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Queen's speech to take place next Wednesday Queen's speech to take place next Wednesday
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May faced a backlash from Republican parties at a series of meetings in Downing Street on Thursday over her plan to strike a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party to prop up her minority Conservative government. Theresa May faced a backlash from republican parties at a series of meetings in Downing Street on Thursday over her plan to strike a deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party to prop up her minority Conservative government.
The leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, announced that the Conservatives would press ahead with presenting a Queen’s speech next Wednesday, while negotiations continue with the DUP. The leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, announced that the Conservatives would press ahead with presenting a Queen’s speech next Wednesday, while negotiations continued with the DUP.
But at a series of meetings at No 10, aimed at re-establishing power-sharing in Northern Ireland, key figures from other Northern Irish parties expressed deep concern about the prospect of a Conservative-DUP pact. But at a series of meetings at No 10 aimed at re-establishing power-sharing in Northern Ireland, key figures from other Northern Irish parties expressed deep concern about the prospect of a Conservative-DUP pact.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said he believed the deal would be in breach of the Good Friday agreement, because it undermined the government’s role as a neutral convener. The Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, said he believed the deal would be in breach of the Good Friday agreement because it would undermine the government’s role as a neutral convener.
Colum Eastwood, the leader of the SDLP, said that May had offered reassurances, but he added: “The prime minister will have to do a lot more, however, to convince us that the DUP tail isn’t wagging the Tory dog. Their influence on the British government is a cause for deep concern that must be addressed to assure the public and political parties of the independence of the talks process.” Colum Eastwood, the leader of the SDLP, said May had offered reassurances, but he added: “The prime minister will have to do a lot more, however, to convince us that the DUP tail isn’t wagging the Tory dog. Their influence on the British government is a cause for deep concern that must be addressed to assure the public and political parties of the independence of the talks process.”
The Conservatives are yet to conclude a detailed agreement with the DUP, a week after the general election stripped May of her parliamentary majority.The Conservatives are yet to conclude a detailed agreement with the DUP, a week after the general election stripped May of her parliamentary majority.
Senior Tory sources said there was “broad agreement on the principles of the Queen’s speech” between the two parties, but no formal confidence and supply deal, which would tie the DUP into backing the government on key pieces of legislation – but fall short of a full coalition. Senior Tory sources said there was “broad agreement on the principles of the Queen’s speech” between the two parties, but no formal confidence and supply deal, which would tie the DUP into backing the government on key pieces of legislation but fall short of a full coalition.
The Queen’s speech, which will be delivered two days after it was originally scheduled, is expected to offer a stripped down programme for government, given the tough parliamentary arithmetic now facing May and her colleagues. The Queen’s speech, which will be delivered two days after it was originally scheduled, is expected to offer a stripped-down programme for government, given the tough parliamentary arithmetic now facing May and her colleagues.
Conservative sources said there was agreement between the two parties on four priority areas: “Strengthening the union; combating terrorism; delivering Brexit; and delivering prosperity across the whole country.” On that basis, the DUP’s 10 MPs are expected to vote for the Queen’s speech, underlining the fact that May can command the confidence of the Commons. Conservative sources said there was agreement between the two parties on four priority areas: strengthening the union; combating terrorism; delivering Brexit; and delivering prosperity across the country. On that basis, the DUP’s 10 MPs are expected to vote for the Queen’s speech, underlining the fact that May can command the confidence of the Commons.
But many aspects of her manifesto, including plans for scrapping free school lunches, expanding grammar schools, and means-testing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, are likely to be dropped.But many aspects of her manifesto, including plans for scrapping free school lunches, expanding grammar schools, and means-testing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, are likely to be dropped.
A confidence and supply deal between the DUP and the Conservatives is now not expected to be completed until early next week – or perhaps not until after the Queen’s speech.A confidence and supply deal between the DUP and the Conservatives is now not expected to be completed until early next week – or perhaps not until after the Queen’s speech.
Talks hinge on a series of issues, including the size of any likely public spending boost for Northern Ireland – and will need to be agreed at a joint meeting between May and the DUP’s Arlene Foster. Talks hinge on a series of issues, including the size of any likely public spending boost for Northern Ireland, and will need to be agreed at a joint meeting between May and the DUP’s Arlene Foster.
There is a “steady dialogue” between the two parties, being led by the chief whip, Gavin Williamson, the Conservatives said. But some backbenchers believe May could manage to govern without an ongoing deal, seeking support for legislation on a vote-by-vote basis. There was a “steady dialogue” between the two parties, being led by the chief whip, Gavin Williamson, the Conservatives said. But some backbenchers believe May could manage to govern without an ongoing deal, seeking support for legislation on a vote-by-vote basis.
May’s meetings at No 10 on Thursday included representatives of Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance party, as well as the DUP. It followed warnings from Sir John Major and others that a deal with the DUP could risk the government’s role as an impartial arbiter in the Northern Ireland peace process. May’s meetings at No 10 on Thursday included representatives of Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and the Alliance party, as well as the DUP. They followed warnings from Sir John Major and others that a deal with the DUP could risk the government’s role as an impartial arbiter in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the cross-community Alliance have said that the Northern Ireland secretary, James Brokenshire, cannot chair the ongoing process to restore power-sharing at Stormont due to the perceived conflict of interest. Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the cross-community Alliance have said the Northern Ireland secretary, James Brokenshire, cannot chair the ongoing process to restore power-sharing at Stormont due to the perceived conflict of interest.
In a statement issued after the talks had concluded, May said: “Speaking with the parties today, it was clear that real progress was made in the last round of discussions and agreement can be reached if there is good will on all sides. In a statement issued after the talks had concluded, May said: “Speaking with the parties today, it was clear that real progress was made in the last round of discussions and agreement can be reached if there is goodwill on all sides.
“But time is running short and the parties must come together by the 29 June for the return of a strong voice at Stormont and for a brighter future for everyone in Northern Ireland.“But time is running short and the parties must come together by the 29 June for the return of a strong voice at Stormont and for a brighter future for everyone in Northern Ireland.
“My government remains absolutely committed to doing everything we can to help take this process to a successful conclusion, remaining steadfast to our commitments in the Belfast Agreement and its successors.” “My government remains absolutely committed to doing everything we can to help take this process to a successful conclusion, remaining steadfast to our commitments in the Belfast agreement and its successors.”
The original date for the Queen’s speech – Monday 19 June – was also supposed to be the day Brexit negotiations began in Brussels.The original date for the Queen’s speech – Monday 19 June – was also supposed to be the day Brexit negotiations began in Brussels.
Brexit secretary David Davis’s department confirmed on Thursday that those talks would go ahead as planned: though the tight election result has raised questions about whether the government could still pursue a so-called hard Brexit, given the makeup of the new House of Commons. The Brexit secretary David Davis’s department confirmed on Thursday that those talks would go ahead as planned. The tight election result has raised questions about whether the government can still pursue a so-called hard Brexit, given the makeup of the new House of Commons.
The chancellor, Philip Hammond, had been expected to set out the new government’s stance on Brexit on Thursday at the Mansion House speech in the City, amid concerns in the Treasury that the impact of Brexit is starting to show through in economic data. However, the lavish annual banquet was cancelled following the devastating tower block fire in west London. The chancellor, Philip Hammond, had been expected to set out the new government’s stance on Brexit on Thursday in a Mansion House speech in the City, amid concerns in the Treasury that the impact of Brexit is starting to show through in economic data. However, the lavish annual banquet was cancelled following the Grenfell Tower fire in west London.
Many Tory MPs have concerns as to whether May can assemble a functioning government, and disappointed about the perception of chaos within Downing Street. Many Tory MPs have concerns as to whether May can assemble a functioning government, and are disappointed about the perception of chaos within Downing Street.
But after she reassured them at a key meeting of the party’s 1922 committee of backbenchers on Monday – “I got us into this mess, I’ll get us out of it” – most decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. But after she reassured them at a meeting of the party’s 1922 Committee of backbenchers on Monday – “I got us into this mess, I’ll get us out of it” – most decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
As the DUP continues talks with the Tories, Foster will travel to Dublin on Friday to meet Ireland’s new taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The Irish prime minister is hosting the leaders of all the main political parties in Northern Ireland as part of efforts to restore power sharing by the end of this month.As the DUP continues talks with the Tories, Foster will travel to Dublin on Friday to meet Ireland’s new taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. The Irish prime minister is hosting the leaders of all the main political parties in Northern Ireland as part of efforts to restore power sharing by the end of this month.