Theresa May, a weakened PM, said the Conservatives will work with the DUP

Theresa May said the Conservatives will work with the DUP, whether that is as a coalition or an issue by issue basis, it is unclear.

This election was quite a rollercoaster, wasn’t it? If you’re a Conservative voter you are probably feeling shocked and emotionally drained, while Labour voters are likely feeling vindicated.

Even so, Theresa May has announced her party will work with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, who won 10 seats. Whether this will be a coalition or a loose agreement is not yet known. But there is no doubt they will make demands on May. Their hardline stance against same-sex marriage, abortion and their opposition to a hard Brexit will likely cause friction in this alliance.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage is still not legal because the DUP has used a controversial veto to block any change to legislation. This was condemned by David Cameron when he was Prime Minister, but it is still a red line for the party according to senior figures.

Additionally, Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, is desperately looking to avoid a hard border with Ireland and has spoken against a “hard Brexit,” although the party is pro-Brexit.

An alliance with Jeremy Corbyn is certainly out the window for the DUP as they severely dislike his links with Sinn Féin.

So a Jeremy Corbyn led rainbow coalition is not going to happen. Even so, he has come out of this election stronger than the technical winner. She has the aura of a loser, while he has the energy of winner. The future of the Labour party looks set. Gone is the influence of the Blairites, and gone is the misgivings of whether leftist policies are electable. The party can demonstrate what they really believe in, rather than tiptoe to the centre just to win. Corbyn’s power as an opposition leader is no longer in doubt. Against a weakened Prime Minister, he will be a strong voice.

For a political career that has been defined by careful decisions and quiet cautiousness, the call for a snap election was uncharacteristic. Apparently, May only came to the decision because of persuasive aides. This gamble has cost her the public’s confidence and weakened her position in the Brexit negotiations.

Her speech after her meeting with the Queen was vague. She made no direct reference to the fact that her party had failed to get a majority. She ended on: “Now let’s get to work.”

Dan Hodges, a commentator for the Mail on Sunday tweeted: “Theresa May’s speech the most staggering exercise in political denial I’ve ever seen.”