S&D MEPs cast doubt over Tory-DUP deal

Socialist MEPs have cast further doubt about a planned deal between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in the UK.

Theresa May | Photo credit: Press Association

By Martin Banks

Martin Banks is a senior reporter at the Parliament Magazine

13 Jun 2017


On Tuesday, the leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster was in talks with UK Prime Minister Theresa May, over supporting a minority Tory government.

There were media reports that a deal looks set to be finalised within the next 24 hours.

The Conservatives are having to rely on the support of 10 DUP MPs after they fell eight seats short of winning an overall majority at the general election. In their first meeting since the election, May's cabinet discussed the DUP deal - as well as Brexit and the forthcoming Queen's Speech - on Tuesday morning.

But several MEPs contacted by this website have cast serious doubt on a possible Tory-DUP agreement.

UK Socialist MEP Neena Gill said, "Theresa May is attempting to cling onto the keys of 10 Downing Street by forming a chaotic deal with the DUP - a party which denies climate change, women's rights to abortion, and same-sex marriage."

Gill went on, "Rather than listening to the British people, who rejected May's manifesto of cuts and division, the Tories' new partners make them even more toxic. On the bright side, the Conservatives are in the process digging their own graves in time for the next general election, which is likely to be imminent."

She added, "May's willingness to normalise the DUP's unpleasant and backward views is terrible - much worse that running through a field of wheat - but jeopardising the peace process in Northern Ireland is breathtakingly irresponsible. 

"Now the government will depend on the DUP for votes, it can no longer be an impartial, honest broker in Northern Ireland, breaching the Good Friday agreement.

"In contrast to the unstable, insecure and dangerous Tory government, Labour has been reinvigorated by its remarkable general election campaign. An estimated 63 per cent of 18-34 year olds voted for Labour, as well as 40 per cent of the population as a whole. The political winds have changed, and

Labour is ready to steer the country to a more stable, fairer and brighter future."

Another British Socialist MEP, the veteran Scottish deputy David Martin, said, "This is the real coalition of chaos. A weak and wobbly Prime Minister propped up by a party stuck in the battles of the past. This dodgy deal fails to respond to the public's clear rejection of May's hard Brexit and puts peace in Northern Ireland at risk.

"The Brexit timer is ticking, and while the EU side has been the absolute picture of stability, the Tories seem to be tearing themselves and the country apart."

Meanwhile, UK Socialist MEP Richard Corbett, a constitutional expert, said, "Theresa May called the election to get a mandate for her version of Brexit. The electorate did not endorse it - far from increasing her majority, she lost it. 

"She has now made an alliance with the DUP, a party that is hardline Brexit - except in terms of wanting to avoid customs controls on the Irish border. Chaos and confusion will reign."

 

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