General election 2017: DUP 'in positive talks' with Tories

[sandensea]

Last edited Sun Jun 11, 2017, 04:03 PM - Edit history (1)

The Democratic Unionist Party says it has had "positive talks" over a "confidence and supply" deal to support a Conservative government.

Theresa May was left eight seats short of an overall majority in the general election, while the DUP won 10 seats.

Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson went to Belfast on Saturday for talks with the Northern Irish party.

The DUP said talks would continue next week to "work on the details" and "reach agreement."

At: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40236152

[Denzil_DC]

1. If this is true, it's a taste of what's to come:

Link to tweet

CarolineJMolloy @carolinejmolloy

Tory minister on #r4today says they will have a vote on reducing time limits on abortion in exchange for DUP support.

[sandensea]

2. In other words a medievalist agenda that will push even more voters away from the Tories.

My understanding is that ever since Thatcher was thrown out amid riots in 1990, the Conservatives have been trying hard to rebrand themselves as a "centrist" party that offers good governance with a socially liberal outlook. And many, indeed, bought it.

But after the DUP forces May to introduce the first round of Torquemada legislation, they'll no doubt have to start their rebranding all over again.

I suppose in a way the DUPpers are right: God does work in mysterious ways.

[Denzil_DC]

3. May's first real claim to fame

was her speech to the Tory Party conference during their long wilderness period out of government when she castigated them for being seen as "the nasty party".

A number of analysts pointed out that the Tory manifesto at this last election was in many ways to the right of the British National Party, never mind UKIP. The speed and ease with which she segued into the DUP arrangement (to the embarrassment of many of the Tory talking heads I've seen trying to defend it so far, including Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson) is telling.

Let's not forget that there were credible reports they were seeking a full coalition (to avoid being held to ransom at later dates), and it looks like the DUP rebuffed them.

[sandensea]

5. Reminds me of Chicken Jindaloo's "stupid party" admonishment.

He was smart enough to point out the obvious; but not brave enough to try to change it in any real way.

[Denzil_DC]

4. I did say, "if this is true ..."

Here's what was actually said:



It'll be interesting to see how much transparency we get about the terms of the deal that's been struck.

The less they say, the more people will speculate, which is likely to be even worse for them.


Anyway, given the roller-coaster switches in the narrative over the last 48 hours, I'm still skeptical there's been a deal at all!

Link to tweet

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David Blevins ✔ @skydavidblevins

BREAK: The DUP says talks with the Tories are continuing. The party has NOT yet agreed to back the Tories on a confidence and supply basis.

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[sandensea]

7. Ah, the quicksands of politics.

My guess is that controlling the obdurate Ms. Foster will prove to be all but impossible for the prime minister.

[Denzil_DC]

9. See below. They're off to a cracking start! n/t

Last edited Sat Jun 10, 2017, 08:08 PM - Edit history (1)

[Denzil_DC]

6. Bloody hell. We're living out an episode of "The Thick of It":

Link to tweet

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David Blevins ✔ @skydavidblevins

BREAK: DUP has NOT yet reached any agreement with the Tories. Sky sources: Downing Street issued the wrong statement in error.

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Strong and stable, baby. Strong and stable ...

[sandensea]

8. Major breaking news!

Please post this to LBN, Denzil! Thanks!

[Denzil_DC]

10. I think we'll have to wait till it's published somewhere LBN will accept.

Last edited Sat Jun 10, 2017, 08:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Not sure how the deadlines work on a Sunday, but I'll look around.

[sandensea]

12. Can't wait til next Wednesday.

Prime Minister's Questions should be fun.

[Denzil_DC]

11. Done!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141795951

[Denzil_DC]

13. LOL

Link to tweet

James Chalmers @ProfChalmers

"Due to an email error, we have entered into a binding coalition with Pets at Home. I'm very clear that we intend to make a success of it."

[Denzil_DC]

14. The BBC has now revised the headline and story at the link:

General election 2017: DUP 'in positive talks' with Tories

The Democratic Unionist Party says it has had "positive talks" over a "confidence and supply" deal to support a Conservative government.

Theresa May was left eight seats short of an overall majority in the general election, while the DUP won 10 seats.

Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson went to Belfast on Saturday for talks with the Northern Irish party.

The DUP said talks would continue next week to "work on the details" and "reach agreement".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40236152

[sandensea]

17. I just noticed this. Will edit thread accordingly.

Thank you for all your updates, Denzil.

[Denzil_DC]

18. Yeah, I think it's a bit sneaky when they do that

without any apparent acknowledgement of the updated story on the page. I've worked on blogs where we were more stringent!

[LeftishBrit]

15. As often Theresa Mayhem seems to have been a bit overconfident on this subject

According to the DUP, nothing's been decided yet.

And even if they have some sort of pact, I think it would have to be significantly limited due to the rules of the Good Friday Agreement. I don't know all the details, but am fairly sure that for example, a full-blown coalition, where DUP-ers had cabinet seats, would not be permitted under the terms of the agreement.

I must say, I can't imagine even all Tories being thrilled by the prospect of sharing government with a cross between the mirror-image of Sinn Fein and the Palin/ Bachmann/ Pence branch of the American Republicans

[Denzil_DC]

16. The more I look at Northern Ireland politics, the messier this all seems. This from last October:

NI Conservatives' disquiet over DUP love-in to be raised with party HQ

THERE is growing disquiet among Tory activists in Northern Ireland over the party's increasingly cosy relationship with the DUP.

The concerns of rank and file NI Conservative members are to be raised formally at a forthcoming board meeting at Conservative Party HQ in London.

...

A significant number of activists are said to have voiced misgivings about last week's DUP 'champagne reception' at the Tory conference in Birmingham and plans by Secretary of State James Brokenshire to attend a party fundraiser later this month alongside First Minister Arlene Foster.

They maintain that the DUP is an opposition party and that Conservatives in Britain would not welcome a similar alliance with UKIP.

http://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/10/14/news/ni-conservatives-disquiet-over-dup-love-in-to-be-raised-with-party-hq-736030/

[Denzil_DC]

19. Not looking promising at the moment

- no deal announced before May had to attend the reconvening of parliament:

Link to tweet

Faisal Islam ✔ @faisalislam

DUP have left through the backdoor of Downin Street without making a press statement

[Denzil_DC]

20. Make of this what you will:

Link to tweet

Christopher Hope 📝 ✔ @christopherhope

BREAKING Theresa May to meet with Sinn Fein tomorrow - without any deal with the DUP to support her minority Government

[sandensea]

21. Intriguing, Denzil.

My understanding of British politics is vague at best, so I was wondering: what would the left-leaning Sinn Féin have to gain from keeping Mayhem and her anti-Irish Tories in power?

There must be good - and probably pretty sneaky - reason in there somewhere.

[Denzil_DC]

22. I believe delegations from all the Northern Irish parties will be visiting her in due course

- she's trying to smooth things over with the Good Friday Agreement in peril.

Only one party's in line for a partnership of some sort if they can cobble it together, though, assuming May survives till the Queen's Speech, which doesn't seem a foregone conclusion at the moment, despite the brave Tory "business as usual" faces.

[sandensea]

23. I see; thanks! History repeating itself?

Margaret and the ever-stoic Dennis Thatcher moments after her 1990 resignation.

[Denzil_DC]

24. Oh dear oh dear ...

Link to tweet

Adam Bienkov ✔ @AdamBienkov

Sky News' Northern Ireland correspondent describes Theresa May's apparently botched deal with the DUP as "a quite extraordinary debacle".

Adam Bienkov ✔ @AdamBienkov

Sky News says DUP have "been surprised at the [low] level of negotiating experience" in May's government. That bodes well.









Meanwhile, on a planet far, far away:

[sandensea]

25. Ah, the swinish Ms. Foster again.

History is often made by the most unlikely of people.

[Denzil_DC]

26. Irish politics is tricky at the best of time. This adds another dimension, though:

Ireland won’t sign any Brexit deal unless Good Friday Agreement is protected

Ireland will block any Brexit deal that does not “fully” protect the Good Friday Agreement, according to the country’s new foreign minister.

Simon Coveney, in Stormont for talks to reinstate powersharing in Northern Ireland, warned that the Irish government would insist on finding a solution that protects its terms in full.

Ireland, as one of 27 remaining EU member states, has the right to block a Brexit deal in its national parliament.

“We have a Good Friday Agreement, which is also an international legal document that needs to be respected in the context of Brexit negotiations,” Mr Coveney told RTE, Ireland’s state broadcaster.

https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/politics/ireland-wont-sign-brexit-deal-unless-good-friday-agreement-protected/