Cabinet ministers strengthen Conservatives’ links with DUP
TWO Cabinet ministers attended the Democratic Unionist Party’s conference in Belfast at the weekend as the Tories seek to strengthen the links between the two parties.
Damian Green, the de facto deputy Prime Minister, and Julian Smith, the Chief Whip, met with DUP leaders in Belfast at the weekend.
The news came as The Sunday Telegraph disclosed that work on a new deal for the DUP to support the minority Tory Government after June 2019 is due to start in the spring.
Mr Green attended a dinner with senior figures including Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, and Nigel Dodds, the party’s leader in Westminster on Friday. Local reports said Mr Green spoke at the dinner, intended to raise funds for the DUP. The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Green left before the conference started on Saturday.
Mr Smith told DUP activists at the conference: “I have been so impressed by the calibre of DUP MPS in Westminster led by Nigel Dodds, they are a credit to the DUP and they are a credit to Northern Ireland. My door as Chief Whip is open whenever you want.”
The bill for the trips is likely to have been picked up by the Conservatives. No10 insisted public money was not used but a party spokesman declined to comment.
Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary who as chief whip stitched together the deal for the DUP’S 10 MPS to back the minority Tory Government, had hoped to attend but could not.
Mr Dodds told the conference, with Mr Smith watching on: “We will honour our side of the bargain and we expect the Conservative Party will too.”
He added: “Through the [DUP-TORY] co-ordination committee, we will continue to make sure that the Government does the right thing not just for Northern Ireland but for the whole of the UK.”