Now even the crackpots can’t work with May!
Queen’s Speech chaos as PM fails to form alliance with hardline DUP
THERESA May’s hopes of a deal with the DUP were in chaos last night.
Talks to prop up her government on the eve of the Queen’s Speech stalled.
Labour said: “It is an unprecedented shambles.”
FLOUNDERING Prime Minister Theresa May was ridiculed last night for her failure to secure an alliance to prop up her government.
Senior DUP sources revealed they were “surprised at the level of negotiating skill” of Tory ministers trying to thrash out an agreement – on the eve of the Queen’s speech.
Talks with the hard-right DUP have been going on for 12 days without success, with the Conservatives even mistakenly claiming a deal had been done two days after the election.
One source in the DUP warned: “Talks had not proceeded as expected.”
And in a clear jibe over Brexit talks which started on Monday, the source added: “What does that mean for bigger negotiations she is involved in?”
It comes a day after Brexit Secretary David Davis caved in to the EU at the first hurdle over trade discussions.
Arlene Foster’s DUP – anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage and sceptical over climate change – warned Mrs May they “would not be taken for granted” as they try to secure a deal in their favour in exchange for supporting her in the Commons after she lost her majority at the general election.
It means the PM will unveil her first Queen’s speech today with no alliance to shore up her minority government and able to only deliver a watered-down programme. She will be the first PM in more than 40 years to present the speech without a guaranteed majority.
Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “This is chaos from a weak and wobbly Prime Minister. It is an unprecedented shambles. It looks like the Tories are unable to put together even a basic programme for government or stitch together a stable deal with the DUP to stay in office.
“The minority Tory Government has no majority, no mandate, no authority
and no programme it can win support for in Parliament.”
Tory sources were last night insisting a deal with the DUP would be in place before the Queen’s Speech is voted on in the Commons. Even if the unionists abstained in that, Mrs May still has just enough MPs to force her programme through. But she has been forced to drop a host of election pledges because she does not have enough support to push controversial measures through. It means plans such as axing free school meals, reviving fox hunting and hitting the elderly with pension cuts and a Dementia Tax will be ditched.
Instead the PM will press ahead with a series of unadventurous Bills such as banning letting agent fees, pressing ahead with the HS2 rail link and a clampdown on whiplash injury claims.
Mrs May last night insisted her main focus would be on Brexit.
But even her tough-talking plans to get the best deal for Britain were in tatters as Chancellor Philip Hammond slammed her insistence on making immigration cuts a priority.
In a London speech he said creating jobs and prosperity should come first. He added: “Anything less will be a failure.” Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “The fact there is clearly such a serious split between Number 10 and 11 is very worrying, and only helps to undermine our country ahead of the Brexit negotiations. It further shows just how weak a position Theresa May is in.”
The Institute of Directors welcomed Mr Hammond’s focus on jobs.
It said: “This is a step towards shoring up shaky business confidence.”
But Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned Brexit would plunge Britain into economic disaster with wages hit, job losses and a higher costs of living as we lose our EU links.
WHAT hope for Great Britain in Brexit negotiations with 27 European countries when Theresa May cannot even stitch together a deal with 10 Orangemen?
The politically bankrupt Prime Minister’s humiliation is complete when Her Majesty is dragged to Parliament without a guarantee the Tories will be able to implement a pathetic excuse for a Queen’s Speech.
May has achieved the unenviable distinction of taking us back to the majority-less rule of the 1970s – a fate she had the cheek to assert would result if Jeremy Corbyn won – without even completing a coalition of chaos.
Other European leaders are laughing at her at a crucial juncture for this land. The Queen dispensing with much of the traditional flummery on a State occasion is easily viewed as a Palace nod and a wink to a party losing its grip.
The sooner May is gone and we have another general election, the better for Britain.