BBC Radio Ulster

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.

Author

BBC Radio Ulster

Category

Government

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jun 24, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Dáilsplaining 11.02.2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by columnist Mary Kelly, Irish News political correspondent John Manley and unionist commentator Sarah Creighton.

Dearg Lines 04.02.2020

Mark Carruthers is in Dublin to talk about the election with Mary Minihan from the Irish Times, Mary Regan from RTÉ and Virgin Media's Gavan Reilly.

Brexitpast 28.01.2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by John Campbell in Belfast and the BBC's Europe Editor Gavin Lee and Shona Murray of Euronews from Brussels.

Calling a SPAD a SPAD 21.01.2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by Mary Kelly, John Campbell and Mark Devenport to look at Special Advisers, revenue raising and an MLA pay rise.

Stormont returns (with added SOSNI) 14.01.2020

Mark Carruthers is joined at Stormont by freelance journalist Amanda Ferguson, Economics and Business Editor, John Campbell, and Political Correspondent Stephen Walker.

A holding pattern in high heels 09.01.2020

Mark Carruthers is joined by Gareth Gordon, Jayne McCormack and the Press Association's Ireland Editor, David Young.

Clear and presenter danger 17.12.2019

Mark Carruthers is joined by Tara Mills, William Crawley and Enda McClafferty to look back at a remarkable General Election.

Paper candidates 11.12.2019

Mark Carruthers is joined by the Belfast Telegraph's Suzanne Breen, John Manley from the Irish News, Gareth Gordon - who left the News Letter 28 years ago - and Mark Devenport.

Alliance & Westminster: Alliance election profile 03.12.2019

Mark Devenport, Jayne McCormack and Mary Kelly join Mark Carruthers to look at the Alliance Party's election profiles.

Dups and downs: DUP election profile 26.11.2019

Mark Devenport, Stephen Walker and Mary Kelly join Mark Carruthers to look at the DUP's election prospects.

Shinner thoughts: Sinn Féin election profile 19.11.2019

Mark Devenport, Enda McClafferty and Suzanne Breen join Mark Carruthers to look at Sinn Féin's election prospects.

Shrinking Down or Larger Party? SDLP election profile 12.11.2019

Mark Devenport, Enda McClafferty and Freya McClements join Mark Carruthers to look at the SDLP's election prospects.

Politics un-pact: UUP election profile 05.11.2019

Mark Devenport, Gareth Gordon and Sarah Creighton join Mark Carruthers to look at the UUP's election prospects.

Will Boris trade the Union? 30.10.2019

Mark Carruthers is joined by regulars Mark Devenport and Enda McClafferty and BBC Scotland Editor, Sarah Smith.

Newton lays down the law 21.10.2019

After a memorable - but brief - return to Stormont we discuss the day's events and other big moments on the hill.

When the dealin's done? 17.10.2019

A special Red Lines episode on the day the UK and EU agree a Brexit deal. But can it get through parliament without the DUP?

The writers' room 15.10.2019

Mark and three top journalists and authors on writing a bestseller, nailing the story and getting the scoop.

Tweets, trolls and tots 08.10.2019

The double-edged sword of social media

No vox popery here... 01.10.2019

Marmalade madness as Enda makes it to Belfast.

Joris Bohnson vs the Supreme Court 24.09.2019

The Champions League final for constitutional lawyers

Finn McCool, the capybara & a tub of lard 17.09.2019

A bridge over troubled political waters? Red Lines looks at the connections between Northern Ireland and Scotland and asks whether a bridge is the obvious next step.

Apologies in advance... 10.09.2019

Barnier, bigfooting and, as ever, the backstop.

Listen to the Red Lines podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.