Hung out to dry

12 June 2017 By Carol Ryan

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s attempt to form a government with Northern Ireland’s DUP could come at a high price. True, the party is pro-Brexit and wants to avoid a UK breakup. But taxpayers can expect greater fiscal transfers and more friction in the restive region.

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Arlene Foster, the leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said on June 11 that talks were ongoing with British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party with a view to supporting their minority government.

The DUP won 10 seats in Britain’s June 8 election.

The Irish government said in a statement on June 11 that a proposed “supply and confidence agreement” – where a political group pledges to back the government on certain issues – between May’s party and the DUP should not put Northern Ireland’s Good Friday agreement at risk.

The Good Friday agreement, in place since 1998, allows for power sharing between Northern Ireland’s political factions, and the prospect of a referendum on uniting the island if London and Dublin see public support for such a change.

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