The Democratic Unionist Party has recently signed a deal with Theresa May’s Conservatives. Unlike 2010, we will not have a coalition government but rather, a government relying on a “confidence and supply agreement” whereby the DUP will support the Tories in certain key areas. In this instance, these include “all motions of confidence, the Queen’s speech, the budget, finance bills, money bills, supply and appropriation legislation and estimates” plus. of course, Brexit.
The Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party between them have 328 MPs out of 650. This, in theory, gives them a slender majority if all Tory MPs behave. The margin for dissent is increased slightly by the likely absence of the seven MPs from Sinn Féin, who historically have never taken their seats at Westminster.
The full agreement can be downloaded here. As far as Brexit is concerned, the key passage is on Page 1:-
In line with the parties’ shared priorities for negotiating a successful exit from the European Union and protecting the country in the light of recent terrorist attacks, the DUP also agrees to support the government on legislation pertaining to the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union; and legislation pertaining to national security.
You may also like
