Theresa’s new pals: the rabid right-wingers who hate gays
THERESA May’s new right-wing DUP partners oppose abortion, gay marriage and previously appointed a climate change denier as their environment spokesman.
Its former leader Peter Robinson was once photographed wearing the red beret of loyalist terror group Ulster Resistance.
And in the past, DUP members have shared platforms with murderous paramilitaries, including LVF leader Billy Wright.
The LVF was responsible for highprofile murders including Catholic taxi driver Michael McGoldrick.
Mrs May’s decision to link up with the DUP has placed the party’s controversial policies and its MPs’ backgrounds under the microscope.
OBNOXIOUS
At least four of its 10 MPs are members of the Orange Order, whose marches through Catholic housing estates spark fear and violence. The DUP was the only major political party to oppose the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which finally brought peace to the province and ended the Troubles.
It is strongly against same-sex marriage and has blocked several attempts to pass new legislation.
Ian Paisley Junior, son of the party’s founder Ian Paisley, previously branded homosexuality “immoral, offensive and obnoxious”. The party faced ridicule in 2014 when it appointed Sammy Wilson as its Environment Minister. He said it was a “con” to suggest humans had changed weather patterns. Earlier this year the party’s leader Arlene Foster was blamed for collapsing the power-sharing Stormont Executive after refusing to stand down over a botched heating scheme which cost taxpayers £490million. Ms Foster said yesterday: “I make no apology for saying that the DUP will always strive for the best deal for Northern Ireland and its people.”