N Ireland bags big cash for supporting the Tories, while May gets accused of a 'straight bung' after agreeing on an extra £1 billion for Northern Ireland in exchange for Parliamentary support from the Democratic Unionist Party.
May is now likely to come under huge pressure to raise spending elsewhere in the UK. Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish first minister has accused the government of abandoning the formula for sharing government money across the UK, leaving Scotland with 'scraps from the table' For years the Tories have been cutting budgets and services, but suddenly they have found a “magic money tree” to help them stay in power, said Ian Blackford, the party's Westminster leader.
The significant parts of the deal agreed by the two parties are:
* Northern Ireland gets £1 bn in extra funding over the next two years. £400mn will be for infrastructure projects. £200 mn will go towards health service and the rest on ultra-broadband, tackling deprivation, education and mental health services
* No means test for the winter fuel allowance, after Tories scrap plan
* No change to the triple lock on pensions
* The Tories will govern the interests of the Northern Ireland community
* The NATO commitment to spend two per cent of the national income on defence will be met
* The Armed Forces Covenant – the obligation to adequately support the services will be implemented 'throughout the United Kingdom'
* The DUP will have 'no involvements' in the government's political talks in Northern Ireland
* 'Recognises the need for early restoration of inclusive and stable' devolved government
Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein, Northern Ireland's main nationalist party said that the deal “provides a blank cheque for a Tory Brexit which threatens the Good Friday Agreement.” DUP Leader Arlene Foster said that the deal has been struck in the national interest and has even agreed to vote with the Tories on Thursday to approve the Queen's Speech, as well as on Brexit votes and to pass the budget but they are not committed to backing the Tories on other pieces of legislation, meaning the parties could seek more cash for Northern Ireland, whenever May faces a close vote.
