Leader Arlene Foster says DUP will help beleaguered Tories bring ‘stability to the nation’ as they strike election deal
DUP leader Arlene Foster has said her party will help the beleaguered Tories bring "stability to the nation" as they strike an election deal.
The shock election result has left the Democratic Unionist Party kingmakers in Westminster with its website crashing this morning as thousands of people logged on to discover more about the group.
Foster, a former Stormont first minister, said her party will push for the best deal for Northern Ireland as she rode in to save the stricken Conservative Party.
She said: "We may represent Northern Ireland constituencies in the House of Commons but we are as seized of the interests of the Kingdom as a whole as we are for our small province.
"I make no apology for saying that the DUP will always strive for the best deal for Northern Ireland and its people. But equally, we want the best for all of the United Kingdom."
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The Northern Irish party, who won ten seats, have allowed Theresa May to cling to power after her gamble to secure a larger majority massively failed.
The PM will now form a new minority government after the DUP pledged to support her in an informal agreement.
And as a pro-union and pro-Brexit party, who have a narrow edge over republican party Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, they are an ideal choice.
A DUP source told : “We want there to be a government. We have worked well with May. The alternative is intolerable.
“For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there’s a Tory PM.”
But it's expected they will put pressure on the Tories about the issue of a soft border with the Republic of Ireland.
The DUP wants to make sure it isn't threatened after Brexit, due to its economic benefits.
Who are the Democratic Unionist Party?
- The DUP are the largest party in Northern Ireland, with an edge over republicans Sinn Fein who refuse to sit in Parliament
- They won ten seats in this election, two more than they eight they won in 2015
- They are led by Arlene Foster in Northern Ireland and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in Westminster
- The DUP are pro-Brexit and pro-unionist
- They also want to ensure Brexit won't threaten the soft border with the Republic of Ireland
- According to their manifesto, they also in favour of the nuclear deterrent
The thought of a Conservative/DUP coalition hasn't gone down well with Jeremy Corbyn supporters - with some far-left Twitter users branding the DUP "unionist fascists".
Corbyn would not have been able to form a working majority even if he struck a deal with the SNP, Lib Dems, Greens and Plaid Cymru.
Some of the key details from the turbulent night so far:
- Hung parliament confirmed with Tories missing out on majority of 326 with polls predicting 318 seats - down from 330
- Labour forecast to take 262 - up from 232 in 2015. They are
- Theresa May faces mounting pressure – with the odds slashed on Boris Johnson to be the next PM
- Fears grow Brexit negotiations could be sunk if Mrs May does not secure a majority
- Lib Dem Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam seat but Vince Cable regains Twickenham while leader Tim Farron clings on
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd holds on to Hastings seat by barely 300 votes
- Huge losses for SNP as former chief Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson are both beaten by the Tories.
- Labour on march in London beating Tories to Battersea constituency but Tory Zac Goldsmith takes back Richmond with a majority of just 45
- Pound slides two per cent as exit poll predicts hung parliament
- Ukip voters desert party with vote share down by ten per cent
- Growing fears that Mrs May will have to call a second election later this year
- Sources claim Theresa May is not planning to resign - and instead "has every intention of forming a government with the DUP"
- Jeremy Corbyn claims he won the election after making significant gains across the country
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