Theresa May has reached an agreement with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party that will enable her to form a government. The prime minister is expected to see the Queen at about 12.30pm on Friday to confirm that a deal is in place.
Senior DUP figures claim that they wanted to form a coalition to stop any chance of Jeremy Corbyn from becoming prime minister. A DUP source said: “We want there to be a government. We have worked well with May. The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there’s a Tory PM.”
There has been no decision as yet on whether there will be a formal coalition between both parties or if there will be a “confidence and supply” arrangement – whereby the unionists would support a minority government on vital matters in return for some of their policies being enacted. The party’s leader in Westminster has confirmed that this will include a commitment that there would be no post-Brexit special status for Northern Ireland.
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We’d like to find out from people in Northern Ireland about how you feel about the DUP’s deal with the Conservatives. Do you feel that your views will be represented by the DUP? What concerns do you have? We’d also like hear perspectives from people living in Ireland.
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