Theresa May to meet Sinn Fein president over DUP deal
GETTY Theresa May will meet Gerry Adams tomorrow to discuss the DUP deal
The Prime Minister will hold a series of separate discussions with representatives of the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance Party as well as the Sinn Fein chief at Downing Street this afternoon. She is determined to address concern that her expected parliamentary deal with the Democratic Unionist Party will not undermine the Government's duty to impartiality in Ulster. Mrs May was understood to be close to a deal with the DUP to prop up her minority Tory government after the general election robbed her of her Commons majority.
The announcement of the deal was postponed because of the tower-block blaze in London. It may now not be formally unveiled until Monday. Senior Tories are seeking a "confidence and supply" agreement where the DUP will vote with the Government on key issues including the Budget and security. But the negotiations have been complicated by the political stalemate in Northern Ireland's devolved assembly. Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have claimed that Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire cannot steer the ongoing effort to restore powersharing at Stormont due to their perception he has a conflict of interest because of the possible Tory alliance with the DUP.
GETTY Arlene Foster travelled to Westminster for talks with the Tories on Tuesday
GETTY Mrs May is coming under intense pressure to change her approach to leaving the European Union
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement commits the UK and Irish Governments to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" in their dealings with the different political traditions in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill said last night: "I will be making it very clear that any deal between the Tories and the DUP cannot be allowed to undermine the Good Friday and subsequent agreements." Mrs May needs the votes of the DUP's 10 MPs to prop up her minority administration as she hopes to steer government business, including crucial measures on Brexit, through the Commons.
GETTY Arlene Foster said she hoped a deal could be reached 'sooner rather than later'
A Tory source said there was so far no deal to announce and that a decision on the timing of any announcement would have to wait until an agreement was finalised. Ministers have already said that the Queen's Speech may have to be set back from its scheduled date of next Monday June 19, because of the ongoing negotiations. Mrs May is coming under intense pressure to change her approach to leaving the European Union, with predecessor David Cameron among those suggesting a softer stance with a greater effort to seek a consensus.
Hundreds descend on Parliament to protest Theresa May's DUP deal Mon, June 12, 2017 Crushed by an election gamble that backfired and triggered calls for her resignation, Theresa May stood by her vow to form Britain's next government and lead the country out of the European Union Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 9 Protesters march against the Conservative party alliance with the DUP