
Red Lines
The back-stop’s here? Bad puns with top political coverage from Northern Ireland. Red Lines brings you essential analysis and commentary by BBC NI’s politics team.
Latest episodes

Aug 2, 2024 • 35min
The Claire Hanna Interview
Mark Carruthers chats to SDLP MP Claire Hanna about her political influences & inspirations.

Jul 10, 2024 • 35min
Red Faces
Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Suzanne Breen and Jayne McCormack to look back at what caused the big surprises in the general election.

Jul 2, 2024 • 30min
The Constituency Profiles: Fermanagh South Tyrone, West Tyrone and Mid Ulster
Political analyst David McCann, broadcaster Enda McClafferty, and correspondent David Young join to discuss the intricacies of upcoming elections in Fermanagh South Tyrone, West Tyrone, and Mid Ulster. They explore boundary changes, party strategies, voter dynamics, and controversies surrounding the campaigns, offering insights into the competitive political landscape of these constituencies.

Jun 26, 2024 • 43min
The Constituency Profiles: Belfast North, South, East and West.
Political analyst David McCann, commentator Brendan Hughes, and journalist Suzanne Breen discuss the upcoming Belfast elections. They analyze key players, humor in the election race, challenges for the Green Party, and potential outcomes in East, North, South, and West Belfast constituencies.

Jun 19, 2024 • 37min
The Constituency Profiles: North, South and East Antrim.
Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack, and Stephen Walker to discuss the upcoming election dynamics in North, South, and East Antrim constituencies. They analyze the race between Ulster Unionists and the DUP, the wildcard independent candidate Mel Lucas, voter preferences, and party strategies. The podcast explores the impact of candidates like Paul Gervin and John Blair, party branding choices, low voter turnout, and the implications of a July election on voter registration and coverage planning.

Jun 12, 2024 • 38min
The Constituency Profiles: Lagan Valley, Upper Bann and Newry & Armagh
Political analyst David McCann, journalist Suzanne Breen, and political commentator Gareth Gordon join to dissect the upcoming elections in Lagan Valley, Upper Bann, and Newry & Armagh. They discuss constituency profiles, key candidates, strategic approaches, and potential election outcomes, highlighting the alliances, ironies, and uncertainties in the political landscape of Northern Ireland.

Jun 5, 2024 • 38min
The Constituency Profiles: Foyle & East Londonderry
Political analysts and a journalist discuss the upcoming elections in Foyle & East Londonderry, analyzing candidate selections, election dynamics, potential changes, Nigel Farage's involvement, gender representation challenges, and the importance of political candidates facing abuse.

May 29, 2024 • 37min
The Constituency Profiles: N Down, S Down and Strangford.
Mark Carruthers is joined by David McCann, Jayne McCormack and Stephen Walker to assess the candidates running for Westminster in North Down, South Down and Strangford.

May 15, 2024 • 37min
Stop the votes?
Will Rishi Sunak's Rwanda policy impact the local elections in the Republic?

May 9, 2024 • 25min
From unionism to unity
DUP founding member Wallace Thompson tells Mark Caruthers about his changing political views and how other unionists have told him they agree a united Ireland is "inevitable".