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.

Radio Ulster,232 episodes

Episodes

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Stormont: A bicker a day?
What are relations like at Stormont as Executive parties plan a multi-year budget?
10 Dec 2025,36 mins
The One Where Rachel Increased Tax on Lattes.
Mark and guests digest the Chancellor's budget and the implications for Northern Ireland.
26 Nov 2025,41 mins
Stormont 2.0
Does the NI Assembly need an upgrade to survive?
12 Nov 2025,38 mins
Yellow plateau?
Mark Carruthers asks if the Alliance electoral surge has faltered.
29 Oct 2025,42 mins
Fintan versus Sam: The united Ireland debate.
Mark Carruthers speaks to Fintan O'Toole and Sam McBride about their new book.
14 Oct 2025,40 mins
Labour intensive
Did the PM manage to steady the ship at his party conference?
01 Oct 2025,37 mins
IMF fear for Keir
Mark Carruthers and guests assess the Prime Minister's political and economic problems.
17 Sep 2025,37 mins
The Lord Alderdice Interview
The former Alliance leader speaks to Mark Carruthers about his political influences.
27 Aug 2025,38 mins
The Hilary Benn Interview
Mark Carruthers asks NI Secretary of State Hilary Benn about his political life.
20 Aug 2025,40 mins
The Colum Eastwood Interview
The former SDLP leader chats about his political influences & inspirations.
13 Aug 2025,41 mins
The Sorcha Eastwood Interview
Mark Carruthers talks to Lagan Valley MP Sorcha Eastwood about her political life.
06 Aug 2025,47 mins
The Pat Cullen Interview
The Sinn Féin MP chats about her political influences & inspirations.
30 Jul 2025,43 mins
The Angela Smith Interview
Mark Carruthers discusses her political journey with Baroness Smith of Basildon.
23 Jul 2025,39 mins
The Julian Smith Interview
Mark Carruthers speaks to former NI Secretary of State, Sir Julian Smith.
16 Jul 2025,41 mins
The George Mitchell Interview
Mark Carruthers asks Senator George Mitchell about his political life and influences.
09 Jul 2025,40 mins
The Doug Beattie Interview
Mark Carruthers speaks to former UUP Leader Doug Beattie about his political life.
02 Jul 2025,41 mins
Stormont's Report Card - Who made the grade?
Mark and guests look back at the past year in politics.
25 Jun 2025,40 mins
Leo Varadkar - Unity's poster boy or unionist bogeyman?
Mark Carruthers sits down with former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
19 Jun 2025,29 mins
Casement spark?
Has the Spending Review paved the way for the redevelopment of Casement Park?
11 Jun 2025,33 mins
Jailhouse Unlocked
Mark looks at the contrasting fortunes of the courthouse & jail on Belfast's Crumlin road
28 May 2025,37 mins
It's Show time
Mark Carruthers heads to the Balmoral Show, where inheritance tax is the big issue.
14 May 2025,34 mins
The Race for the Áras
Mark Carruthers and guests assess who might be the next Irish President.
30 Apr 2025,40 mins
Trump, Tariffs and Trade deals
Mark chats about Donald Trump's tariffs tactics and what it means for us.
16 Apr 2025,35 mins
Sting Statement
'A mad way to run an economy.'
26 Mar 2025,38 mins
Capitol Skill
All you need to know ahead of the St Patrick's Day events in Washington.
12 Mar 2025,31 mins
The case for the Defence
Mark Carruthers asks how global politics are influencing the Irish question.
26 Feb 2025,39 mins
Green, White House, and Orange
St Patrick's Day in Washington -under Trump 2.0
12 Feb 2025,44 mins
Trump Power
Mark Carruthers and guests talks Trump, trade and tariffs.
29 Jan 2025,36 mins
Next year delivery
Mark Carruthers and guests assess the Executive and preview the big issues of 2025.
15 Jan 2025,45 mins
The Big 2024 Review
Mark Carruthers and guests look back on an eventful 2024.
19 Dec 2024,56 mins