KEY ALLY PILES MORE BREXIT PRESSURE ON PM THERESA MAY

LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May, who is backed by the Democratic Unionist Party, came under pressure on Tuesday from the Northern Ireland party, which said she couldn’t take its support for granted when the Brexit agreement is put to vote. Support from DUP’S 10 MPS helped the Conservative Party barely cross the majority mark after the 2017 mid-term elections. The DUP abstained or voted with the opposition Labour on budget bills in the House of Commons on Monday night. The DUP’S objection to the withdrawal agreement is that it sees Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK, even tied to EU rules, contrary to the promises May had made to the party during tough talks in Brussels.

DUP’S Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said May’s agreement with Brussels breached a “fundamental” assurance that Northern Ireland would not be separated from the rest of the UK. “We had to do something to show our displeasure,” he said.

The party’s message to the May government, he added, was: “Look, we’ve got an agreement with you but you’ve got to keep your side of the bargain, otherwise we don’t feel obliged to keep ours.”

The DUP’S message to May is significant given the fact that after the agreement is finalised at the European Council meeting on November 25, it will be put to vote in the House of Commons, where several parties and rebel Conservative MPS have said they won’t back it.

May’s critics within the Conservative Party seeking a change of leadership insisted their bid has not fizzled out.