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DUP's Foster hits out at May's Brexit 'propaganda' tour DUP's Foster hits out at May's Brexit 'propaganda' tour
(about 1 hour later)
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster has accused Theresa May of "giving up" on getting a better Brexit deal.The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster has accused Theresa May of "giving up" on getting a better Brexit deal.
The prime minister visited Northern Ireland on Tuesday as part of her two-week push to sell her agreement.The prime minister visited Northern Ireland on Tuesday as part of her two-week push to sell her agreement.
Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Foster accused her of engaging in "propaganda". She met the five main political parties at Stormont after a visit to Queen's University in Belfast.
However, in a thinly-veiled message to the DUP, Mrs May urged MPs to "think about the national interest" ahead of a Commons vote on 11 December. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Foster accused her of engaging in "propaganda" but the prime minister rejected that claim.
She rejected the claim by the DUP leader that she had "given up" on a better deal, saying the one on the table ultimately protected jobs and the economy, and worked for Northern Ireland's unique situation. Mrs May began the day in Wales before travelling to Belfast, where she met students and business leaders.
During a visit to Queen's University in Belfast, she issued an appeal to opponents about the upcoming House of Commons vote. During her visit to Queen's University, she issued a thinly-veiled message to the DUP, urging MPs to "think about the national interest" when considering her Brexit deal.
"When that vote takes place, I hope that every MP will think about the national interest," she said. She called on them to "think about the people that they represent" when they vote in the Commons on 11 December on whether to accept or reject the agreement.
"They will need to think about the people that they represent and their constituents." 'Wasting her time'
The prime minister said that during her visit to Northern Ireland, she had heard positive feedback about "the certainty this deal provides". She said the deal that was on the table protected Northern Ireland.
Asked about the backstop, a position of last resort to maintain an open border in the event of a no-deal situation, Mrs May said: "We already have regulatory differences between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on some issues and that does not threaten the union of the United Kingdom." The prime minister added that she had heard positive feedback during her visit to Northern Ireland about "the certainty this deal provides".
The terms of the withdrawal agreement were approved by the 27 other EU leaders at a summit on Sunday.The terms of the withdrawal agreement were approved by the 27 other EU leaders at a summit on Sunday.
Speaking before meeting the prime minister at Stormont, Mrs Foster said the DUP remained opposed to the deal but added that if Mrs May "ditches the backstop there is every reason to think that this agreement could go through". Speaking before meeting the prime minister at Stormont, Mrs Foster said the DUP remained opposed to the deal.
The DUP leader said the prime minister was "wasting her time" trying to sell the agreement because it would not get the approval of Parliament. But she added that if Mrs May "ditches the backstop there is every reason to think that this agreement could go through".
The DUP has warned that it will review its parliamentary pact with the Conservatives, which props up Mrs May's government, if the deal is approved by MPs. The DUP leader said the prime minister was "wasting her time" trying to sell the agreement because it would not get the backing of Parliament.
The party has warned that it will review its parliamentary pact with the Conservatives, which props up Mrs May's government, if the deal is approved by MPs.
'Alternative is catastrophic'
Mrs Foster said she knew that "people are fed up" but added that it was not a reason to "accept what's on the table".Mrs Foster said she knew that "people are fed up" but added that it was not a reason to "accept what's on the table".
She also said it was "offensive" to suggest that there could be last-minute financial inducements from the government that could get the DUP on board.She also said it was "offensive" to suggest that there could be last-minute financial inducements from the government that could get the DUP on board.
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said he would be telling Mrs May that further time was needed to consult on the agreement. Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Green Party in Northern Ireland, which are all anti-Brexit, met Mrs May on Tuesday.
Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Green Party in Northern Ireland, which are all anti-Brexit, have spoken in support of the draft deal. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said afterwards that the proposed withdrawal agreement was "not perfect but it is the least worst option".
"The alternative is a catastrophic crash out - any suggestion that it can now be renegotiated is fanciful," she added.
She also said that the four parties opposed to Brexit were determined to "prevent a hard border and protect jobs, investment and households from disaster".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged the protection of the backstop mechanism at all costs "regardless of what happens" on the day of the Commons vote on the deal.
'Deal is doomed'
Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said that across Northern Ireland "people have made it very clear that they do not want to see a no-deal situation".Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said that across Northern Ireland "people have made it very clear that they do not want to see a no-deal situation".
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged the protection of the backstop mechanism at all costs "regardless of what happens on December 11", the day of the Commons vote on the deal. Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann also met Mrs May and said he told her to ask the EU for more time "to look for alternatives" to her agreement rather than "risk the future of the union for the sake of meeting a deadline".
Analysis: Mark Devenport, BBC News NI political editor He called for the Article 50 period, under which the UK's departure date from the European Union has been fixed for 29 March 2019 regardless of whether a deal is agreed, to be extended.
Politics can be a topsy-turvy business.
Not so long ago, the four Stormont parties opposed to Brexit complained that Theresa May was refusing to see them as a joint delegation.
But the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Westminster opposition leaders had been happy to meet them.
Now their - still separate - encounters with the prime minister at Stormont promise to be rather more consensual than Mrs May's meeting with her semi-detached parliamentary allies in the DUP.
Read more: May likely to face mixed reception in NI
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said his party will oppose it, calling it "the worst of all worlds".
Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said Mrs May's Brexit deal is "doomed" and must be renegotiated.Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said Mrs May's Brexit deal is "doomed" and must be renegotiated.
US President Donald Trump has suggested the draft agreement could threaten a US-UK trade deal.US President Donald Trump has suggested the draft agreement could threaten a US-UK trade deal.
Mrs May rejected that, adding that the UK is in talks with the US about their future trading relationship.Mrs May rejected that, adding that the UK is in talks with the US about their future trading relationship.
Mrs May's campaign - which saw her appeal to the public in a "letter to the nation" last weekend - could also include a televised debate with Mr Corbyn, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Her campaign - which saw her appeal to the public in a "letter to the nation" last weekend - could also include a televised debate with Mr Corbyn, the Daily Telegraph has reported.
The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, whether the deal is sanctioned or not.