Northern Ireland's DUP become kingmakers as May clings to power
Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday gained the Queen's approval to form a government with the Democratic Unionist Party, which is acting in its new role as kingmaker after the election produced a hung parliament.
May, who lost her parliamentary majority in spectacular fashion, agreed a pact with the Northern Irish pro-Brexit DUP, which won 10 seats in the new parliament.
That alliance would be enough to give the Tories room to pass legislation, provided there were no rebellions within her own ranks, with the DUP reported to be prepared form a minority government coalition on a "confidence and supply" basis, which is essentially a vote-to-vote deal in the House of Commons.
A DUP source was reported as saying: “We want there to be a government. We have worked well with May. The alternative is intolerable. For as long as Corbyn leads Labour, we will ensure there’s a Tory PM.”
In a televised speech on Friday afternoon, DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed: "The Prime Minister has spoken to me this morning and we will enter discussions with the Conservatives to explore how it may be possible to bring stability to our nation at this time of great challenge."
PRO-BREXIT, CHRISTIAN RIGHT
The DUP were seen for many years as the radical element of the unionist movement during the conflict in Northern Ireland and throughout the peace process, overtaking the Ulster Unionist Party as the biggest group in the years following the Good Friday Agreement.
The party was founded in the 1970s by Ian Paisley, a charismatic but controversial reverend, who led the party for decades and through the peace process, finally agreeing to form a government with arch enemy Martin McGuinness and Republican party Sinn Fein.
Under Northern Ireland's First Minister Foster, the DUP has maintained its core Christian values and right-wing policies in a power-sharing government at Stormont, although there had been gridlock in recent months as the parties could not reach an agreement following an inconclusive Assembly election.
Sinn Fein refused to form part of a government in which Foster was First Minister, after a botched heating scheme in which businesses were given £1.60 for every £1 they spent on heating their properties.
They now perhaps hold the keys to the Tories clinging on to power, and it appears a comfortable match considering the DUP's support for a hard Brexit, but they will certainly demand assurances that there will be no special status given to NI following negotiations with European leaders.
The DUP, which has blocked same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland and fought extensions to abortion rights, also campaigned for Brexit with a manifesto arguing for the maintenance of a “seamless and frictionless” border with Ireland, retaining the pensions “triple lock” that the Tories proposed to drop.
FULL TEXT OF ARLENE FOSTER'S STATEMEMENT
"Yesterday's general election was truly historic. The DUP recorded its best ever election result and I want to take this opportunity to thank our director of elections Simon Hamilton for the marvellous job he did and I do want to thank each and every one of the 292,316 people who returned 10 DU members of parliament to the house of commons to stand up and speak out for Northern Ireland.
"To secure over a third of all of the votes cast in Northern Ireland is truly humbling we do not take the people's support for granted and we make them all a simple promise to do everything we can to repay the trust that they have placed in the party.
"Yesterday also represented a great result for the union not just here in Northern Ireland but right across our UK. Those who want to tear apart the union that we cherish and benefit from so hugely have been sent a clear and resounding message and in the days and weeks ahead it is the union that will be to the forefront of our minds. The union is our guiding star.
"We may represent NI constituencies in the house of commons but we are as seized of the interest of the UK as a whole as we are for NI.
"Now I make no apology for saying that the DUP will also strive for the best deal for Northern Ireland and its people but equally we want the best for all of the UK.
"And these are challenging times. Our UK and indeed our very way of life are under threats from extremists.
"Negotiations on our exit from the EU are about to commence and we now face uncertainty at Westminster.
"The Prime Minister has spoken to me this morning and we will enter discussions with the Conservatives to explore how it may be possible to bring stability to our nation at this time of great challenge."
(additonal reporting by Conor Coyle)