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!

I'm up for investment, and helping every part of the UK...but this is not about Tories helping NI, this is about staying in power. For a price. And at what cost.

This

Huge assumption there Syc4more. They have masses of details about this deal to get their heads round, and only 3 days to agree on power sharing - and I hope they do, because otherwise the Tory-propped up by DUP government is in charge of budgets in the north of Ireland.

You do realise people in NI pay taxes too, right?

Of course I do.... But only a small fraction (3%) of taxpayers are from NI, but get 100% of the benefit, whilst the other 97% from E,W&S get nothing! As one of the 97% I think I have a right to be aggrieved at this.

Most of you lefties seem to be all "for the many" as long as it's not going to NI.

What a load of shit.

Anyway, how long will this DUP/Tory alliance even last?

So the most popular party in GB remains in power with support as needed from the most popular party in NI. IN GB they were more popular by two million votes (let alone seats) than the next one down.

The NI party are socially conservative - but so, it would seem, are the electorate who choose them and have had several chances to unchoose them. Does anyone think they are going to try to do away with abortion or SSM in GB?

Meanwhile the less popular party in GB remains out of power. That'll be the one whose leader has never apologised for justifying the crimes of the IRA and can't even, when discussing the Middle East, speak the word "Israel". And whose deputy thinks that neglect, even perhaps criminal neglect, amounts to murder.

It's not ideal but it's the nearest thing to a triumph for democracy that the Parliamentary and electoral arithmetic had to offer.

somerville Given how Northern Ireland generally conduct themselves there might be something to be said for Direct Rule and someone keeping an eye on the balance sheet?

I for one am thrilled NI is going to be receiving a whole load of free money. I hope they spend it on sensible things like health and education and infrastructure, not on dodgy energy-saving schemes.

Am also very pleased that they managed to persuade the government of the virtues of keeping the triple lock on pensions and the winter fuel allowance. Funny how it turned out the money was there all along.

And I that Lochan is spot on to say the DUP should be doing the negotiating with Brussels.

It's not ideal but it's the nearest thing to a triumph for democracy that the Parliamentary and electoral arithmetic had to offer.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Survivors of Grenfell aren't being moved in to new £1.6 million flats.
Some families have been offered accommodation in newly built social housing in the same complex as these expensive flats

No it wasn't social housing in the same complex, the government BOUGHT affordable housing flats that were already built in the same complex, that why they were "affordable housing" (still worth 1.6 million tho)
Why on earth would a rich development company build crappy social housing flats next to their new plush flats hmm that'd go down a treat! That's why the locals have already been complaining!

No offence i live down the road from there, and they've bought 68 flats at £10 million which was the cost price, and the government owns them so the Grenfel victims will be paying rent on nice new flats, AGAIN government magics up money when we're meant to be having austerity!

I just cannot see how they can legally be allowed to use 1 or 5 bn of public money to prop up their own party.

Public money that was said to not be there as well.

Sorry..1 or 1.5

Mitzy It will go the distance.

TM (or whoever replaces her when her party knifes her; watch this space) is over the barrel but so are the DUP. They cannot get into bed with Corbyn - or with SNP/PC, two parties who want to destroy the UK without the consent of all four parts.

The deal is for two years, Mitzy. So would have to be renegotiated at that point - so this (1 billion at least - might be edging closer to 2 billion once all the small print is clear) is just the first tranche of money if it were 5 years before next GE. (Unlikely, of course.)

But of course it could end at any time. It's clear that the DUP are going to have some influence on government policy, and various different Tory MP's will hate that.

Mitzy yes that was a bit of a weird one wasn't it! "You Lefties" seems to be quite a wide label these days, applied to anyone that asks the govt to account for its actions. My 80 year old racist MIL is a "leftie" by some standards described in this thread. I'll tell her, she'll be thrilled.

Sorry, I meant 'affordable' housing.

Yes, they've been bought by the government to be rented as social housing. They haven't been 'given' to the Grenfell survivors.

Of course I do.... But only a small fraction (3%) of taxpayers are from NI, but get 100% of the benefit, whilst the other 97% from E,W&S get nothing! As one of the 97% I think I have a right to be aggrieved at this

If it's any consolation the DUP have a history of pissing money up the wall (RHI scandal is the latest one) so there's a good chance us 3% will see fuck all of this bribe money also.

somerville Given how Northern Ireland generally conduct themselves there might be something to be said for Direct Rule and someone keeping an eye on the balance sheet?

What, so because of Arlene's dodgy deals as first mknister that lost hundreds of millions of pounds, there should be direct rule, where... a Tory government and Arlene get to control the balance sheet? That sounds fair to the nationalist community... not.

A billion quid isn't much. Would run the NHS - on a shoestring - for about 4 days

Presumably handy to have then, for everyone who has an emergency admission or operations booked, when the NHS runs out of cash 4 days before the end of the financial year?

The point is that this money, if it exists, was surely reserved for the most immediate priorities across the U.K., not (until now) exclusively to meet the needs of one discreet group or region. It is either preferential treatment (wrong) or to address a proven injustice of underfunding (also wrong).

It's clear that the DUP are going to have some influence on government policy, - In what way is the DUP being able to vote and thereby influence policy a new thing?

Banana republic comes to mind.
If the younger voters didn't vote for JC before this is another good reason for them to vote now.
With every day that goes by I loose a little more faith in our political system.

Theresa May & Co are no match for the DUP. The DUP are extremely skilled at getting their own way as clearly evidenced throughout the politics of N.I. They are skilled bullies whose righteous bigotry is coming to Westminster by the bucket load. Going cap in hand to the DUP and being beholden to them is going to end up being what Theresa May is remembered for. And her biggest regret. She has seen nothing from them yet!

'So there IS a magic money tree!'

My thoughts as well

I'm pretty bitter at the moment.
First off I have to say I'm lucky to have savings, but having to spend them on a private knee op as my employer will lay me off if I have to wait on the NHS waiting list for my op.