Cash for roads, schools and health ... and they’ll back Brexit in return

UNDER the ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement, the DUP’s ten MPs will vote with the Government not just on the Queen’s Speech and the Budget, but also on security policy and, crucially, all aspects of Brexit.

They will also back Theresa May on all confidence motions, meaning it is far less likely that her Government will fall. The Conservatives’ 318 MPs and the ten DUP MPs make 328 – more than half of the 50 MPs in the House of Commons.

In reality, the support of the DUP will give the Prime Minister an effective working majority of 13, given that Sinn Fein does not take up its seven seats, while Speaker John Bercow and his three deputies – two of whom are Labour MPs – do not take part in votes.

The DUP will get £1billion in additional funding over two years – equal to a 5 per cent rise in the province’s budget – with the option to come back for more.

The deal breaks down as £400million for infrastructure, including a new motorway interchange; £150million to provide ‘ultrafast’ broadband; £300million for health and education; £100million to tackle deprivation; and £50million to be spent on mental health.

Conservative pledges to scrap the triple lock on pensions and means-test the winter fuel allowance will not go ahead. But both of these measures were already heading for the dustbin in the wake of the general election.

Defence spending will continue to meet Nato’s 2 per cent target and cash support for farmers will remain at current levels until the next election.

The open-ended nature of the deal could see the DUP coming back for more money in the next few years – or even holding the Government to ransom over key votes.

Cuts to air passenger duty at Ulster’s airports and special corporation tax status could also be demanded.

Some Tories also fear the alliance with the DUP could prove ‘toxic’ because of the party’s deeply conservative stance on issues such as gay rights and abortion. However, these do not come under the deal as powers are devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly.