Conservatives Finally Strike A Deal With Toxic DUP For Minority Government
The DUP today agreed a deal to prop up Theresa May in power following more than two weeks of the talks.
The deal between the Tories and Northern Irish unionists was completed shortly before Thursday’s crunch vote on the Queen’s Speech.
Ms Foster insisted this morning that the parties will be able to “finalise the deal” which is expected to feature extra cash for Northern Ireland.
Full details are expected to be revealed later today, but the deal is said to feature £1billion of funding for the province.
The Conservatives and DUP have been locked in talks since the aftermath of the General Election which saw Mrs May lose her majority.
Last week, the PM called Ms Foster’s bluff by unveiling the Queen’s Speech agenda before talks had concluded.
That move prompted speculation that the Tories could chose to govern without the DUP – daring the party to vote against them and risk bringing Jeremy Corbyn to power.
But today’s unannounced visit by Ms Foster was the first confirmation that the two parties will strike a formal deal.
The DUP leader told Sky News this morning: “We’re back in London again and my hope is that we will be able to finalise the deal between ourselves and the Conservative Party.”
She refused to reveal details of the deal, saying: “The deal will be public, it will be totally transparent, and once we conclude the deal that will happen.”
Ms Foster hinted that she is set to secure increased funding for Northern Ireland, vowing that the talks would “have a positive impact” on the province.
The DUP is reported to have demanded up to £2billion in extra cash in return for its support of the Government.
Theresa Villiers, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, today defended the idea of shovelling money towards the region.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s certainly a credible case for supporting the Northern Irish economy.
“It faces unique challenges as a result of the violence that occurred there over 30 years.”
Other sops to the DUP could include the extension of the Military Covenant – guaranteeing the rights of troops and veterans – to Northern Ireland.
Chris Patten warned yesterday that the Tory-DUP tie-up risked making the Conservatives into the “nasty party” again.
Echoing comments made recently by John Major, the ex-minister said: “The DUP is a toxic brand.”
As well as talks with the Conservatives, the DUP faces a deadline this week for negotiations over power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Ms Foster said: “I very much hope that this week we will be able to conclude on two agreements.”
The Northern Irish Assembly has been suspended for months in the wake of a scandal over energy subsidies.
Original Article: The Sun
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