LONDON, June 10 -- A controversial working relationship between the British Conservatives and the North Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was agreed in principle Saturday.
The so called supply and confidence deal, aimed at keeping Prime Minister Theresa May in power at 10 Downing Street, came under immediate attack.
Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, who served as a minister in the previous coalition government, called on details of a deal struck between the two parties to be published.
Cable, beaten in the 2017 election, regained a parliamentary seat in Thursday's general election, which ended with the Conservatives being forced to form a minority government.
The Conservatives won 318 seats, not enough for a majority in the Commons, but buoyed by the 10 DUP MPs. It would give May a working majority.
A confidence and supply deal falls short of a full coalition arrangement, but it means May would have enough votes to carry major issues in the Commons.
The agreement emerged after Gavin Williamson, the Conservative Party's chief whip, spent the day in Belfast holding talks with DUP leader Arlene Foster and key DUP members.
Details of the deal will be discussed by May's cabinet which is scheduled to meet at 10 Downing Street on Monday morning.
A spokesman for May said Saturday night: "We can confirm that the Democratic Unionist party have agreed to the principles of an outline agreement to support the Conservative government on a confidence and supply basis when parliament returns next week.
"We welcome this commitment, which can provide the stability and certainty the whole country requires as we embark on Brexit and beyond. The details will be put forward for discussion and agreement at a Cabinet meeting on Monday."
A number of demonstrations on the British mainland are already being planned to protest at the proposed link between the Conservatives and the DUP.
The Northern Ireland party is officially opposed to same-sex marriages and abortions, both which are legal in the rest of Britain.
Even before the question of a working relationship emerged, the DUP would normally vote with the Conservatives. The DUP is also pro-Brexit, even though the majority of people in Northern Ireland voted remain in last year's EU referendum.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron also called for details of the deal to be published, saying: "The actions of this (Conservative) government will have profound implications for the Brexit negotiations and the future of our country. At such a critical time, the prime minister must be clear with the people about the deal she has stitched up with the DUP behind closed doors."
Tom Watson, deputy leader of the main opposition Labour Party described the proposed arrangement as "a grubby deal for a coalition of chaos."
Alastair Campbell, the former Labour Party spin doctor who worked with former prime minister Tony Blair, hit out at the deal, saying May threatened the peace process in Northern Ireland by negotiating a "sordid, dangerous and distasteful" deal with the DUP.
Blair was a participant in the peace formula which brought to an end three decades of troubles between pro-republican and pro-unionist forces in Northern Ireland.
Professor Jon Tonge from the University of Liverpool, an expert on Irish politics, writing in tomorrow's Observer newspaper about the deal, commented: "The DUP's monopoly status as the friend of the Conservative party means a high price tag. Yet, other than continuing vetoes over same-sex marriage and abortion legalisation, the DUP leadership will not be interested in reinforcing the party's religious outlook. It will come down to what money the Conservatives can offer Northern Ireland. And Conservatives, gay or straight, Catholic, Protestant or atheist, will have to offer plenty."
Earlier Saturday, May's top aides, her joint chiefs of staff both resigned. They quit following reports that a number of Conservative MPs would force a leadership election if the pair remained in their jobs.
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第4模块 完成句子 专题4 形容词、副词的常用结构(课件)
(福建省专用)高三英语总复习:考前第26天(考前高分必读)专题课件
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第5模块 书面表达文体及题型指导(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修7 Unit 5 Travelling abroad
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第4模块 完成句子 专题1 动词的时态和语态(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修7 Unit 3 Under the sea
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题2 故事型阅读理解(课件)
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题5 文化型阅读理解(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修8 Unit 5 Meeting your ancestors
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第5模块 书面表达模块综述(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修8 Unit 3 Inventors and inventions
(福建省专用)高三英语总复习:考前第25天(考前高分必读)专题课件
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第4模块 完成句子 专题5 特殊句式与主谓一致(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修8 Unit 2 Cloning
湖北省2017高考英语二轮复习专题训练 完型填空(1)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:语法部分 第2讲 名词
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修7 Unit 4 Sharing
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题1 人物型阅读理解(课件)
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第4模块 完成句子 专题2 各种从句(课件)
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第2模块 完形填空 专题1 记叙文型完形填空(课件)
(福建省专用)高三英语总复习:考前第30天(考前高分必读)专题课件
(福建省专用)高三英语总复习:考前第28天(考前高分必读)专题课件
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:语法部分 第3讲 形容词和副词
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修6 Unit 5 The power of nature
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第2模块 完形填空 专题3 议论文型完形填空(课件)
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题4 广告型阅读理解(课件)
(福建省专用)高三英语总复习:考前第5天(考前高分必读)专题课件
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题8 科普知识型阅读理解(课件)
2017同步攻关高考英语一轮复习学案:选修6 Unit 4 Global warming
湖北省2017届高三英语二轮复习 第3模块 阅读理解 专题3 时闻型阅读理解(课件)
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |