DUP seeking £2billion worth of NHS and infrastructure funding for Northern Ireland in exchange for supporting the Tories
THE Democratic Unionist Party are seeking £2billion of investment in the NHS and infrastructure in Northern Ireland in exchange for supporting the Conservatives.
After the Tories failed to win an outright majority in the election, the Conservatives have been trying to secure a confidence and supply deal with the DUP to help them pass key votes in the Commons.
But almost two weeks after the election, no arrangement has been secured.
Today sources told the BBC that the party wanted £1billion of investment in the health service, and another £1billion for national infrastructure in exchange for its 10 MPs to support it.
Members of the DUP ruling executive are scheduled to meet in Belfast on Thursday evening, The Guardian reported.
Some sources say that they are "95% there" with a deal.
Earlier today Damian Green, the first secretary of state, said there was a "lot in common" and there was still "every possibility" of a deal being signed off.
But Mrs May's slim majority has been put in jeopardy as the DUP threatened to walk away from a deal last night.
Yesterday the party expressed concern that it was being "taken for granted" and that the talks had not gone the way they had hoped.
One said that the talks needed "greater focus".
They added there appeared to be a “lack of negotiating experience” on the Conservative side.
Another slammed the chaos in No.10 saying young aides “probably couldn’t find Northern Ireland on the map”.
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One Tory Minister admitted the chances of a full confidence and supply agreement for the next five years were now only “fifty-fifty” given the scale of the DUP’s cash demands for Ulster.
It is still thought that the DUP will support the Queen's Speech when it is voted on next week.
The chaos came hours after the emergence of a letter allegedly from DUP leader Arlene Foster objecting to the idea of same sex marriages being recognised in Northern Ireland.
It prompted Conservative sources to insist the party was “continuing to work towards” an arrangement with the DUP.
The source said: “Both parties are committed to strengthening the Union, combating terrorism, delivering Brexit and delivering prosperity across the whole United Kingdom.”
Today the Queen delivered her speech in Parliament - which included 27 Bills the Government will try and pass.
But Theresa May has been forced to rip up the Tory manifesto and her controversial plans for changes to social care and scrapping of free school meals - after failing to win an outright majority.
The Prime Minister delivered a legislative timetable for the next two years dominated by preparations for our exit from the bloc – with eight separate bills on the EU.
In a ceremony stripped of much its usual pomp and ceremony, the Monarch arrived by car rather than carriage, and did so without her state crown – which travelled from Buckingham Palace separately.
She also appeared with her son Prince Charles, after her husband Philip was admitted to hospital last night with an infection as a “precautionary measure” after attending Royal Ascot.
But there was still plenty of pageantry on show in Parliament this morning, as well as traditions such as Black Rod knocking on the Commons chamber to summon MPs to the Lords and listen to Her Majesty.
Elizabeth II delivered her 64th Queen’s Speech this morning – these are the key points:
- Eight Brexit bills – including a Great Repeal Bill as well as new laws on trade, immigration and fisheries
- A host of flagship manifesto policies ditched in a slimmed-down legislative programme
- On social care the “dementia cap” is gone in favour of a consultation, as is the controversial energy price cap
- Grammar school and the scrapping of free school meals also gone
- But other Bills include extending the HS2 high-speed rail link to Crewe
- One to permit the development of driverless cars and commercial satellites
- Bills to cut whiplash insurance claims, protect victims of domestic abuse and ban letting fees for private rented homes.
- The Speech confirmed plans for a public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy
- Mrs May will also appoint an independent advocate for all public disasters to support those affected
- There will also be a review of counter-terrorism strategy in the wake of a number of recent attacks
- Related to that a new Commission for Countering Extremism looking at online ideology