Tory concern grows that a DUP deal is threat to the peace process
More than a dozen MPS warn that the Good Friday Agreement faces collapse as negotiations continue
THERESA MAY is facing a mounting revolt from her own party over plans to form a minority government with the DUP amid fears that it could put the Northern Ireland peace process at risk.
The Daily Telegraph understands that more than a dozen Tory MPS have significant concerns about the prospect of the deal and have warned it could lead to the collapse of the Good Friday Agreement.
Sinn Fein is understood to be furious at some of the DUP’S demands, which include cutting off foreign funding for parties in Northern Ireland. The policy would effectively end US financial support for Sinn Fein.
The DUP is also expected to demand a new right to march, seen as code for allowing more Orange Order marches through Catholic areas.
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, will tomorrow fly into London for Downing Street talks with Mrs May as she pledged to act in the national interest.
The growing concerns in the Conservative Party came as negotiations descended into chaos after Downing Street wrongly announced that an agreement had been reached.
No 10 said on Saturday evening that the DUP had agreed to the principles of an outline agreement. The announcement surprised the DUP, which said that talks were still continuing as Gavin Williamson, the chief whip, held discussions in Belfast.
Less than five hours later No 10 was forced to issue a clarifying statement shortly after midnight and blamed the email on a breakdown in communications.
A source said: “It was the end of a very long week and it should have been explained better.”
Tom Tugendhat, a Tory MP, said: “Three questions on DUP deal. What effect on Northern Ireland peace/uk Government neutrality? Equal rights? Getting Brexit deal/irish Government reaction/ open border?”
Another Tory MP said: “This is a bad, bad policy. The Good Friday Agreement set out that No 10 would be neutral. Forty years of domestic policy has been to stay out of Irish sectarianism. This puts that at risk.”
It comes after Jonathan Powell, a key adviser to Tony Blair when he brokered peace in Northern Ireland, said: “Even John Major didn’t resort to relying on DUP . . . This could undo 20 years of work in Northern Ireland.” Other Conservative MPS have raised concerns about the DUP’S opposition to gay marriage and abortion.
Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, on Friday highlighted a speech she made in Belfast about the importance of equal marriage. However, she was given a “categoric assurance” from Mrs May that any arrangement between the two parties would see “absolutely no rescission of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK”.
There are also significant divides over benefit cuts after DUP sources told the BBC that the party wants to “kill austerity”.
Ms Foster yesterday said that negotiations with the Conservatives had been “positive”.
She said: “We had very good discussions yesterday with the Conservative Party in relation to how we could support them in forming a national government – one that would bring stability to the nation – and those discussions continue. We’ve made good progress but the discussions continue.” Earlier, Charlie Flanagan, the Irish foreign minister, said a DUP/TORY agreement would “not necessarily” undermine the peace process.
Mr Flanagan said he had raised the matter with James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Mr Flanagan was asked about suggestions that any Conservative deal with the DUP would undermine Westminster’s impartiality as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement.
He told ITV’S Peston on Sunday: “Well, not necessarily the case. Of course, it remains to be seen what the nature of that deal is.
“But this is an issue I did address the evening before last with Secretary of State James Brokenshire. I look forward to meeting with him again tomorrow if his appointment is reaffirmed, but yes, it’s an important issue that you raise – the objectivity of both governments, and both governments working strictly in accordance with our legal responsibilities under the Belfast Agreement, the Irish government as co-guarantor, indeed the British Government as co-guarantor.”
Mr Flanagan added the EU member states are “ready to roll” when it comes to Brexit talks. These are due to start within days although they could be delayed given the political uncertainty.
Mr Flanagan said: “I’m conscious of the fact that this clock is ticking. We’re a year now since the referendum.
“We lost some time over the last seven weeks during the election campaign. Europe is ready to start these negotiations. Ireland is ready to sit with our 26 EU colleagues and commence the negotiations because uncertainty is the enemy of stability and business.”