Borderland – UK or United Ireland ?’ podcast will ask key questions about the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity and what all of this could mean for politics and society – both locally and across these islands.
The BBC’s Chris Buckler is the podcast’s lead presenter and the series will be co-hosted by two high-profile former politicians, Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew who will act as advocates for different views of the future and help facilitate discussion about them.
The podcast will include multiple views and voices, including those with no settled view on what Northern Ireland’s constitutional future should be. The series will explore and discuss the practicalities of any referendum and why it’s worth hearing and talking about.
Borderland – UK or United Ireland ?’ podcast will ask key questions about the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity and what all of this could mean for politics and society – both locally and across these islands.
The BBC’s Chris Buckler is the podcast’s lead presenter and the series will be co-hosted by two high-profile former politicians, Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew who will act as advocates for different views of the future and help facilitate discussion about them.
The podcast will include multiple views and voices, including those with no settled view on what Northern Ireland’s constitutional future should be. The series will explore and discuss the practicalities of any referendum and why it’s worth hearing and talking about.
Chris Buckler, along with former MPs Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew, explores issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. In this episode Chris looks at the potential risks to peace and years of political progress if a Border Poll was held. What would it mean for the fragile power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly ? He hears from a former PSNI Chief Constable and travels to the Belfast peace wall to get the views of former Republican and Loyalist prisoners. He also speaks to RTE broadcaster and comedian Oliver Callan.
The Campaign. Chris Buckler, along with former MPs Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew, explore issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. What could campaigners from both sides of the border poll argument learn from the experiences of some of the biggest referenda of modern times. Chris brings his co-hosts to Edinburgh to find out what lessons can be learned from the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.
English nationalism and the NHS. Chris Buckler, along with former MPs Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew, explore issues around the constitutional future and status of Northern Ireland. Chris travels to England to hear the views of people there. Would they care if Northern Ireland left the UK ? and the NHS has long been cited by unionists as one of the key practical advantages of the Union. Is the future of the health service still an issue that could sway voters in any future Border Poll?
Presenter Chris Buckler along with former MP’s Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew explore issues around the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. In Episode 4 - The Price of Unity – Chris takes his co-hosts to Co. Offaly to hear the views of people living there on a potential Border Poll. We also hear from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. They speak to Economists and business experts on the economic reality of any future United Ireland.
Presenter Chris Buckler along with former MP’s Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew explore issues around the constitutional future and status of Northern Ireland. In this episode, they look at the Middle Ground, an increasingly key group in any discussion about a potential Border Poll. We hear from a ‘Panel of Persuadables’ from the middle ground who have yet to make up their mind about a united Ireland but could be persuaded. We speak to Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and the leader of the Northern Ireland Green Party Mal O’Hara. Latest polling shows an increase in those who see themselves as Northern Irish – how would they vote in any future Border Referendum?
Part Two of this new landmark series looking at the constitutional future of Northern Ireland. Presenter Chris Buckler along with two high-profile former MP’s, Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew, explore issues around the constitutional future and status of Northern Ireland, and discuss the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity. The two politicians act as advocates for different views of the future and help facilitate discussion about them. In this second episode Ian sets out his argument against any future border poll and hears from Loyalist bandsmen who feel their sense of Britishness is being eroded. Michelle’s political outlook is Republican and she will argue for Northern Ireland becoming part of the Republic of Ireland.
Get in touch: Borderland@bbc.co.uk
In this new landmark series Presenter Chris Buckler along with two high-profile former MP’s, Ian Paisley and Michelle Gildernew, explore issues around the constitutional future and status of Northern Ireland. The series will discuss the shape and timing of any potential referendum on Irish unity and what all of this could mean for politics and society – both locally and across these islands. The podcast will include multiple views and voices, including those with no settled view on what Northern Ireland’s constitutional future should be. The series will explore and discuss the practicalities of any referendum and why it’s worth hearing and talking about. In this first episode Michelle outlines why she believes there should be a border poll and Chris takes them to meet Irish language speakers who tell them why it the language means so much to them and their sense of Irishness.
Get in touch : Borderland@bbc.co.uk