Theresa May's 'grubby deal with DUP threatens peace in Ireland'

Theresa May has been warned that her ‘grubby £1.5bn deal’ with the DUP could threaten the peace process.

The Prime Minister struck a deal with DUP leader Arlene Foster earlier today to prop up her minority Government.

The deal struck in 10 Downing Street 18 days after the June 8 General Election also saw the Conservatives formally ditch plans to abolish the triple-lock protection for state pensions and means-test the winter fuel payment during this Parliament.

The agreement has been greeted with widespread anger, with Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, warning it will threaten the Good Friday agreement.

“The price of today’s DUP-Tory deal is DUP support for continued Tory austerity and cuts to public services,” he said.

“It provides a blank cheque for a Tory Brexit which threatens the Good Friday Agreement.”

He added: “Sinn Fein will vigorously pursue the rights of citizens currently being denied by the DUP and the British government.

Politicians in Scotland and Wales have also reacted with fury.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: ‘Any sense of fairness sacrificed on the altar of grubby DUP deal to let PM cling to power.’

Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones called the deal ‘a straight bung’ that ‘kills the idea of fair funding for the nations and regions’.

The agreement will not be affected by the Barnett formula – which decides how the UK’s nations are funded in comparison with each other – because the money is being allocated to specific projects rather than Northern Ireland spending in general.

After a series of talks at Number 10 Mrs Foster said she was ‘delighted’ an arrangement had been agreed.

The Prime Minister said the DUP and the Tories ‘share many values’ and the agreement was ‘a very good one’ – even though the Conservatives have been forced to abandon a number of key manifesto pledges.

Notably the pensions triple lock will stay in place and there will be no means-testing of winter payments.

The Prime Minister said: ‘As we set out at the beginning of the talks, we share many values in terms of wanting to see prosperity across the UK, the value of the union, the important bond between the different parts of the United Kingdom.

‘We very much want to see that protected and enhanced and we also share the desire to ensure a strong government, able to put through its programme and provide for issues like the Brexit negotiations, but also national security issues.

‘So the agreement we have come to is a very, very good one, and look forward to working with you.’

Mrs Foster responded: ‘We’re delighted that we have reached this agreement, which I think works, obviously, for national stability.

‘In terms of the Northern Ireland Executive, of course we are determined to see it back in place as soon as possible as well, because we believe we need a strong voice for Northern Ireland when dealing not least with the Brexit issue.’

Theresa May was forced to strike a deal with the Northern Ireland party after losing her party’s majority in the 2017 General Election, leaving the UK with a hung parliament.

A three-page document outlining the agreement has been published by the Government.

It states that the deal means that the DUP agrees ‘to support the Government on all motions of confidence; and on the Queen’s speech; the Budget; finance bills; money bills, supply and appropriation legislation and Estimates.’

The DUP’s 10 MPs will give the Government a wafer-thin majority to push through legislation.