Fallon challenged about DUP’S terror links after Corbyn criticism

THE Defence Secretary has been grilled over the Democratic Unionist Party’s links to loyalist paramilitary groups after repeatedly describing Jeremy Corbyn as a terrorist sympathiser.

During the election campaign, Sir Michael Fallon led attacks on Mr Corbyn, the Labour leader, over his links to the IRA.

However, during an appearance on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One Sir Michael faced questions over the DUP’S links to terrorist organisations.

Theresa May is poised to launch a minority Government with the support of the DUP.

Mr Marr asked: “You have been very, very strong in your views on Jeremy Corbyn and his connection with terrorism and the rest of it.

“The DUP is supported by people like the Red Hand Commandos, the UVF, do you regard those people as terrorists as well?”

In response Sir Michael dodged the question. He said: “The DUP has been part of the parliamentary process, part of the democratic process in Northern Ireland in recent years. They want a settlement in Northern Ireland, they supported the formation of the executive and they want to see the executive back at Stormont governing Northern Ireland.

“They’re part of the democratic process now, whatever happened in the past.”

Sir Michael also faced difficult questions

‘Just because they’re going to support us on economic and security issues, doesn’t mean we agree with all their views’

over the DUP’S opposition to gay marriage.

Mr Marr said: “So these are your new friends. Are you repulsed by gay people?”

Sir Michael replied: “Well let’s be very clear just because they’re going to support us on the economic and security issues facing this country, it doesn’t mean that we now agree with all of their views. We don’t.”

He subsequently added: “We’re not in government with the DUP. We’re not in coalition with the DUP. They’re going to support us, as I said, on the crucial economic and security issues that face this country. We do not agree, and we do not have to agree with any of their views on some of these social issues. And I certainly don’t.”

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, has said she has received assurances from the Prime Minister over gay rights should the Tories do a deal with DUP.

Ms Davidson, who is gay, spoke out after Mrs May outlined a plan to seek a deal with the socially hardline party, which has 10 seats in the Commons, to prop up her minority administration.

Ms Davidson, who became engaged to her partner Jen Wilson in May 2016, later told the BBC: “I was fairly straightforward with her [Mrs May] and I told her that there were a number of things that count to me more than the party. One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights.

“It’s an issue very close to my heart and one that I wanted categoric assurances from the Prime Minister on, and I received [them].”

Northern Ireland is the only part of the British Isles where same-sex marriage remains outlawed.