Fight for our union, urges DUP’S Foster

ARLENE FOSTER, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, urged Boris Johnson yesterday to defend the Union, confirming that the Northern Irish party’s confidence and supply deal with the Tories would continue under his leadership.

Having tweeted a photograph of her watching the Conservative leadership announcement live at her office in Enniskillen, Mrs Foster described it as a “historic day” before revealing that the pair had spoken and confirmed that the deal between the two parties would continue.

“We discussed our shared objectives of strengthening every part of the Union, ensuring the 2016 referendum result is implemented and seeing devolution restored in Northern Ireland,” she said. “The confidence and supply agreement between the Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) remains. That agreement included a review between each parliamentary session.

“This will take place over the coming weeks and will explore the policy priorities of both parties for the next parliamentary session.” Confirming speculation that Mr Johnson will soon embark on a tour of all four corners of the UK, she added: “I also look forward to welcoming Mr Johnson back to Northern Ireland shortly after (he) becomes Prime Minister.”

Nigel Dodds, the deputy DUP leader, said it was a “totally emphatic victory” for Mr Johnson, saying it gave him “a very, very strong hand within his own party to say to those naysayers and people who may be out to thwart the referendum result that they’ve got to get this done now and move on and govern in the interest of all of the people of the country”.

He said Brexit “needs to be delivered”, adding: “We want to get a deal. Our objective is not a no deal. We understand the need to keep a no deal on the table. We want to get a deal.”

However, Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party leader, warned that the job of prime minister comes with “enormous responsibilities”, while Colum Eastwood, the SDLP leader, described Mr Johnson’s victory over Jeremy Hunt as a “worrying step toward a hard no-deal Brexit and a hard border in Ireland”. He suggested Mr Johnson had “coasted into Downing Street on a wave of Brexit bluff and bluster”.

Naomi Long, the Alliance leader, said the UK needed a “statesman, not a showman”.