DUP to vote with Labour as confidence and supply agreement falters

The Democratic Unionist Party has announced it will be voting against the government for the first time since it signed up to a 'confidence and supply' deal with the Conservatives.

The Northern Irish party’s 10 MPs will vote with Labour in favour of a fair pay rise for NHS staff and against a rise in tuition fees in a motion tabled by Jeremy Corbyn’s party.

Arlene Foster and her party signed up to the agreement after the Tories embarrassingly lost their majority in a snap election in June, securing a pledge from the government to hand over £1bn in funding for NI.

As the motion was tabled by Labour, it is not legally binding but Corbyn is using it as an attempt to damage his rival, Theresa May.

DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr confirmed on Wednesday that the party would be support Labour in opposing the NHS pay cap, while it is also expected to oppose a further rise in annual fees for students.

The Tory-Lib Dem coalition trebled tuition fees to £9,000, and May’s government has ordered it to rise further in accordance with inflation.