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Theresa May holds DUP talks on government deal Sir John Major 'dubious' about Conservative-DUP deal
(35 minutes later)
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party is in Downing Street for talks with Theresa May over supporting a minority Tory government. Ex-Prime Minister Sir John Major has said he is "wary" about a planned deal between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionist Party.
The PM is hosting Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds, DUP leader at Westminster, to thrash out the terms of a deal. The leader of the DUP, Arlene Foster is in No 10 talks with Theresa May, over supporting a minority Tory government.
The BBC understands that the deal has largely been agreed and "is as likely as not tomorrow as today". The BBC understands a deal looks set to be finalised within the next 24 hours.
Former PM Sir John Major has said he is "dubious" about a deal and its impact on devolution and the peace process. But former Conservative PM Sir John said he was "dubious" about the proposed deal and its impact on devolution and the peace process.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One that if the Conservatives "locked" themselves into a deal with one of the main parties in Northern Ireland, there was a danger the government would no longer be seen as an "impartial honest broker" in restoring the power-sharing arrangements and upholding NI institutions.He told BBC Radio 4's World at One that if the Conservatives "locked" themselves into a deal with one of the main parties in Northern Ireland, there was a danger the government would no longer be seen as an "impartial honest broker" in restoring the power-sharing arrangements and upholding NI institutions.
He urged Theresa May to consider governing on her own, saying this would not "carry the baggage" for the Conservatives that an arrangement with the DUP would. Peace in Northern Ireland should "not be regarded as a given", he said, and nothing should be done to "exaggerate the differences" between the unionist and nationalist communities. He urged Theresa May to consider governing on her own, saying this would not "carry the baggage" for the Conservatives that an arrangement with the DUP would.
As MPs return to Westminster on Tuesday following the election, the Commons will choose a new speaker and Lords will begin to be sworn in during the afternoon.As MPs return to Westminster on Tuesday following the election, the Commons will choose a new speaker and Lords will begin to be sworn in during the afternoon.
Later, the prime minister will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, including looking at how to tackle online radicalisation and terrorism.Later, the prime minister will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, including looking at how to tackle online radicalisation and terrorism.
Before visiting Number 10, Mrs Foster met her 10 MPs for a photocall in Westminster.Before visiting Number 10, Mrs Foster met her 10 MPs for a photocall in Westminster.
"The future's bright", she said - prompting one of them, Ian Paisley junior to respond: "The future's orange". The Conservatives are having to rely on the support of 10 DUP MPs after they fell eight seats short of winning an overall majority at the general election. In their first meeting since the election, Mrs May's cabinet discussed the DUP deal - as well as Brexit and the forthcoming Queen's Speech - on Tuesday morning.
The Conservatives are having to rely on the support of 10 DUP MPs after they fell eight seats short of winning an overall majority at the general election. The PM apologised to Tory MPs on Monday, accepting personal responsibility for failing to win an outright victory. She told a meeting of backbenchers that she had got the party into "this mess" by calling the snap election and now "I'll get us out of it".
In their first meeting since the election, Mrs May's cabinet discussed the DUP deal - as well as Brexit and the forthcoming Queen's Speech - on Tuesday morning. New Environment Secretary Michael Gove - who clashed with the PM when they were ministers under David Cameron - said he was a "huge fan" of hers, and said he was "flattered" to have been appointed to her government.
The PM apologised to Tory MPs on Monday, accepting personal responsibility for failing to win an outright victory and sacrificing the parliamentary majority she inherited from David Cameron when she became leader last year. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he predicted the alliance with the DUP would "strengthen the United Kingdom". He said it was "entirely possible" to meet DUP concerns about cross-border trade after Brexit without the government changing its approach to negotiations.
She told a meeting of backbenchers that she had got the party into "this mess" by calling the snap election and now "I'll get us out of it".
Her performance was roundly praised by Conservative MPs, some of whom were openly questioning her future over the weekend.
New Environment Secretary Michael Gove - who clashed with the PM when they were ministers under David Cameron - said he was a "huge fan" of her, and said he was "flattered" to have been appointed to her government.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he predicted the alliance with the DUP would "strengthen the United Kingdom".
He said it was "entirely possible" to meet DUP concerns about cross-border trade after Brexit without the government changing its approach to negotiations.
Amid calls from some MPs for the Conservatives to rethink their Brexit strategy, he said there was a "clear consensus" for leaving the single market and ending free movement while retaining the "maximum access" to EU markets and maintaining co-operation in key areas such as science.Amid calls from some MPs for the Conservatives to rethink their Brexit strategy, he said there was a "clear consensus" for leaving the single market and ending free movement while retaining the "maximum access" to EU markets and maintaining co-operation in key areas such as science.
But in an article for the Financial Times, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned the UK that there is "no time to waste" to get the process - which has 18 months to run - under way. Mrs May will herself meet French president Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday for talks. But in an article for the Financial Times, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned the UK that there is "no time to waste" to get the process - which has 18 months to run - under way.
Conservative chief whip Gavin Williamson flew to Belfast on Saturday to begin formal discussions with the DUP after the election resulted in a hung parliament. The expectation is that details of a so-called "confidence and supply arrangement" in which the DUP will guarantee their backing for the Queen's Speech and future government Budgets will be agreed in the coming days. Conservative chief whip Gavin Williamson flew to Belfast on Saturday to begin formal discussions with the DUP after the election resulted in a hung parliament.
The agreement is expected to be very different in nature to the coalition deal agreed between the Conservatives and Lib Dems in 2010, with DUP politicians not getting cabinet jobs and their support for other legislation to be determined on a vote-by-vote basis.The agreement is expected to be very different in nature to the coalition deal agreed between the Conservatives and Lib Dems in 2010, with DUP politicians not getting cabinet jobs and their support for other legislation to be determined on a vote-by-vote basis.
Tuesday's discussions are likely to focus on the government's legislative plans for the year ahead as well as the upcoming Brexit negotiations, due to begin next week, and their particular implications for Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland and trade. Tuesday's discussions are likely to focus on the government's legislative plans for the year ahead as well as the upcoming Brexit negotiations, due to begin next week, and their implications for Northern Ireland's border with the Republic of Ireland.
There has been uncertainty as to whether any deal will be agreed in time to allow the Queen's Speech to take place as planned on 19 June.
It is expected that Conservative manifesto commitments that might have proved problematic for the DUP - such as cuts to winter fuel payments and the removal of the triple lock guarantee for pensioners - will be watered down or ditched altogether.
Some MPs have expressed disquiet at the Conservatives tying their fortunes to a party which is opposed to equal marriage and has expressed its support for tightening the laws on abortion - but No 10 has insisted these issues will not be up for grabs in any way.
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said ahead of the talks on Tuesday that he was "confident" a deal could be struck "so we can get on with acting in the best interests of our country and getting on with the job".Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said ahead of the talks on Tuesday that he was "confident" a deal could be struck "so we can get on with acting in the best interests of our country and getting on with the job".
On the issue of a possible conflict of interest, Mr Brokenshire said his work on the devolution settlement was "separate" and the government would "adhere to our responsibilities under the Belfast agreement".On the issue of a possible conflict of interest, Mr Brokenshire said his work on the devolution settlement was "separate" and the government would "adhere to our responsibilities under the Belfast agreement".
Speaking on Monday, Ms Foster rejected suggestions that the mooted deal could undermine a return to power-sharing arrangements at Stormont, amid claims from political rivals that the government's stated impartiality would be fatally undermined. Mrs Foster has rejected suggestions that the mooted deal could undermine a return to power-sharing arrangements at Stormont, saying a deal between her party and the Conservatives - who have informally been building links for some time - could be a "tremendous opportunity" for Northern Ireland.
She said a deal between the Democratic Unionist Party and the Conservatives - who have informally been building links for some time - could be a "tremendous opportunity" for Northern Ireland. But Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, whose seven MPs will not take their seats in Westminster, has warned that no arrangement between the Conservatives and the DUP would be good for Northern Ireland.
"We are going into these talks with the national interest at heart," she said. "The English government have never been honest brokers - ever," he said. "They are obliged to be so in the wording of the Good Friday and other agreements but unless an Irish government is keeping them to that responsibility, they will behave as they have behaved for as long as I have lived and longer than that."
"The Union, as I said before, is our guiding star. We believe in the Union, we believe in national stable government and that will be at the forefront of our mind going into these talks again tomorrow."
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has warned that no arrangement between the Conservatives and the DUP would be good for Northern Ireland but Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has said the negotiations are "entirely separate from our intent and desire to see devolution restored here".
Do you live in Northern Ireland? What are your thoughts on the Conservative and DUP talks? Share them with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Do you live in Northern Ireland? What are your thoughts on the Conservative and DUP talks? Share them with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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