Money tree found for DUP sweetener

So maybe there was a magic money tree after all. How Theresa May must be regretting her decision to call a snap general election to “strengthen her mandate” ahead of Brexit negotiations.

She may have won the most seats, but her Conservative party lost its majority and now Mrs May has had to pay a £1 billion bounty to get the DUP on her side.

During a remarkably ill-conceived election campaign, the Prime Minister memorably told a nurse who hadn’t received a pay rise for eight years there was “no magic money tree”.

Fast forward a few short weeks, and the minority government has managed to find significant cash to entice the DUP to prop up their party.

Many will argue that, despite the eye-watering price tag, the deal comes with at least some worthwhile benefits.

The deal will see the Tories formally ditch plans to abolish the triple-lock protection for state pensions and many will welcome the checks and balances a “supply and confidence” arrangement can be perceived to provide.

Nevertheless, it is hard to see yesterday’s costly developments as anything other than yet another chapter in what has been a catalogue of chaos for the Prime Minister – about as far from “strong and stable” as one could possibly imagine.

The PM has considerable work to do if she is to rebuild her tattered reputation.