Ulster Says No To Everything!

NEW This is hugely significant.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has told the ERG today that the DUP will not rejoin power-sharing in Northern Ireland, Tory MPs say.

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) March 22, 2023

If the people of Northern Ireland have any sense, as and when the elctions come round, they will vote for any party other than the DUP.

Without a functioning Stormont Northern Ireland will simply rot.

Anti Abortion Group Bribed To Not Rock The Boat

There are multiple reports today that the DUP have been offered big money. FT reporting it is "billions" not millions. Irish Times, is interestingly, reporting:"the deal will be sweetened for DUP with a multimillion-euro package of investment funded by the EU, London and Dublin"

— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) October 16, 2019

The Duplicitous DUP

This is extraordinary. In the event the DUP vote down the budget: “No10 sources also insisted the move would be a clear breach of the Tory-DUP confidence and supply agreement – meaning Ulster would also have to pay back its £1bn bonus from the government.” https://t.co/cgQiIiunRV

— Labour Whips (@labourwhips) October 11, 2018

Sadly, because of Theresa May's disastrous decision to call and election and then botch it, the country is being run by government propped up by the DUP (who demanded £1BN for their support).

Now that things are hotting up wrt Brexit, the DUP is relishing its position of "power broker", or more accurately in this case "power destroyer", and is threatening to vote against the Budget if their Brexit "red lines" are crossed.

The DUP claim to want to be treated as the same as the rest of the UK. This is all very well, noble and commendable. However, when it comes to other laws (eg abortion) the DUP are "strangely" reluctant to follow the UK's lead.

Inevitably, as could have been predicted when the confidence and supply deal was brokered by May, this particular house of cards looks like it is about to come crashing down to earth.

As and when it does, I will be most fascinated to see how May gets the £1BN back!

The DUP Deal That Dare Not Speak Theresa's Name

The £1bn DUP deal is done and signed not by Theresa May, but by the Government chief whip Gavin Williamson.

For why?

May knows that her time as PM is not finite. When she goes, the deal can continue without being renegotiated.

To pre-plan one's own demise is sensible, wrt funerals and wills. However, in politics such pre planning becomes a self fulfilling prophecy!

DUP Deal Sign Off Today

Theresa May's wait is nearly over. DUP leader Arlene Foster due in London today to sign deal to support minority Tory Government.

— Christopher Hope 📝 (@christopherhope) June 26, 2017