Union of Tories and Ulster Unionists

26.06.2017
UK

The British Conservative Party (Tory) has concluded a coalition agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) from Northern Ireland, which will allow the Conservative government to avoid a vote of no confidence and have the necessary majority to adopt the most important bills, including the country's budget. Despite the fact that the Conservatives won the early elections on July 8, 2017, they did not have eight votes to get an absolute majority in the parliament, which allows the government not to fear a vote of no confidence. Under these conditions, 10 DUP deputies were given the opportunity to exert a decisive influence on the country's policy.

New allies

The Democratic Unionist Party is the largest party of Northern Irish Protestants. It is adhered to the doctrines of Ulster Loyalism and Protestant fundamentalism. The party is against abortion, gay marriage and Irish nationalists. It supports the teaching of creationism in schools and the imposition of the death penalty. It was founded in the 1970s by the Protestant preacher Ian Paisley and was originally one of the most radical political forces advocating unity with Britain. In the 80's it founded the "Ulster resistance movement" - a group associated with the "Ulster Volunteers" and the "Ulster Defense Association" - Protestant paramilitary structures recognized in the UK as terrorist organizations.

In search of preferences

Initially, the agreement was planned to be concluded next week after the elections, but the Unionists put forward a number of demands, to which the Conservatives could not immediately agree. It is about allocating additional funding for Northern Ireland from the country's budget of 1 billion pounds in the next two years. In addition, at the request of the Northern Ireland party, the Сonservatives refused акщь series of austerity measures. In addition, the Unionists demand compensation for the losses of Northern Ireland from the abolition of EU grants as a result of Brexit.

Brexit softens

The new coalition deal will significantly change the position of the government of Therese May in favor of the scenario of "soft Brexit" - withdrawal from the EU with the preservation of membership in a single European market. For Northern Ireland, the most important is the preservation of the freedom of border crossing with the Republic of Ireland.

Disintegration fears

As for intra-British policy - that new agreement can strengthen the disintegration processes within the UK. The Prime Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, criticized the unfair advantages for Northern Ireland. Inside Northern Ireland, the main enemy of DUP, nationalists from Sinn Fein, have already stated that the entry of their rivals into the government coalition undermines the peace process in the Northern Ireland, and in particular the 1998 Good Friday Agreements, under which the British government pledged not to support any of the parties to the conflict ( first of all loyalists). In Northern Ireland itself, the government has not been able to gather for several months already, due to the absence of an agreement between DUP and Sinn Fein. Rather, the domestic political crisis in the British province will only worsen.

Related links
The parties that have won the UK general elections have lost it
Why Theresa May failed in snap election
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