Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jenny Percival

DUP in demand during horsetrading over 42-day vote

The DUP are stringing out their five minutes of fame - they're having two group meetings, at 3.30pm and 5pm, before they'll announce how they're going to vote. There's a second meeting because not all nine members can make the first one.

DUP leader Peter Robinson, resplendent in an orange tie, hurried past me in the corridor, refusing to say anything about whether or not his party was prepared to support the government. He would only confirm that there are two group meetings this afternoon.

Minutes later former leader Ian Paisley shuffled along. He too declined to say how his party was going to vote. "I'm a backbencher now," he said.

An answer to a question on my colleague Andrew Sparrow's live blog of the debate, there's no time limit on speeches at report stage. Jacqui Smith and David Davis will do the winding up.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.