

Red Lines
BBC Radio Ulster
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 25, 2023 • 50min
GFA25: Ep 1 - The Fourth Estate
Mark Carruthers looks back on the Good Friday Agreement with journalists Mark Simpson, David Davin-Power, Martin Fletcher and former NIO official Mary Madden.

Jan 18, 2023 • 32min
Caution;Tunnel Ahead
Mark Carruthers is joined by BBC NI's Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell, RTE's Europe Editor, Tony Connelly, Jess Sargeant from the Institute for Government, to discuss not the details of a potential deal but the process of getting all sides across the line.

Jan 11, 2023 • 29min
Protocol, pounds and patients
Mark Carruthers asks Jayne McCormack, John Campbell and Marie-Louise Connolly to predict what lies ahead this year.

Dec 20, 2022 • 43min
Review of the Year
Mark Carruthers asks Tim McGarry, Enda McClafferty, Deirdre Heenan and Newton Emerson to cast their minds back to the highlights of 2022.

Dec 14, 2022 • 35min
Leo V 2.0
Leo Varadkar returns as Taoiseach this weekend. Where might Micheál Martin go?

Dec 7, 2022 • 32min
Let's Stick Together
Mark Carruthers asks Sheila Davidson from Together UK, former MLA John McCallister and Prof Jon Tonge what the future holds for civic unionism.

Nov 30, 2022 • 32min
Malcolm in the Middle
Mark Carruthers asks Sir Malcolm McKibbin, Jayne McCormack and Newton Emerson how far civil servants can go without a government in Northern Ireland.

Nov 23, 2022 • 29min
The Seven Year Itch
Mark Carruthers speaks to political editor Enda McClafferty, columnist Fionnuala O Connor and former special adviser Brendan Mulgrew about the state of the SDLP.

Nov 16, 2022 • 32min
The Brady Bunch
Mark Carruthers speaks to Sir David Sterling, Jess Sargeant & Sam McBride about the running of NI’s nine government departments in the absence of Stormont ministers.

Nov 9, 2022 • 32min
University challenges
Mark Carruthers speaks to Simon Hamilton, Grace Boyle, Chris McCracken & Sophia Campbell about Belfast city centre's future - in the atrium of the UU's new building in York St.