To think a Tory coalition with the DUP is a potentially terrifying prospect?

[AFierceBadRabbit]

Not to mention the irony regarding so many ridiculous claims about corbyn sympathizing with terrorists. (The DUP are chock full of em!)

Who are the DUP, you may ask?

Here you go www.opendemocracy.net/uk/adam-ramsay/so-who-are-dup

Asking a really stupid question now but aren't the dup shown on that map on the BBC site

Oh they're just not on the UK key. Odd

The fact that voting behaviour in N Ireland is still mostly based on religious affiliation is horrifying and means that very little has moved in. The Tories and the British media are going to have to be careful how they deal with this. Unfortunately, we all know neither are going to behave in a responsible manner.

Belfast has two airports. I've only flown into Belfast City.

But I suspect the majority of flights are to other parts of the UK/CTA like Isle of Man and Jersey - and the EU. In fact I don't suspect, I just looked at the current flight arrivals/departures and none are from outside the EU at either airport.

So the problem is what?

Bit confused by this. The problem is Belfast International Airport. Which is an international airport (clue in name). It has flights to the UK, other EU countries, the US, Iceland and I'm sure plenty of other places too.

It is very important for the Northern Irish economy and an international point of arrival into the UK.

Indeed, pretty sure Belfast City has also had the odd package flight to Spain over the years, so it's not solely UK/CTA either.

Sinn Feins statement
This is going to kick right off isn't it?

I think the border issue isn't so much that there's an international airport in Belfast, it's that there are multiple international airports and ports in the Republic. And with no hard border, in theory people could, using EU residency/access rules travel to Ireland and then go across any soft border to NI, thus bypassing any new UK rules on immigration, customs etc.

Of course, this ignores the fact that even in the days of strict border controls, there was always a way and a nice smuggling trade back and forth across the border. And no matter what sort of border is put in place there still will be there's a certain cohort of society that would, without necessarily having "evil" intent, see it as a challenge

Gerry adams' statement maud?

Yes oshbosh the BBC reporter just repeated it but I can't find it anywhere online to check.

What did he say Maud? Can't find any references to it yet..

I know mystery I've searched. The comment by Adams was something like unionists have always supported unionists but history has shown it ends in tears.

I'm a bit taken aback by how little people on the mainland understand about Northern Irish politics. It really reinforces the feeling that we are the pesky naughty step child of the uk! But I'm glad people are horrified by them, I really hope people focusing on their xenophobic religious bullshit will help bring NI into the present a bit.
Fingers crossed, anyway!

Even I don't understand it lol and I'm from here.

I did grow up in England though and you honestly never hear about Northern Ireland.

Personally I think that May was right to stay on as PM, and not do a cowardly Cameron and run away as fast as possible. She created this shit, so she deals with it.

Where I think she is totally wrong is that she doesn't realise her mandate has now got big holes in it, she thinks it's still a working mandate. To what extent she gets away with this will depend on the rest of her MPs. Ed Vaizey made a good speech saying that hard Brexit was dead - but how will he vote when the next Parliamentary vote comes on a Brexit issue? Remember that he and Nicola Blackwood both protested about pulling out of Euratom but it didn't stop either of them from voting for it to happen. The problem that these MPs have is that they have to obey the whip if they seek preferment, but at the same time, as Blackwood found, pay insufficient attention to your constituents wishes and wellbeing and they boot you out. So a few principled rebellions could be in order.

Oh, and another thing - new soundbites are being manufactured - the latest ones being 'lets get to work' (Who stopped you? The person who called the election, oh whoops, that was you) and 'certainty'. Please will someone tell her to pension of 'let me be clear'. Play it to her on tape repeatedly over a period of a week as if it were a torture and she might just shut up.

I think the whole agreement between them is bloody undemocratic.

Because their support will be essential for the Tories to do anything, they will be able to operate as though they had a veto. But because of devolved powers, much of what goes through parliament won't affect them, or the people who voted for them.

Makes the West Lothian question look like a minor irrelevance imo.

I think Sinn Fein not taking their seats is more undemocratic. Amazed anyone votes for them, disappointed the SDLP got no seats. Voting for a party who refuses to represent you seems very pointless especially as they won't even work together on the NI assembly. They just look like squabbling religiously brainwashed toddlers.

I have seen very unofficial rumblings on Twitter that the DUP coalition may be illegal as it contravenes the Good Friday Agreement.

Also that House of Lords may not have to abide by the Salisbury Convention and not veto laws that are in the ruling party's manifesto - because they didn't win a majority.

The DUP thing can't possibly last, it's already doing more damage than good and built on quicksand. Give them 4 months tops.

Thanks maud I caught it on my way home from work. 2rebecca the stormant stalemate frustrates me, however I don't think it's unreasonable of SF to ask that previous agreements be implemented before moving forward, otherwise what's the point of forging future agreements?

Ruth Davidson needs to get herself a Westminster seat asap.

2rebecca - at least SF are very clear about their abstention policy, so anyone voting for them knows the score. And they absolutely do co-operate at Stormont

Ruth Davidson needs to get herself a Westminster seat asap

Now that would be interesting. She is what is fuelling support for the conservatives in Scotland and I think the only one who won a seat at Holyrood, the rest were got in on the list. If she gave up her seat who else would take her place and keep up the momentum?

The Tories haven't been taken seriously inScotland for a long time so have avoided much public scrutiny in a way that the SNP and Labour haven't. If you take a closer look at them and the Tory councillors there are quite a few dodgy ones and apart from a few social media indiscretions she's keeping a tight lid in it, so far.

Time will tell how the new MPs will perform and a lot rests on Brexit with many of the votes coming from farming and fisheries. Fishing and farming are devolved but in a post Brexit UK the U.K. Government could take them back to make international trade deals. Will the new set of Tories ensure the best for their constituents or party?

Leaving aside the very dubious aspects of the stance of the DUP on many things I am astounded May has announced she is forming a government before she knows what the DUP are asking for (and as they are going to propping the Tories up, you can be sure they'll be attempting to drive a hard bargain).

Importantly, she has abandoned the principle of neutrality when it comes to NI. How can they continue this stance, when they will be relying on one of the parties to prop up their minority government. That could have a significant impact on Stormont and the whole situation. Another example of politicians putting their own interests before "what is in the national interest" as they keep telling us they aim to do.

Yup!!! I am finding white wine quite consoling!!!!!

AFAIK changes to abortion law, in any part of the UK, are not in any party's programme at the moment. So let's stop acting as if it were the main point at issue.

DUP may put it back in to parliament, and May's voting on this is not exactly pro choice, pro bodily autonomy .

Anyway I'll just leave this link here - Ruth Davidson is not happy with TM and English Conservatives

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/09/ruth-davidson-planning-scottish-tory-breakaway-challenges-theresa/

AFAIK changes to abortion law, in any part of the UK, are not in any party's programme at the moment. So let's stop acting as if it were the main point at issue

DUP may put it back in to parliament, and May's voting on this is not exactly pro choice, pro bodily autonomy

And the rest of the mps , all 600 odd are just going to roll over and agree to this?

I do hope Ruth Davidson's scheme works- she's asking for what Sturgeon was demanding re Brexit. Aside from wanting a soft Brexit it would be wonderful if Davidson can force rather than Sturgeon stamping her foot to get it.