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| Theresa May to meet five Northern Ireland parties | Theresa May to meet five Northern Ireland parties |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's main parties are expected to hold talks with the prime minister in Downing Street later. | Northern Ireland's main parties are expected to hold talks with the prime minister in Downing Street later. |
| The DUP, Sinn Féin, the UUP, Alliance and the SDLP will hold separate meetings with Theresa May. | The DUP, Sinn Féin, the UUP, Alliance and the SDLP will hold separate meetings with Theresa May. |
| She has already held talks with the DUP this week about a deal to support her minority Conservative government. | She has already held talks with the DUP this week about a deal to support her minority Conservative government. |
| The government has confirmed the Queen's Speech, which sets out its priorities, will be next Wednesday, two days later than originally planned. | The government has confirmed the Queen's Speech, which sets out its priorities, will be next Wednesday, two days later than originally planned. |
| DUP sources say their discussions with the Conservatives are still continuing and the announcement does not mean a final agreement has been reached. | DUP sources say their discussions with the Conservatives are still continuing and the announcement does not mean a final agreement has been reached. |
| DUP sources told the BBC on Wednesday an announcement on a deal with Tories had been delayed because of the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower blaze. | DUP sources told the BBC on Wednesday an announcement on a deal with Tories had been delayed because of the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower blaze. |
| The deal is now not expected to be announced before next week. | The deal is now not expected to be announced before next week. |
| Same coin? | Same coin? |
| While Thursday's Downing Street discussions will focus on restoring devolution at Stormont by the end of this month, the prospect of a DUP-Conservative deal at Westminster will undoubtedly be raised. | While Thursday's Downing Street discussions will focus on restoring devolution at Stormont by the end of this month, the prospect of a DUP-Conservative deal at Westminster will undoubtedly be raised. |
| Secretary of State James Brokenshire has said there is very little time left to reach a deal before a 29 June deadline, but that local parties could, if they wanted, take control of their future. | Secretary of State James Brokenshire has said there is very little time left to reach a deal before a 29 June deadline, but that local parties could, if they wanted, take control of their future. |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster has returned to Northern Ireland after talks with the Prime Minister earlier this week, so her deputy, Nigel Dodds MP, will lead the DUP delegation on Thursday. | DUP leader Arlene Foster has returned to Northern Ireland after talks with the Prime Minister earlier this week, so her deputy, Nigel Dodds MP, will lead the DUP delegation on Thursday. |
| Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion said her party was very concerned about the Conservative government's neutrality, as Theresa May and Arlene Foster were "two sides of the same coin". | Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion said her party was very concerned about the Conservative government's neutrality, as Theresa May and Arlene Foster were "two sides of the same coin". |
| Analysis - Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political Editor | Analysis - Mark Devenport, BBC News NI Political Editor |
| After several days of talks, there's still no confirmation of the exact terms of the deal which should guarantee Theresa May's place in Downing Street. | After several days of talks, there's still no confirmation of the exact terms of the deal which should guarantee Theresa May's place in Downing Street. |
| DUP sources have blamed nitpicking by the Treasury over the financial details, with one report this morning claiming that cutting Air Passenger Duty was proving a sticking point. | DUP sources have blamed nitpicking by the Treasury over the financial details, with one report this morning claiming that cutting Air Passenger Duty was proving a sticking point. |
| Some commentators regard Mrs May's decision to confirm a date for the Queen's Speech as the government forcing the DUP's hand. | Some commentators regard Mrs May's decision to confirm a date for the Queen's Speech as the government forcing the DUP's hand. |
| For their part, DUP sources insist no agreement has been reached. | For their part, DUP sources insist no agreement has been reached. |
| Ms McCallion said she, Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill, its president Gerry Adams and his deputy, Mary Lou McDonald, would tell the prime minister "very, very firmly" the details of the deal with the DUP needed to be "fully accountable and transparent". | Ms McCallion said she, Sinn Féin's northern leader Michelle O'Neill, its president Gerry Adams and his deputy, Mary Lou McDonald, would tell the prime minister "very, very firmly" the details of the deal with the DUP needed to be "fully accountable and transparent". |
| "There's no room for any side deal with the DUP," she said. "They are the co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We need them to be impartial." | "There's no room for any side deal with the DUP," she said. "They are the co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We need them to be impartial." |
| "I'm afraid this new arrangement that sees the DUP propping up Theresa May and her Conservative government makes that increasingly difficult." | "I'm afraid this new arrangement that sees the DUP propping up Theresa May and her Conservative government makes that increasingly difficult." |
| The 1998 Good Friday Agreement commits the UK and Irish governments to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" in their dealings with Northern Ireland's political factions. | The 1998 Good Friday Agreement commits the UK and Irish governments to demonstrate "rigorous impartiality" in their dealings with Northern Ireland's political factions. |
| Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have all said Mr Brokenshire cannot chair the ongoing process to restore power-sharing at Stormont due to the perceived conflict of interest. | Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance have all said Mr Brokenshire cannot chair the ongoing process to restore power-sharing at Stormont due to the perceived conflict of interest. |
| Other senior political figures, including former prime minister Sir John Major, have warned the government would compromise its stated impartiality in Northern Ireland if it entered a confidence and supply deal with the DUP. | Other senior political figures, including former prime minister Sir John Major, have warned the government would compromise its stated impartiality in Northern Ireland if it entered a confidence and supply deal with the DUP. |
| And Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a "grubby deal" between the Tories and the DUP was not in the national interest. | |
| Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has demanded details of any Conservative-DUP deal, calling it a "nonsense situation". | Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has demanded details of any Conservative-DUP deal, calling it a "nonsense situation". |
| "We want to know what is in the deal they are offering to the DUP and we want to know when it is going to be put before Parliament," he said. | "We want to know what is in the deal they are offering to the DUP and we want to know when it is going to be put before Parliament," he said. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn announced that Owen Smith would be his shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland. | On Wednesday, Mr Corbyn announced that Owen Smith would be his shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland. |
| 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 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. |
| It means Mrs May will remain as prime minister and the DUP MPs will be central to the survival of a Conservative Party administration. | It means Mrs May will remain as prime minister and the DUP MPs will be central to the survival of a Conservative Party administration. |
| Sinn Féin's seven MPs were elected on an abstentionist ticket, meaning they refuse to take their seats in Westminster. | Sinn Féin's seven MPs were elected on an abstentionist ticket, meaning they refuse to take their seats in Westminster. |
| Devolved government in Northern Ireland broke down in January. | Devolved government in Northern Ireland broke down in January. |
| The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down in protest at the DUP's handling of an energy scandal, in a move that triggered a snap election. | The late deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, stood down in protest at the DUP's handling of an energy scandal, in a move that triggered a snap election. |
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