DUP deal is blatant bung

Dear editor Some comment to the Theresa May/Democratic Unionist Party deal of £1 billion.

Put aside the for and against opinions of the Barnett Formula and Tory spin, let’s look at the deal’s real intention.

The purpose of this £1bn deal is not to lessen the effect of Tory austerity on the devolved nations, in this instance, Northern Ireland. If it was then Wales and Scotland would receive money also.

It is a blatant bribe or bung, it cannot be viewed as anything else. Using taxpayers money to enlist the support of 10 MPs from a devolved area to create a slim majority for a Tory government to retain power.

I’m not usually given to making predictions, but I think the DUP will be back for more finance, because despite what is said about some of their beliefs and attitudes on various matters, they are no political pushovers in negotiations.

Whatever side you are on in the politics of Northern Ireland, it is essential that you are a tough negotiator. I think that Theresa May will have discovered this and it took 19 days to get a deal from them.

One fact did emerge from the above, which might come as a surprise to majority opinion in England: Northern Ireland is the most subsidised area of Britain, not Scotland. Robert Brennan Machrie Road Castlemilk