Sky sources: Downing Street's statement on DUP made in error

[Denzil_DC]

Source: Sky News

Downing Street made an error when it issued a statement saying the DUP had agreed the principles of a deal to back the Conservatives, according to Sky sources.

The DUP confirmed to Sky News that it has not yet agreed to back the Tories on a "confidence and supply basis" - but talks are continuing.

The party said: "The DUP today (Saturday) held discussions with representatives of the Conservative Party in line with Arlene Foster's commitment to explore how we might bring stability to the nation at this time of great challenge. The talks so far have been positive.

"Discussions will continue next week to work on the details and to reach agreement on arrangements for the new Parliament."

Read more: http://news.sky.com/story/dup-agrees-to-principles-of-confidence-and-supply-deal-with-tories-10911387

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Link to tweet

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David Blevins ✔ @skydavidblevins

BREAK: The DUP says talks with the Tories are continuing. The party has NOT yet agreed to back the Tories on a confidence and supply basis.

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Link to tweet

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David Blevins ✔ @skydavidblevins

BREAK: DUP has NOT yet reached any agreement with the Tories. Sky sources: Downing Street issued the wrong statement in error.

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I'm not sure how much more of Theresa May's strength and stability I can take!

[sandensea]

1. A seismic turn of events.

Thank you for keeping us updated, Denzil!

Prime Minister's Questions next Wednesday should be lots of fun indeed.

[JackRiddler]

2. I doubt Mayhem will still be PM next Wednesday.

[sandensea]

4. Good point.

I understand many in Britain are referring to this as the 'Maydup' government.

Gotta love British wit!

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. If not her, will the world then be stuck with Boris Johnson?

[JackRiddler]

15. It's next Wednesday and she still is.

But the matter is far from resolved. No coalition, no Queen's speech, and everyone knows what just killed all those people in a preventable fire.

[msongs]

3. wish we had prime ministers questions equivalent ias presidents questions before congress nt

[hrmjustin]

5. That would be fun.

[sandensea]

6. Same here.

Different administrations - especially Republican ones - have been so busy creating a presidential regime à la Alfredo Stroessner, that by now we've got precious little democracy left in Washington.

And however much we do have left, it's largely thanks to all the Elizabeth Warrens and Maxine Waterses still in Congress - as well as true investigative journalists out there. Thank goodness for all of them.

[StevieM]

8. I am sure they will work something out. The DUP can always be counted on to back conservatives.

My guess is that the government will last a year and then new elections will be called next Summer.

And it is debatable whether May survives. My guess is that she will. But regardless, I think the Conservative/DUP government will last for about a year.

[Denzil_DC]

9. The whole idea is causing great discomfort to a number of Tories,

to the extent that I wonder if it'll even end up going ahead, and May will end up trying to start negotiating brexit in ten days' time as a plain old minority government without any deals at all, and dare the other parties to topple her in parliament (assuming her own party doesn't do that in panic/exasperation):

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Tory MPs Are Really Worried About The DUP's Gay Rights Record

Tory MPs have told BuzzFeed News they are deeply concerned that any alliance with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) could cause serious damage to the Conservative party's public image owing to the Northern Irish party's record on LGBT and abortion rights.

Politicians on the modernising wing of the Conservatives fear the party's progress in appealing to minorities could be wasted, and say they are already receiving large volumes of correspondence from constituents concerned about a formal alliance with a party that has consistently blocked same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, and opposed any move to legalise abortion.

LGBT Conservative groups have registered their opposition, while the increasingly-powerful Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson requested specific reassurances from Theresa May that LGBT rights would be defended as part of any arrangement with the DUP.

"Privately, people have expressed their concerns to the whips and Number 10," former education secretary Nicky Morgan told BuzzFeed News. "MPs are being flooded from emails from campaign groups."

https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/tory-mps-are-really-worried-they-could-be-tarnished-by-the

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It took three lost elections to housetrain the Tory "nasty" Party after Thatcher (and Major) to the extent where they were electable again. Once you start to look consistently incompetent, and you've lost your charm and looks, people's patience soon runs out.

[JackRiddler]

16. The Tories will not go to a second election with May as PM.

Unless a snap election is forced imminently, that will never happen. A thousand ways it can be played out, but she will be deposed before an election.

[Iplayoneontv]

10. It's a terrible idea to link to them.

Not to mention what DUP did to NI and pissing off SF again. The head of the Scottish Conservatives is a lesbian. She's already talking about doing another leave the Empire talk.

May fucked up.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Does this show how carefully May would run the Brexit negotiations?

As mentioned in the UK group thread on this, it does look like an episode of The Thick Of It.

Imagine it: May: "We've agreed on the status of expats in the EU and the UK". EU: "No, we just agreed the parameters of the discussion". May: "We've got rid of free movement!" EU: "No, we told you you couldn't have access to the market if you wanted to get rid of free movement. You didn't commit about the market". May: "we've left!" EU: "Here's the bill you tried to run away from ..."

[T_i_B]

14. That's how it was looking before the election!

The difference now is that Mayhem has been exposed, and left a lot of the people who backed her looking rather stupid.

[mdbl]

12. May's a liar

she said she would resign if the vote happened the way it did. Why is she still there?

[hatrack]

13. There appears to be no lower limit to the PM's ineptitude

I mean, this is freaking disastrous.

And it couldn't happen to a better party (except for the GOP, of course).