DUP vow to support Tories... but only if they ditch Mrs May’s Brexit deal
Brexiteers boosted as PM faces defeat in key vote
A DUP declaration that it will only support Theresa May in a no-confidence motion if her current Brexit deal is ditched or defeated has bolstered Tory resistance to the deal.
Brexiteers, who feared a vote against the divisive deal could result in the collapse of the British government, may now feel emboldened to vote against it.
A crunch vote on the deal is due in the British parliament on Tuesday.
Between them the Conservatives and DUP have the parliamentary numbers to resist a motion of no confidence, which the Labour party has said it will table if the Brexit deal is defeated on December 11.
British prime minister Mrs May depends on the DUP for her Commons majority, but the unionist party claims the Withdrawal Agreement thrashed out with Brussels breaches the terms of its confidence and supply deal with the Tories. Setting out his position, the DUP’s Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said: ‘We will vote against her plan because it is bad for the United Kingdom, certainly bad for Northern Ireland given the legal advice that we have forced out of the Government today.’
The Labour party has indicated it will table a motion of no confidence in Mrs May if her Brexit deal is defeated.
But Mr Dodds said that if the Brexit deal is defeated it would be ‘somewhat illogical’ – having seen off the Withdrawal Agreement – ‘to turn around the next day and say, “let’s vote the Government out.”’
He warned there would be ‘implications’ if Mrs May pushed ahead with her plan, saying: ‘That’s the risk that the prime minister is running.’
Even if there was no general election, the lack of a majority would make it difficult for the Tories to pass any legislation – including the bill to implement the Brexit deal.
The DUP’s position was set out to Tory Brexiteers at a private meeting of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s European Research Group. Mr Rees-Mogg told the meeting: ‘The DUP will support the government in a confidence motion if the Withdrawal Agreement is voted down. But the risk of losing them and having an election is if the Withdrawal Agreement goes through.’
Sources described the meeting as ‘full and frank’ and ‘candid’, with Tory chief whip Julian Smith left in no doubt about what would be required to win over would-be rebels.
A source said Mr Smith’s office and Mrs May were in ‘listening’ mode and would do ‘as much as possible’ to get support in ‘one of the biggest votes in recent parliamentary history’. The source said ministers were ‘looking at all options to secure the vote’.
But it is understood no detailed policy proposals were put forward by the government at the meeting. One measure reportedly being floated as a way to win over would-be rebels is a ‘parliamentary lock’ which would give MPs a vote before the Northern Irish backstop is implemented.
Mr Dodds dismissed this saying ‘it doesn’t have any effect’ on the Withdrawal Agreement thrashed out with Brussels which contains the contentious measure.
The mounting problems for Mrs May come after her government was forced to publish legal advice it received warning that the Northern Ireland backstop could result in the UK becoming stuck for many years in ‘protracted and repeating rounds of negotiations’ with no lawful power to exit.
It said Brussels could apply to an arbitration panel for Northern Ireland to remain in the EU customs area while the rest of the UK left.
‘Implications’ if she pushes ahead