Tories have done a deal with the DUP. And it only cost 1 billion.

[gluteustothemaximus]

What a bargain.

Hmmm. What shall I do to pass all these shitty laws? I know, I need a majority! Let's have an election so I can get a stronger mandate!

Oh shit, I lost my majority. Don't worry, I can link up with the DUP!

Yay for democracy.

So there IS a magic money tree!

In essence they are! £1bn of English, Scottish and Welsh taxpayers money!

To be accurate, people in the north of Ireland are taxpayers too.

How can it even be legal to effectively "buy" votes with government money (or any money obvs...). All the fuss about politicians possibly using central funds for their local campaign (even inadvertently) and yet this is ok somehow? Could someone explain that to me?

Unfuckingbelievable

Just when you think the Tories can't fuck up any more they bring in a whole new level of Tory Mario Cart to hell in a handbasket.

We really are being governed by fuckwits.

I believe the Northern Ireland peace process was fairly precarious before this began, and now it is made of cracked glass waiting to shatter.
I think TM should have gone for a minority government- the chances are the DUP were most likely to vote with her for most things anyway.
If I were in NI I would be peeved off that it takes a political deal to bring in much needed investment- whichever side my vote lay on.

Just in case you haven't seen this, I laughed like a drain

Right so 80 people just burned to death in a tower block because they couldn't splash out £5k despite Kensington Council having a £300 million cash reserve and the NHS Police and all our public services are falling apart, it seems the government has the money for things that keep them in power but not the benefit of the country, i thought we needed 'austerity' a billion spent all for a majority government the stupid woman already had!!

Nevermind one good things come out of this, people are finally realising what a joke this government is, my generation has 75% in fact!

Who knew austerity was a tap that you could just turn on and off when it suited you, eh?

Who knew that it doesn't matter if you don't win a Commons Majority by voting, you can just buy in the few extra seats that you need?

The economy aside, it's very, very concerning that the GFA has just been blasted out of the water so that TM can maintain her fragile grip on power.

not sure what to say or think. I can't believe it is legal to bribe people to vote with you in parliament.

Fuck me! I'm so fucking furious I might explode. Do parliament have to vote on this increased public spending?

Even if it is £1B, it'll still be cheaper for the country, than what Corbyn offered.

Will fucking the GFA hard up the arse be cheaper than what Corbyn was offering I wonder?

It's not a cash gift to the DUP leaders you know, it's going to hugely benefit the people in Northern Ireland. Most of you lefties seem to be all "for the many" as long as it's not going to NI.

Anyone else reading the documents they released? This bit is shocking.

The UK Government will work with the Executive and all parties to seek the implementation of the legacy bodies in the Stormont House Agreement, to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors. The next phase is a public consultation on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement legacy bodies. These are to be established so as to operate in ways that are fair, balanced and proportionate and which do not unfairly focus on former members of the armed forces or police. Both parties reiterate their admiration for the courage and sacrifice of the police and armed forces in upholding democracy and the rule of law and will never forget the debt of gratitude that we owe them.

I repeat what I first said on this thread - 1 billion is nothing compared to the end of GFA/ civil war in the north of Ireland flaring up again.

TheNaze73 it may well cost less than Corbyn's spending promises but at least those are in the best interest of the UK as a whole not a bribe to ensure power in parliament.

I honestly don't know how any right thinking Tory can justify this at all.

Will it really be cheaper? The political implications of this for Northern Ireland are potentially huge.

Shame on the Tories. Power at any cost. Who cares about stability in a politically tricky part of the UK as long as you can stay in power, huh.

But the £1B won't alleviate the damage to the GFA will it?

I don't post often. But needed to express my utter despair at this 'deal' on every level imaginable. How could anyone, of any political persuasion, think this diabolically expensive, out and out bribe is OK?
I can't even bring myself to joke about the magic money tree.

This divisive action and unmitigated contempt for the electorate is too depressing for words.

Surely no-one can defend this? Surely it is indefensible?

quidditys of course Northern Ireland is entitled to public spending. It is the fact that this has been offered to ensure parliamentary power which is unsavoury and is not in the best interest of the UK as a whole.

If it was genuinely 'for the many' as us 'lefties' would like, comparable amounts would be being invested in Wales, Cornwall, the north west, north east of England, Scotland etc.

The deal hasn't been done to 'benefit the people in NI'. It's been done to cling on to power.

Seems that the going rate for a vote for the government is £100 million.

The Tories would happily see NI descend into to dust as long as it kept their pasty arses in No 10.

They do not give a fuck.

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap!

It makes me laugh people who accuse Jeremy Corbyn of being economically unsound... She called an election she didn't need to, as she already had a majority. The election itself cost £185m to stage and that's without the cost of the MPs time spent campaigning instead of on their actual job. And now this. I would trust this govt to run the kitty on a bloody hen night let alone to negotiate Brexit finances. What a mess ... wake me when it's all over, someone.

it's not a cash gift to the DUP leaders you know, it's going to hugely benefit the people in Northern Ireland. Most of you lefties seem to be all "for the many" as long as it's not going to NI. hmm

No no this is what we elect the government to do on our behalf properly, it's just disturbing how they can dole out the cash when it's to keep them in power, even if i was receiving it i'd still be disappointed that it only came from Teresa May grasping onto power.

Are you also naive enough to think the Survivors of Grenfel being moved into new £1.6 million flats aren't thinking the same?? This government is a joke!

*wouldn't

Curse you, ranty stabby fat fingers

But the £1B won't alleviate the damage to the GFA will it?

More money for the north of Ireland, without any political strings attached and with the devolved assembly in place to make sure the benefits are shared fairly amongst all parts of the community, would shore up the GFA. Because the more people who have got good jobs and good access to pickup services the fewer are motivated towards civil unrest and violence. (Which is part of why the north or Ireland already gets more funding per head than other regions.)

However, with these massive strings attached, no devolved assembly at present (and a tight deadline to get it restarted by Thursday or direct rule returning), Brexit looming and the recent history of Arlene's dodgy dealing, the impact of this money is much more complicated to assess.