PM May yet to agree pact with DUP, Corbyn eyes Queen's speech defeat

Theresa May has yet to reach a formal agreement with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party over a pact to allow her Conservative party to form a minority government, 10 Downing Street said on Sunday.

The Prime Minister remains in talks with the right-wing DUP as we head into the new week, despite indicating on Friday that a deal had already been agreed.

After calling a snap election in order to extend what was a 17-seat majority, Friday's results left May's Conservative party with fewer seats and a humiliating and destabilising hung parliament after losing its majority.

On top of the 318 seats won by the Tories, the DUP's 10 MPs would give May enough to get over the 326 votes needed to govern.

It was reported that an agreement had been struck with the DUP that would not be a formal coalition but on a vote-by-vote basis known as "confidence and supply".

On Sunday, after rumours were reported overnight that the wrong statement had been issued in error, Downing Street and senior Tories were forced to backtrack. A statement from the PM's office, which is now short of May's two closest advisers after they were forced to resign after the election, said: "We will welcome any such deal being agreed, as it will provide the stability and certainty the whole country requires as we embark on Brexit and beyond. As and when details are finalised both parties will put them forward."

DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed that "discussions continue" and she would be travelling to Downing Street on Tuesday.

But main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said his Labour party will invite other parties with seats in the House of Commons to defeat the government by voting to “put down a substantial amendment to the Queen’s speech" which would be made up of some of the key parts of the party's manifesto.

"We are ready and able to put forward a serious programme which has great support in this country,” he said.

"We are going to put down a substantial amendment to the Queen’s speech which will be the main points of our manifesto so we will invite the House to consider all the issues we’ve put forward – jobs-first Brexit, policies for young people and on austerity."

DUP doubts

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on Sunday denied the Tories needed a formal coalition to continue to govern and added in an interview with the BBC: “It would be very, very surprising if something as important and complex as this was stitched together in a single day of talks in Belfast.”

Against a backdrop of protests and unease within the Conservative party, which now reportedly includes 19 LBGTQ Tories, Fallon distanced himself from the DUP’s socially conservative stance, which includes blocking same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland and fighting extensions to abortion rights.

Fallon said: “Just because they are agreeing to support us on the big economic and security issues facing this country it doesn’t mean that we now agree with all of their views. We don’t. We are not in government with the DUP, we are not in coalition with the DUP.”

Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, who is gay, said on Saturday that she has received assurances from May over gay rights should the Tories strike a deal with DUP.

A source familiar with the discussions told the Sunday Times that senior figures in the DUP, which has close links to former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, would press for the pro-Brexit campaigner to be involved in negotiations with the European Union.

Bad Friday Agreement

In a speech outside her Downing Street residence on Friday after visiting the Queen as part of the formalities to approve the formation of a government, May had said: "What the country needs now more than ever is certainty. Having secured the largest number of votes and greatest number of seats in the general election, it is clear the Conservative and Unionist party has the legitimacy to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons.

"As we do, we will continue to work with our friends and allies in the Democratic Unionist Party in particular. Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years, and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom."