Can someone answer this question? (DUP)

[WhiteDust]

Did Theresa May's government pay the DUP billions in exchange for votes 'support' a few years ago?

What is the relationship between the DUP and the conservatives?
I don't understand how it works! Can someone explain ?

After the last general election the govt needed them to enter a confidence and supply arrangement, a gave an extra billion to NI aspartame’s of the negotiation.

Confidence and supply means that they support the government in any vote of no confidence and supply any votes the government needs . And somehow this ridiculous carry on doesn't break that agreement.

Yes they gave Northern Ireland £1billion via a confidence and supply arrangement. Sone of that money had been drawn down but the lack of a local assembly is making it hard to draw it all down.

They DUP don't give a shit.

Precious union my arse.

They want NI to be considered the same apart from little things like civil rights. No equal marriage in NI. No abortion rights.
Wankers.

Confidence and supply means the DUP support them in a vote of confidence and in finance votes - that’s the supply bit.

Who votes for them though @bellinisurge

No one o know would admit to it but they still get the votes. What a shambles.

Bet they manage to come out of RHI with their votes intact too.

It's so depressing.

They have cornered the market in "Fear Ireland ". Google UVF and its links to DUP when you google IRA and links to Sinn Fein.
There were alternatives to both (UU and SDLP) but they have been usurped .

DUP hate GFA and see thisas a chance to destroy it.

Thank you all!

My knowledge is limited!  Thanks for the explanations!

Also the system here is quite complicated as we don't have devolved government too, so vote for MLAs at local elections. I don't think I'm alone in having not realised until this week that my actual MP is DUP!! The assumption is we're represented by our MLAs .....ermmmm.... only we're not!! Add to that the fact that apart from 1 independent, all MPs for NI constituencies are either DUP or Sinn Féin (who don't take their seats) & you can see why NI is so badly represented in situations like the current one.....

The downfall of the SDLP and UUP will never not bewilder me.

The SDLP and UUP issue is they try to be more moderate but retreat to sectarian corners occasionally. They're both doomed.

I stopped voting for the SDLP when I realised how out of touch with people they are. They became a bloated, middle class, party of men tbh. Me and my mum stopped voting for them about a decade or so ago when we realised their total intransigence on the rights of women in NI to have an abortion. They're trying to move towards a more central ground with regards to it but a day late, a dollar short

Agreed. And they're totally fractured internally now. If there was a stormont election assume Claire Hanna would stand as an independent.

@wannabebetter did you not realise Stormont and Westminster are separate?

Hope yes of course, but have never been a particularly political animal & ashamedly admit I didn't realise that other than 1 independent, all Westminster MPs for NI were either DUP or Sinn Féin- I'm a bit actually as I don't know anyone in RL who would vote DUP and yet there they are.....