Talks to support May's Conservatives making progress, DUP says

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, leaves 10 Downing Street in central London, Britain June 13, 2017. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Talks between the Conservatives and the small Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to prop up Prime Minister Theresa May's government made progress on Wednesday, DUP lawmaker Jeffrey Donaldson said.

 

Donaldson told BBC TV that there would be further talks on Wednesday and he was confident they could get an arrangement to support May early next week.

 

May lost her majority in the 650-seat parliament in a snap election she called earlier this month and she now requires the backing of the 10 DUP members to ensure she can pass legislation.

 

Donaldson said local media reports that his party was asking for 1 billion pounds to be spent on health and a further billion to be allocated to infrastructure was "wild speculation and wide of the mark".

 

(Reporting by Amanda Ferguson, writing by Michael Holden, editing by Elizabeth Piper)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-22

They are asking for billions and the Conservatives are going to be scrutinised over any deals agreed.  The DUP have the upper hand because May desperately needs them but she has the purse and that is what they want.  Kind of reminds you of a hold-up with both sides not prepared to back down.

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

They are asking for billions and the Conservatives are going to be scrutinised over any deals agreed.  The DUP have the upper hand because May desperately needs them but she has the purse and that is what they want.  Kind of reminds you of a hold-up with both sides not prepared to back down.

The real bargaining starts after the queens speech as been voted on.

Due to the fixed term parliament a failure to support the government doesnt bring the government down , and give the advantage to Corbyn ( with his IRA background), but merely thwarts government plans.

The DUP wil be keen to prevent Corbyn gaining power due to the SF angle , and thus support the Cons during next weeks vote, however what happens  after is a very different beast

 

2 hours ago, dunroaming said:

They are asking for billions and the Conservatives are going to be scrutinised over any deals agreed.  The DUP have the upper hand because May desperately needs them but she has the purse and that is what they want.  Kind of reminds you of a hold-up with both sides not prepared to back down.

It'll be worth it to have some real conservatives on board. Why should it be investigated? NI are part of the Union. Anyway, Donaldson has denied it. 

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

Why should it be investigated?

I didn't say anything about it being investigated?  We are in uncharted waters and have been since the brexit vote.  The way forward is anything but clear and it there will be a lot of making it up as we go along involved.

3 hours ago, dunroaming said:

They are asking for billions and the Conservatives are going to be scrutinised over any deals agreed.  The DUP have the upper hand because May desperately needs them but she has the purse and that is what they want.  Kind of reminds you of a hold-up with both sides not prepared to back down.

Do they know game theory?

Being reported that the DUP negotiators cut off talks with May's team for 36 hours, refusing to take their calls.  The demand is for two billion pounds to have their ten MP's vote with the government.

 

Don't worry Theresa, it's not your money, it's the taxpayers

4 hours ago, dunroaming said:

Being reported that the DUP negotiators cut off talks with May's team for 36 hours, refusing to take their calls.  The demand is for two billion pounds to have their ten MP's vote with the government.

 

Don't worry Theresa, it's not your money, it's the taxpayers

If they ever got the 2 Billion, then extra money has to go to England, Scotland and Wales under the existing rules. Don't worry the government will find a way to increase taxes to get it back and blame Europe for interferring. If the DUPes don't get, it then an election looks most likely in the autum. It will be interesting to see what the Tory party conference will be like in the autum.

Could start with a vote of no confidence, followed by a leadership challenge and then possibly yet another general election.  Nothing is impossible these days.

There is talk of posiible judicial review of any Cons / DUP deal, being in breach of GFA

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/homeless-statistics-tories-government-figures-increase-rise-families-temporary-accommodation-bb-a7803166.html

 

The CONs should just go. They're making me embarrassed at my own country!