They’re the focus of every political blogger today: just what is going on with the DUP.
Just last week, they were an unknown fringe party this side of the Irish Sea.
On Thursday, they looked like the most important party in Britain, that final puzzle piece that would give the Tories their majority in Parliament - if some sort of deal could be arranged.
Now? That deal looks very, very shaky.
The Queen’s Speech, after a 2 day postponement, is tomorrow. An official deal with the DUP has not yet been agreed. Without some sort of official deal in place, it will be a lot more difficult for the Tories to pass their laws through the House of Commons.
The DUP say the UK are taking them for granted. At this stage, it looks like one of the major stumbling blocks is the DUP’s demand for the removal of air passenger duty in NI (the tax you pay to fly from UK airports, payable on booking). The Tories are hesitant to consent to this in case it leads to similar calls from Scotland, Wales and England.
It looks like the public will have to wait until tomorrow to see if the DUP deal can be made in time.
Whatever’s going on, it’s certainly nothing strongnorstable.
Ireland: *votes in massive numbers for very republican & left wing Sinn Féin and lots progressive, socialist parties*
Brit FCO: Will and Kate are visiting next month!
Ireland:
So some people are reblogging this as, I assume, a criticism of W&K in favour of their faves and I just need to be clear: no royal/person married to a royal are ever truly welcome in Ireland. Especially not by SF lol
(Also I said FCO, not royal family, because it’s not their choice. I am just amused by the idea of them being greeted by Mary Lou McDonald)
