses Ard Fheis for the first time as First Minister

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Michelle O’Neill took the stage of the 2024 Ard Fheis for the first time as First Minister. The party’s strong results in Northern Ireland have been a bright spot in a difficult political year, and O’Neill’s personal ratings remain high eight months into the job. O’Neill’s speech touched upon issues dear to her base: Casement Park and Irish language rights. O’Neill referenced the need for Irish unity and tried to set out how the change narrative in Northern Ireland could …

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Gavin Robinson attempts a reset after a difficult year

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Gavin Robinson took to the stage in his first speech as DUP leader. Addressing around 300 delegates, he attempted to reset a party that had been battered over the past three years. With devolution restored and a run of elections now behind the party, Robinson has a huge task ahead. How do you restore a once-dominant party to its former strength? One clear message from the conference is that the DUP is in a rebuilding phase. Despite the success of …

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New UUP Leader to be decided in September

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UUP plan to have new leader in place by 14 September at an extraordinary general meeting pic.twitter.com/8z1JgR1oSb — Jayne McCormack (@BBCJayneMcC) August 20, 2024 David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

UTV Election Debate: A win for Eastwood with Long and Robinson taking aim at one another

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Representatives from the five main parties gathered at UTV today in the first local debate ahead of the General Election on July 4th. John Finucane for Sinn Fein, Colum Eastwood for the SDLP, Naomi Long for the Alliance Party, Robbie Butler for the UUP, and Gavin Robinson for the DUP. The debate was divided into three themes: influence at Westminster, Executive finances and a border poll. An interesting aspect of the debate was some of the participants’ different and laid-back …

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Slugger TV talks with Senator Mal O’Hara

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Slugger TV – 26th April 2024 from Northern Visions NVTV on Vimeo. Slugger TV speaks with Green Party Leader, Senator Mal O’Hara about the future of the Greens, remaining in government in the Republic and the party’s strategy going into GE 2024. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

#APNI24 looking for reform and growth at Westminster

| Readers 1611

Alliance gathered for their annual conference in the Stormont Hotel in East Belfast. 400 delegates heard their leaders pitch for reform of the institutions and the upcoming Westminster elections. I have attended every Alliance conference since 2014 and this is one of the most upbeat and energetic that I have witnessed. The party’s local election saw growth but unlike, Sinn Fein, it was a mixed bag with losses in some places and failure to break through in others. The Deputy …

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Panel: North Belfast is Best Belfast

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Who has the vision and the influence to realise the full potential of the North of the city? Power is never just vested in politicians. Activists across community, voluntary, education, faith and business sectors also have ideas and the means to influence change. At this event our panel will share their ideas and reflect on your suggestions. Joining host David McCann around the table are Paul Carlin, Matt Shields and Hilary Woods. Paul Carlin is the chair of the Cavehill Business Association and the ‘no audition’ Cavehill Community …

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State of the State looks at challenges for the new Executive

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Powered by RedCircle I talk with Ed Roddis and Marie Doyle from Deloitte about the 2024 State of the State Report in Northern Ireland and the challenges facing the new Executive. What is the report? Deloitte commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct an online survey of 5,815 UK adults aged 16-75 between 27 October and 1 November 2023, 420 of which lived in Northern Ireland. The research also comprised of interviews with more than 100 leaders in government and public services including permanent secretaries …

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Slugger TV speaks to the US Consul General

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Slugger TV – 12th January 2024 from Northern Visions NVTV on Vimeo. This month we speak with the US Consul General, James Applegate. David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs

Slugger Podcast: Looking at the boundaries for #GE24

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David McCann and Peter Donaghy look at how the proposed new constituency boundaries could impact the next election results in Northern Ireland David McCannDavid McCann holds a PhD in North-South relations from University of Ulster. You can follow him on twitter @dmcbfs