DUP MPs ‘worth more than Ronaldo’

Democratic Unionist Party MPs are now worth more than footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, an SNP MP has said, as the government’s deal with the Northern Irish party came under fire.

The SNP’s Alison Thewliss led criticism of the government’s £1.5billion confidence and supply arrangement with the DUP. Labour also warned that trust could be eroded among other political parties.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire insisted that the government would remain impartial and continue to govern in the interest of all communities in Northern Ireland.

Ms Thewliss said: “We’re now in the slightly odd position where each DUP MP is worth more than Ronaldo. Does the secretary of state agree with Jonathan Powell that it is now impossible for the UK Government to be even-handed in Northern Ireland?”

SNP MP Patricia Gibson added: “Can the secretary of state not see that the UK Government’s credibility with the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom has been destroyed following this £1.5billion bribe from Northern Ireland, subverting the rules of Barnett as the price of staying in office.”

SNP spokeswoman Deidre Brock said other parties in Northern Ireland had “very serious concerns” in the wake of the DUP deal. Labour’s Kate Hollern said the deal “has been described as grubby, dangerous and desperate”.

Top footballer Cristiano Ronaldo