DUP threatens to scupper deal with Tories if the Government gives in to EU on Irish border
Politicians from the Northern Ireland party met with officials in Government today
THE DUP has threatened to pull out of their deal with the Tories if Theresa May caves to the EU on the Irish border, it emerged today.
Unionist politicians reportedly met with ministers to warn them that any Brexit deal which splits the UK and Northern Ireland could see them ditching the PM.
Representatives from the party spoke to senior Government figures today to demand that they are listened to in Brexit talks.
The DUP, whose 10 MPs are helping to prop up the minority Government, don’t want to see a border in the Irish Sea which would effectively keep Northern Ireland in the EU.
A senior party source told Sky News today: “The UK Government knows that any agreement with the EU that Northern Ireland should stay in the single market or the customs union or its regulatory equivalent would be deeply destabilising to the confidence and supply agreement.”
The EU is keen on an “all-Ireland” solution which would see Northern Ireland adopt similar rules to the Single Market and Customs Union.
It emerged last night that the UK and Brussels are close to a deal which will avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Senior DUP MP Sammy Wilson warned the Government today that the party will abandon it if they feel let down over the border.
He told the BBC: "If there is any hint that in order to placate Dublin and the EU, they're prepared to have Northern Ireland treated differently than the rest of the UK, then they can't rely on our vote.
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"They have to recognise that if this is about treating Northern Ireland differently, or leaving us half in the EU, dragging along behind regulations which change in Dublin, it's not on."
Ian Paisley Jr added: "At all times we must be alert to those who would not have NI interests at heart."
Mrs May agreed to pay out £1billion to Northern Ireland in exchange for a pledge from the DUP to support the Tories on Brexit and in votes of confidence.