North Ireland to get extra £1 billion for backing May

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives struck a deal with an ultraconservative party yesterday that will allow them to govern in exchange for an extra £1 billion in funds for Northern Ireland.

The controversial pact with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party comes after May ended up losing her parliamentary majority in an election earlier this month that she had called to boost her support for Brexit talks.

Under the terms of the agreement, Northern Ireland will receive an extra £ 1.0 billion ( US$ 1.3 billion) from the state over two years in exchange for DUP supporting May’s Conservatives.

The DUP said it would back the government in any confidence votes and to pass budgets, as well as supporting it on Brexit-related legislation.

For any other parliamentary votes, the DUP – which has 10 MPs – said its support would be a on a case-by- case basis.

The agreement was signed by senior Conservative and DUP officials in May’s Downing Street office as May and DUP leader Arlene Foster looked on.

Opposition parties swiftly criticised it, with the Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron calling it a “shoddy little deal”.

“The nasty party is back, propped up by the DUP,” he said in a statement.

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones of the main opposition Labour Party called the dea “outrageous” and “unacceptable” and said the money was a “bung” to keep a weakened prime minister in office.

The Independent news website said May was paying a “high price to cling on to power”.

The deal with the DUP will also prove controversial because of the party’s opposition to gay marriage and abortion and concern that it could upset the fragile balance of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

“I welcome this agreement which will enable us to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom,” May said in a statement.