TORY-DUP deal cash ‘must be made public’

The financial elements of any Tory deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) must be made public, shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell has insisted.

With talks continuing between the Conservatives and DUP over a “confidence and supply” arrangement, Mr Mcdonnell has written to Chancellor Philip Hammond demanding “transparency” regarding any extra resources made available to Northern Ireland as a result of a deal. In the letter, the shadow chancellor said: “I am writing to call on you, in the interests of transparency, to publish the financial consequences of any electoral deal reached between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party.

“It is essential that the details of any agreement are made public. Specifically, will any additional spending or tax cuts offered to Northern Ireland be offset through reductions in the Northern Ireland block grant, and if not, how will additional spending be paid for?”