Brussels waits as May tries to clinch power deal

BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May failed to strike a government deal in an initial round of talks with Northern Ireland’s ultraconservative DUP yesterday, leaving the EU’s Brexit negotiator wondering when divorce talks would begin.

Days after May lost her parliamentary majority in a failed election gamble, the premier welcomed the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party to Downing Street in a bid to gain the support of its 10 MPs.

“Discussions are going well with the government and we hope soon to be able to bring this work to a successful conclusion,” the DUP’s Arlene Foster said afterwards.

May left without responding to questions on whether an agreement had been reached with the DUP, which is needed to help the Conservatives command the majority they lost in last week’s election.

A DUP spokesman said there had been a break in tasks due to parliamentary business. “Hopefully, we can make a bit more progress today [Wednesday],” he said.

After the discussions, May joined MPs in the House of Commons, telling them: “It is clear that our country faces some of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned against a “coalition of chaos” between the Conservatives and the DUP and said Labour was ready to provide strong and stable leadership, mocking two slogans used by May during the campaign.

The talks revolve around support from the DUP on a vote-by-vote basis in parliament, rather than a formal coalition.

But the prospect of a deal has caused consternation in Dublin, with Ireland’s outgoing premier Enda Kenny warning that it could upset Northern Ireland’s fragile peace.

London’s neutrality is key to the delicate balance of power in Northern Ireland.

May has dismissed calls to resign following the dismal election result after calling a vote three years early, in the hope of bolstering her slim majority ahead of Brexit talks starting this month.

But a lacklustre campaign saw her high approval rating slip away, and support for her “hard Brexit” strategy – pulling out of the European single market and customs union – now hangs in the balance.

As May attempts to cobble together a majority, the EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he would hold talks with British envoy Oliver Robbins to organise the negotiations.

“Time is passing – it’s passing quicker than anyone believes . . . That’s why we’re ready to start very quickly,” he told European newspapers.