Coalition saves the Tories, for now
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In the fortnight following the General Election there has been much discussion about a coalition forming between the Conservative government and the Irish DUP, today it is revealed that a deal has been reached.
Today the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have officially signed a deal that Prime Minister Theresa May hopes will keep her in power when the vote is made on the Queen’s Speech on Thursday.
Since speculation of this deal first rose it’s head two weeks ago large portions of the media have mentioned several reasons why it is highly questionable. First there are the DUP’s highly unpopular stances on homosexuality, climate change, abortion and creationism, and then discussions about a deal between the two parties being a breach of the Good Friday Agreement.
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The deal that has been made today will allow for an additional £1 billion to be spent in Northern Ireland, and will also not count towards the Barnett formula, the formula that proportions British funding between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This fact has already drawn anger from Wales in the form of Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader Liz Saville who claims that any additional spending in Northern Ireland should also be reflected in the Welsh budget, a figure that would equate to approximately £1.7 billion.
Interesting, the £1 billion figure is just over double the £490 million figure that was ‘lost’ by the DUP over the RHI crisis that resulted in a no confidence vote against Arlene Foster just last December. Having just survived the vote, this influx of cash to Northern Ireland could make large in-roads in repairing Ms Foster’s reputation.
This £1 billion pounds has essentially bought with it an additional ten votes to get Mrs May a majority vote, however, the difference is still marginal. To get the vote through on Thursday Mrs. May needs all of the DUP and Conservatives to vote in the affirmative, and if only seven MP’s vote against their party, which is not unheard of, then this coalition will be all for nothing. It’s worth pointing out that in the hours since the financial agreement was made there has already been rumblings from Conservatives in Scotland and Wales, however we will not find out if it”s enough to turn her own party against her until Thursday.
Of deeper concern is comments from the DUP about the inexperience of the Conservative’s negotiators. If the ten DUP MP’s are ‘difficult to negotiate with, how will the government be able to handle the Brexit Negotiations which have now begun?
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