Now DUP piles on the pressure over vital vote
THE Government’s lifeline agreement with the DUP was in jeopardy last night after eight of the minority party’s MPs voted with Labour.
The defiant action taken by the DUP on the Finance Bill runs the risk of an imminent general election and the threat of Theresa May being ousted.
Sources close to the DUP said the “confidence and supply” agreement was not at an end, but it was a warning to the Conservatives over the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal.
A source said: “Tory MPs need to realise that their jobs, their majorities, their careers depend on a good working relationship with the DUP.
“May doesn’t appear to be listening.”
In the end the Government narrowly defeated the Labour amendment by 292 votes to 287.
The DUP is understood to have taken the step over fears the EU Withdrawal Agreement would drive a wedge between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Meanwhile, Tory Brexiteer rebels last night refused to drop their demands for a no-confidence vote in Theresa May – despite apparently failing to gather enough support to trigger the ballot. By yesterday afternoon, around 26 backbenchers had publicly confirmed they had written letters to the head of their parliamentary ruling body.
Kettering MP Philip Hollobone was the latest to join their number, but the total remained well short of the 48 letters required under party rules for a vote to be held.
And confusion about the plot deepened when two MPs previously named as having sent letters to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, refused to confirm or deny whether they had.
With the plot threatening to fizzle out, Tory backbencher Simon Clarke pleaded with colleagues to join the push to eject the Prime Minister.
And Anne Marie Morris, another rebel Tory MP, said there was “no question” the threshold of 48 letters of no confidence would be reached this week.
And asked who would deliver for the country if Mrs May was ousted, she said: “There are lots of new, very bright, able people in the party.”