New blow for May as DUP threatens to walk away from deal to support her
Christopher Hope
Steven Swinford
THE Democratic Unionist Party last night threatened to walk away from a deal to prop up the minority Conservative Government on the eve of the Queen’s Speech.
Senior DUP sources in Belfast said the Conservatives had to give “greater focus to discussions” about a confidence and supply deal which Theresa May needs in order to govern.
Last night there was speculation that the Conservatives could even open talks with the Liberal Democrats’ 12 MPS about supporting the Government if the DUP talks fail.
The news is a significant blow to the authority of Mrs May. Hours after the election the Prime Minister said she would seek a deal with the DUP’S 10 Westminster MPS after failing to win a majority in the House of Commons.
Downing Street then announced that a deal had been done 48 hours after the election, only to have to retract the statement. Since then talks have continued without success.
The Daily Telegraph understands the DUP, which is led by Arlene Foster, is now prepared to walk away from a for- mal deal with the Government entirely and decide whether to back the Tories on a “case by case” basis.
The DUP is particularly concerned about the Government’s policies on austerity and welfare, and its MPS are even prepared to back Labour amendments on some issues.
The party believes that Downing Street’s approach to what should have been a relatively simple set of negotiations has been “chaotic”.
A DUP source told The Telegraph: “The Conservatives needs to give greater focus to discussions. DUP can’t be taken for granted.
“Negotiations haven’t proceeded in the way that we would have expected.”
Westminster sources insisted that it was overwhelmingly likely that a deal would be signed, most probably tomorow. Some speculated that the comments from the DUP were designed to damp down speculation about the scale of the investment going to Northern Ireland as a result of any agreement.
The Daily Telegraph has disclosed how talks have centred on cuts in Air Passenger Duty for airports in North- ern Ireland and an increase in defence spending.
DUP insiders in Belfast said relations had soured because “backbiting from Tory backbenchers” against their party had stiffened their resolve to “dig in.”
One said: “They attempted to bounce us into a deal on Saturday night and then we had the backbenchers saying that we were unsavoury.
“There is also a feeling within the DUP that if we can get extra spending in Northern Ireland in, say, the local NHS to bring down waiting lists here, then there would be a barrage of complaints from English, Scottish and Welsh Tories over the special treatment our part of the UK was receiving.
“Conservative high command ought to stop their backbenchers whingeing about the DUP and show our party some respect.”
Westminster sources said there had been informal conversations with the Liberal Democrats’ whips office about a confidence and supply deal in case the agreement with the DUP falls through.
The source said the talks with the Lib Dems could be “game-playing by the Tories to put pressure on people in Belfast”.
But the Tories were apparently concerned about the Unionist MPS amid fears that some of them would not turn up for key votes. The source said: “The Government chief whip’s office is worried about the calibre of DUP MPS – Unionist MPS don’t turn up.”
The Lib Dem MPS were more attuned to the disciplines of government after their experience running the Coalition with the Conservatives.
Lib Dem sources denied any talks had taken place and insisted that no deal could be done by the outgoing leader, Tim Farron, who ruled one out during the election campaign.
However, they admitted that a future leader, such as Sir Vince Cable, who announced yesterday that he was standing, would not be bound by any commitments made by Mr Farron.
One Tory insider added: “We always knew the Unionists were stupid but we thought they were at least hungry.”
A Conservative party source said tonight: “Talks are ongoing with the DUP and we continue to work towards a confidence and supply arrangement.
“As we have said, both parties are committed to strengthening the Union, combating terrorism, delivering Brexit and delivering prosperity across the whole United Kingdom.
“While our discussions continue it is important the Government gets on with its business.
“That is why we are putting forward a Queen’s Speech which the whole House of Commons can get behind: securing a Brexit deal that works for every part of our country, strengthening our economy, making our society fairer, and keeping our country safe.”