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DUP LEADER ARLENE Foster has said that Prime Minister Theresa May will need to remove backstop provisions in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
If those references that would treat Northern Ireland differently than the rest of the UK in the absence of a closely-tied customs deal and trading arrangement, then the DUP will not vote in favour of the deal in the House of Commons in the coming weeks, she said.
But she also added that the DUP could consider a Norway-style deal as a way to prevent Northern Ireland being treated differently to the rest of the UK, in which the UK would join the European Economic Area and stay aligned to the single market.
“Well, there are conversations going on right across government,” she said when asked about that proposal.
Ten DUP MPs are supporting Theresa May’s government since a snap election following the EU referendum in 2016. In exchange for the DUP’s support, May promised €1.1 billion in extra funding for Northern Ireland.
But if the DUP don’t get what they want from the Brexit deal, they could collapse May’s government and trigger an election in the middle of Brexit talks.
Speaking on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show today, Foster said that as it stands now, the deal they have with May “is still alive”.
But if it came to a situation where parliament did decide to back this deal, then obviously we will have to review the confidence and supply agreement.
Theresa May is going to have a tough job getting the Brexit deal through the House of Commons – this has to be done before the parliament recess on the 21 December.
As it stands now, she doesn’t have enough MPs to pass the deal through the House; reports earlier this year suggested she was trying to lobby Labour MPs to pass the deal.
When asked if there were any circumstances in which the DUP’s 10 MPs could vote for the deal, Foster replied: “No, there aren’t.”
As far as I can see there doesn’t seem to be a great deal of enthusiasm in the House of Commons for this deal, quite the contrary. So let’s wait until we get to that vote. I don’t see any circumstances at present where that vote will be a vote to go ahead in Theresa May’s favour.
Yesterday at the DUP’s annual conference, the former UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, said that they should “junk the backstop”.
“Unless we junk this backstop, we are going to find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us: a satellite state,” Johnson said.
Earlier, DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said that it was time to “bin the backstop”.
The backstop aims to avoid a hard border between the Republican and Northern Ireland by keeping the North under some EU rules and regulations.
The DUP has criticised the plan as the party believes it threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom and could lead to a customs border in the Irish Sea.
He’s an incredible athlete.
The country is proud.
The arrogance from the RTE studio prior to race was stomach churning, “he’s going to blow them out of the water”, “this is really about 2nd and third”, he’s going for the world record etc etc, no respect for the other athletes. Reminded me of how we were going to win the rugby world cup according to some. A little humility seems to be scarce in Ireland when the economy is booming. Wiffin is a class athlete, is olympic champion and why RTE surround him with their arrogance I don’t know and does him no favours or service.
@Eddie Garvey: Well said.
@ecrowley ecrowley: OMG Eddie you couldn’t have put it better
@Eddie Garvey: I remember when people used to give out the British media.A little bit of success and we show some horrible tendencies of arrogance.
@Eddie Garvey: thought rte where going to blow their trousers the way they where going on….its sport anything can happen and may the best man win
@Eddie Garvey: RTE us a pathetic and egotistical entity that’s recently been effectively given a massive bailout. they’re unaccountable, Kevin doesnt give a rip about the Irish people, there was no major demonstration held to oppose them.
How are we supposed to stop an organisation like them if people are so docile? people need to wake up and accept that they’re as bad as the bbc.
@Eddie Garvey: It makes no difference to him as it is nothing to do with him. Some of the pundits/commentators are delusional but you seem to get that with the broadcaster from every country. They can see nobody else other than their guy. It’s not unique to Ireland. What does the economy have to do with anything also? lol.
@John Moore: with rte its pure dung…they had him to win before the race started…i wouldnt listen to them at all cause in a day they will put u in jail for not paying d tv license
@Eddie Garvey: Spot on Eddie ,they totally lost the run of themselves ,I’m old enough to remember a time at Olympics when we were grateful that none of our Swimmers drowned .
@Eddie Garvey: Well said Eddie. Tge commentators now are beginning to sound like the brits at every major tournament. It’s disgusting
Fantastic athlete! Onwards & Upwards!! #COYBIG!
A bit of humility will serve him well : if he matures he will double gold in LA
@Sergio Reddan: ‘Humility’ The buzz word of the night in some quarters. The meaning of which … the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others…. The kinda attitude that makes World & Olympic champions for sure…
@Sergio Reddan: Confidence is what Irish Athletes need. The 100 maters men’s final was brimming with it last night. You have to believe in yourself, and Daniel and Rhys have it in spades. Stop the put downs. A Bronze in the Olympics games is magic.
Before dressing this article, I was thinking the same.
The two most dangerous expressions in sport are ‘it’s in the bag ” or “it’ll be a walkover”. He’s young enough to learn from this.
I wonder if the result would have been different if his coach hadn’t gone home earlier.
@Paul Moore.
Daniel is an amazing athlete. You think he has done something wrong with having self belief. He won Bronze, and that is no mean thing.
His confidence and belief in his own ability is so refreshing in an Irish Athlete.
The albatross will rise again for sure.
@Phillip Smyth: You’re really determined for him to be called The Albatross
@Don Johnson: love to see him swimming to that tune by Fleetwood Mac.
@Phillip Smyth: you seem to be worryingly obsessed with him to be honest, all day yesterday and now this morning
Legend
Will never win the 1500m as long as Finke keeps competing
@Means Of Escape: What. He’s 31, Daniel is only 23, and his time will come. If only the Irish can have some belief in our athletes and stop the knocking.
@Annette: Bobby Finke is 24 – he led from the off point.
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