DUP’s price for propping up Theresa May’s government could cost taxpayers more than £50bn

The DUP’s price price for propping up Theresa May’s fragile government could cost taxpayers more than £50 billion, it was claimed last night.

DUP insiders last night signalled their 10 MPs would back the PM’s Queen’s Speech - on the condition the Government spends an extra £1.5 billion on infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

But any increase in spending to Ulster would automatically trigger billions more for Wales, Scotland and England under the controversial Barnett Formula.

A source familiar with the Government’s negotiations with the DUP told The Sun that the Government had given the unionists a “take it or leave it package closer to £750 million” last week.

Even that could trigger extra spending of £26 billion, according to estimates of the Barnett Formula consequentials.

A Lib Dem source blasted: “The Tories claimed there’s no magic money tree, but now it seems they’ll have to find one.”

Last night the DUP’s negotiating team were believed to be flying home to Northern Ireland in a sign of their hardball approach to the talks.

Failure to back the Queen’s Speech could topple Mrs May.

Deputy leader Nigel Dodds said his party would back the Government’s approach to Brexit and signalled DUP would give the Tories a majority in next week’s Queen’s Speech vote - as long as it met its demands.

He said one of those strings was an “end to the dark tunnel of austerity”.

Mr Dodds said: “We are about strengthening the union, delivering Brexit, defending our country from threats of terrorism at home and abroad, creating prosperity and keeping Northern Ireland moving forward.

“And it’s in furtherance of those objectives that we will act and vote in this parliament over the next five years.”

Earlier in the day First Secretary of State Damian Green insisted there was “still the possibility of a DUP deal”.