Deal would be a breach, claims Sinn Fein boss

Gerry Adams does not want Good Friday Agreement undermined

A Downing Street deal between the Conservatives and Democratic Unionist Party would breach the Good Friday Agreement, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has told Theresa May.

Theresa May is “confident” of getting the Queen’s Speech through the House of Commons whether or not a deal is reached with the Democratic Unionist Party by the time of the delayed state opening of parliament on June 21.

Tories have made clear since last week’s election that their discussions with the DUP revolve around assurances of support in key Commons votes, rather than a full coalition.

The Prime Minister yesterday met separately with representatives of Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party, as well as the DUP’s deputy leader Nigel Dodds.

It follows warnings, including from former prime minister Sir John Major, that the Government will compromise its stated impartiality in the province if it enters a confidence and supply deal with the DUP at Westminster.

The nationalist Sinn Fein and SDLP and the cross-community Alliance have all made clear Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire cannot chair the ongoing process to restore powersharing at Stormont due to the perceived conflict of interest.

Mr Adams said his party will oppose any pact between the UK Government and the DUP “that undermines the Good Friday Agreement”.

“A little side bargain to keep Theresa May in power – a temporary little arrangement – won’t have any integrity and certainly isn’t as important as the needs of the people who live in Ireland and particularly in the north of Ireland,” he added.

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement, commits the UK and Irish governments to demonstrate “rigorous impartiality” in their dealings with the different political traditions in Northern Ireland.

The DUP opposed the Good Friday Agreement when it was first brought forward.

With her tally of Conservative MPs slashed to 317 in last week’s poll, Mrs May needs the backing of the DUP’s 10 members to reach the 320 required for a working majority in the Commons.

The listing of four policy areas where the parties are in agreement suggests a final deal may go further than a basic confidence and supply arrangement, which would see the DUP guarantee its support only on financial measures and no-confidence votes.

At Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon said a “grubby deal” between Conservatives and the DUP is not in the national interest.

The First Minister said she is concerned by the “disregard” shown for the Northern Irish peace process and called for full details of any deal to be made public.

A final deal may go further than a basic confidence and supply arrangement

Picture: Getty. Gerry Adams has warned Theresa May over a deal between the DUP and the Conservatives.