A Divided Kingdom

N. Ireland party helps British leader May hold on

BRITISH PRIME Minister Theresa May needed Northern Ireland for support Friday to form a new minority government after her Conservative Party lost its majority in Parliament.

The Democratic Unionist Party — winners of 10 seats in Thursday’s voting — reached a deal with May’s party to form a new government. The socially conservative, pro-British party found itself in the unlikely position of kingmaker after the election left the United Kingdom in political turmoil.

May’s Conservative Party failed to reach the 326-seat majority to hold the House of Commons, but reached a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to form a coalition.

“What this country needs more than ever is certainty and having secured the most amount of votes and the greatest amount of seats in the General Election, it is clear that only the Conservative and Unionist Party has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons,” May said outside No. 10 Downing Street.

The move isn’t uncommon in U.K. politics. Conservatives took the same approach with another political wing to wrest control of Parliament in 2010. But this time around, Britain is entering the contentious negotiations to leave the European Union — known as Brexit — and grappling with a wave of terror attacks.

“This government will guide the country through the crucial Brexit talks, which will begin in just 10 days, and to deliver on the will of the British people by taking the U.K. out of the E.U.,” May said.

May, who took office 11 months ago, met with Queen Elizabeth earlier in the day to form the new government. Despite calls for her resignation, she insisted she’d stay in her job.

The Prime Minister called for the surprise election in April in a bid to strengthen her majority in anticipation of the Brexit talks. But the results indicated a surprise showing by the Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn.

DUP members were shaken by the idea of Corbyn becoming Prime Minister, sources told The Guardian.

“We want there to be a government ... The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there’s a Tory (Prime Minister),” a DUP source told the newspaper.

Deranged attacker Zale Thompson smashed hatchet into Officer Kenneth Healey three years ago (inset). The cop suffered head and arm wounds, but has worked hard to recover and was just made a detective (r.). the rank of detective in Nassau County, so it...

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