Theresa May urged to sanction Northern Ireland spending spree as Unionist leader Arlene Foster reveals price for propping up the PM
THERESA May is being urged by Ulster unionists to sanction a spending spree in Northern Ireland and keep the Triple Lock as the price for keeping her in No.10, it was claimed yesterday.
Downing Street confirmed the PM would host DUP chief Arlene Foster in London tomorrow – after mistakenly claiming late on Saturday night that an outline electoral pact had already been agreed.
And sources claimed a DUP negotiating document detailed a list of demands from splashing cash on hospitals and schools to ruling out an Irish “unity” referendum and safeguarding the Triple Lock on pensions.
The DUP are also said to be pushing for a ‘statute of limitations’ that would protect ex-British troops from prosecution over killings during the ‘Troubles.
A list of FORTY-FIVE demands drawn up by the DUP from the 2015 Election is being used as a starting point for the negotiations by Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson.
The unionists are also reportedly calling for a ‘softer’ Brexit through fears of hard border with the Republic of Ireland.
A DUP source said: “There will be no formal coalition and we have other priorities – not least Brexit – for the negotiations. But we won’t support any changes to the pensions triple lock.”
Theresa May requires the support of the DUP’s 10 MPs so she can form a government with a working majority in the Commons.
The two sides hope to agree a “supply and confidence” agreement – one step below a formal coalition deal. This would see the DUP siding with the Tories on big votes such as the Queen’s Speech and the Budget.
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Northern Ireland already receives £11 billion a year in central funding from Westminster.
Experts last night claimed Sinn Fein was already mulling a legal challenge – claiming the pact could breach the Good Friday agreement.
And Irish PM Enda Kenny said a deal between the Tories and the DUP could derail 20 years of peace in Northern Ireland by destabilising the delicate power sharing arrangement in the province.
The Taoiseach spoke with Theresa May yesterday and sought assurances that “nothing should happen to put the Good Friday agreement at risk”.
Neither the DUP nor Downing Street would comment on the detail of negotiations between the two sides so far.
But Arlene Foster yesterday insisted both sides had enjoyed “very good discussions”.
She said: “We’ve made good progress but the discussions continue.
“We will of course act in the national interest and do what is right for the national interest and do what is right for the United Kingdom as a whole and of course Northern Ireland in particular.”
More than 700,000 people had by last night signed a petition urging Theresa May to go given the DUP’s opposition to same sex marriage.
But Ms Foster claimed “a lot of people really don’t know what we stand for”.
And Tories pointed out that Labour had tried to strike a similar pact with the DUP in both 2010 and 2015.
PEACE PROCESS 'THREAT'
THERESA May's electoral pact with the DUP could threaten the Northern Ireland peace process, the Irish PM has warned.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said a deal would question the UK government's role as an impartial "honest broker" in the province.
It came as Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire prepared to resume talks to broker a deal today (Mon) to restart the power sharing deal at Stormont between the DUP and Sinn Fein.
Mr Kenny spoke with Theresa May yesterday and said he had "indicated my concern that nothing should happen to put the Good Friday Agreement" at risk.
Mrs May told him that the deal would "provide stability and certainty for the UK going forward," Downing Street said.
Leaked Hilary Clinton emails dating back to May 2010 revealed aides telling the then US Secretary of State that Gordon Brown was speaking to the DUP to “do whatever he can to hold onto power”.
Ex-Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward was charged with putting together an “economic package for Northern Ireland to win support for the DUP” the aides wrote.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon yesterday confirmed the agreement would not be a formal coalition – but a supply and confidence arrangement.
But he risked a further backlash by Tory MPs upset with the DUP’s controversial views by saying the Tories had “more in common with them than we do the other parties”.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show he said: “We’ve already had a friendship with the DUP that goes back many years before this Election. We’ve already had a close relationship with the DUP.
“The DUP will support us on the big things, like voting for the Queen’s Speech or making sure the budget and the finance goes through.
“They support us on defence.
“We do not agree, and we do not have to agree with any of their views on some of these social issues. And I certainly don’t.”
Irish political expert Brian Rowan last night told the Sun that he doubted the DUP would overplay their hand in negotiations despite the “chance of a lifetime”. He said: “To pull the lot down at this time, could create a path to Downing Street for Labour and Corbyn”
Lord Bew, professor of Irish politics at Queens’ University Belfast, said Corbyn’s sympathty for the IRA meant the DUP couldn’t risk the leftie taking the keys to power. He said: “There will no dealbreaker, no issue here.
“Corbyn is what guarantees their 10 votes. The DUP’s electorate would not understand anything which facilitated Corbyn’s arrival in No.10”
Mick Fealty, founder of an influential Irish politics blog said: “The party is very socially conservative but they are not all Bible thumpers like they used to be.
“The average DUP person is like Tim Farron on gay rights.”
No Sun deal
BRITAIN was forced to wait another 24 hours for a new Government yesterday - because the DUP do not do deals on Sunday.
As the government teetered on the brink of chaos, Ireland’s Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan pointed out political discussions would have to wait until Monday on religious grounds.
Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson flew to Belfast for talks over a “confidence and supply” deal on Saturday before heading back to the mainland.