Conservatives And D.U.P. Agree U.K. Government Deal

Theresa May and Arlene Foster made a pact that will see Northern Ireland receive an extra £1bn in extra funding.

June 26, 2017
Conservatives And D.U.P. Agree U.K. Government Deal U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May stands with Democratic Unionist Party (D.U.P.) leader Arlene Foster inside 10 Downing Street on June 26, 2017.   Daniel Leal-Olivas/Getty
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Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist party has agreed to support Theresa May’s minority government more than two weeks after the U.K. general election left the Conservative party with insufficient seats to take power on their own.

The two sides have agreed a confidence and supply deal worth more than £1bn in extra funding to Northern Ireland over the next two years, The Guardian reports. This money, plus £500m of previously announced funds, will be spent on infrastructure, health and education in Northern Ireland.

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The D.U.P.'s 10 parliamentary MPs will back May's party in key votes, including one on the Conservatives’ Queen’s speech this week.

In exchange the Northern Irish party have ensured that the pension triple lock and winter fuel payments will stay in place, going against plans outlined in the Conservative manifesto.

The Press Association quoted Foster as saying she was "delighted" with the deal while May said the pact was a "very good one".

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A three page document outlining the terms of the agreement has been published in full. The deal is scheduled to last five years but will be reviewed at the end of the current session in 2019.


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Conservatives And D.U.P. Agree U.K. Government Deal