Hilary Benn on the Budget Crisis, Border Poll & Stormont Reforms

On this week's episode Stormont Sources, David McCann, Tim Cairns and Michael McKernan challenge the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the biggest questions facing Northern Ireland:Why does the Treasury say NI already receives 124% of assessed need?Is Stormont spending too much — or is the funding model broken?What happens if the Executive can’t plug the £400m overspend?Should Stormont raise its own revenue for the first time?Why does NI’s health service spend more but deliver worse outcomes?Will Labour change the rules on a border poll?Should Stormont’s institutions be reformed — and will the UK government lead that conversation?What does the Budget really mean for public services, tax powers and the wider economy?After speaking with Hilary Benn, the team are joined by Ann Watt from Pivotal, who expertly breaks down the implications of Budget 2025, the long-term structural problems in NI’s finances, and the urgent need for a multi-year financial plan.This episode cuts through headlines and political noise to explain what’s actually happening, what comes next, and what it means for people across Northern Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.