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

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Episodes

Red Lines: The Kate Hoey Interview 09.08.2023

Mark Carruthers talks to Baroness Hoey about her influences & inspirations.

Red Lines: The Joe Brolly Interview 02.08.2023

Mark Carruthers talks to Joe Brolly about his influences & inspirations.

Season Finale - What next? 11.07.2023

Mark Carruthers asks Suzanne Breen, Brendan Hughes and Jayne McCormack to predict the political future in Belfast, London and Dublin.

The Troubles: Disputed narratives. 05.07.2023

Mark and guests chat about how museums tell the stories of The Troubles.

Self Defence 29.06.2023

Does Ireland's long-standing policy of neutrality remain fit for purpose in an ever-changing global landscape? Mark Carruthers is joined by John O'Brennan, Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University, Dr Karen Devine a lecturer in International Relations at Dublin City University, and Daniel McConnell, the Editor of the Business Post.

Stuffed or stuck? What next for the SNP & Scottish independence? 21.06.2023

Mark and guests assess the political landscape in Scotland.

United Ireland: For richer or poorer? 14.06.2023

Assessing the state of the economies in Northern Ireland & the Republic.

Trading the Union 07.06.2023

Mark Carruthers speaks to academic and author Aaron Edwards and former BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport about how unionists face up to the debate on constitutional change.

Three Derry Corner 31.05.2023

Mark Carruthers speaks to newly-returned Derry City and Strabane Councillors Ryan McCready, Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Shaun Harkin.

Red Lines: Redrawing the electoral map? 23.05.2023

What impact could the local election results have on the battle for Westminster seats?

'Vote till you boke' 17.05.2023

Mark Carruthers is joined by Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics at the University of Liverpool, freelance writer and broadcaster, Amanda Ferguson and BBC NI Political correspondent,Gareth Gordon

#LE23 Other 10.05.2023

After looking at the challenges facing both nationalism and unionism in the run up to the local council election, Mark is joined by David McCann, Deputy Editor of Slugger O'Toole, Suzanne Breen, the Belfast Telegraph's Political Editor and BBC NI's Political Editor, Enda McClafferty to discuss the issues confronting the 'other' parties as they prepare to contest 462 seats across 11 council areas.

#LE23 - Nationalists 03.05.2023

Mark Carruthers profiles the issues within nationalism with Dr David McCann, Jayne McCormack & Brendan Hughes ahead of the local government election.

#LE23 - Unionists 26.04.2023

Mark Caruthers profiles the issues within unionism with Dr David McCann, Sam McBride and Gareth Gordon ahead of the local government election.

Getting the band back together 19.04.2023

World leaders past and present were at Queen's University this week to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mark Carruthers is joined by former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern,Tony Blair's former Chief of Staff, Jonathan Powell, Professor Monica McWilliams,and Ireland Professor of Poetry, Paul, Muldoon, to discuss how the currently stalled process might get back on track.

The President is coming to town. 05.04.2023

Mark and guests chat about US presidential visits to Northern Ireland

GFA#3 The Dealmakers 29.03.2023

There was a lot of heavy-lifting done by a lot of people to make the Good Friday Agreement happen, but some key individuals shouldered more of the burden than others. Mark Carruthers is joined by David Kerr, the former Director of Communications with the UUP, his opposite number in the SDLP, Conall McDevitt, Kate Fearon who was the Women's Coalitions's Chief of Staff and Mark Simpson, who covered...

From our own Correspondents 22.03.2023

Recorded in front of a live audience as guests of the Imagine! Belfast Festival, Mark Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Breen, Political Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, Mark Devenport, former Political Editor of BBC NI and Gareth Gordon, Political Correspondent with BBC NI, to discuss the challenges of political journalism over the last 25 years.

Playing the part 15.03.2023

Mark Carruthers talks to writer Owen McCafferty, director Charlie Westenra and stars Dan Gordon and Andrea Irvine.

Taking on the trolls 08.03.2023

Mark Carruthers is joined by the BBC's Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent, Marianna Spring, BBC NI's Health Correspondent, Marie-Louise Connolly and Professor Deirdre Heenan to talk about their experiences dealing with online abuse and discuss what more platforms can do to try and stop it.

Unravelling the Windsor knot 01.03.2023

Mark Carruthers assesses the Windsor Framework and whether the DUP will accept it with Gareth Gordon, John Campbell and Suzanne Breen.

GFA#2 Women of the hour 22.02.2023

Mark Carruthers is joined by Bronagh Hinds, one of the founding members of the Women's Coalition, Dawn Purvis, a former MLA and leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, Kathleen Stephens, the former US Consul General in Belfast and Liz O’Donnell, a former Progressive Democrat TD and Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs plus of course Mark Simpson who was the BBC Political Corres...

D(UP)-Day 15.02.2023

What are the big decisions facing the DUP & Sir Jeffrey Donaldson?

Reading the Right 08.02.2023

Mark & guests discuss the recent anti-migrant protests in the Republic.

Coiled springs? 01.02.2023

Mark Carruthers speaks to MLAs Patricia O'Lynn, Diane Forsythe and Mike Nesbitt about what they've been doing while Stormont hasn't been sitting.

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