Theresa May’s
general election gamble has resulted in a quite remarkable situation. The Conservative Party went into the general
election with a majority, but has emerged in a hung parliament.
There are 650 seats in the House of Commons, seven of which were won by Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein's elected politicians never take their seats in the Commons, and so there are in fact only 643 MPs. Therefore 322 seats are needed for Mrs May to secure a majority.
The Democratic Unionist Party is currently the largest political party in Northern Ireland, with ten MPs – enough to give Mrs May a small majority. It appears that Theresa May will be able to continue as Prime Minister with their support, although what is not clear yet is what policy concessions – if any – she will need to make in order to maintain their support for the next five years.
There are 650 seats in the House of Commons, seven of which were won by Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein's elected politicians never take their seats in the Commons, and so there are in fact only 643 MPs. Therefore 322 seats are needed for Mrs May to secure a majority.
The Democratic Unionist Party is currently the largest political party in Northern Ireland, with ten MPs – enough to give Mrs May a small majority. It appears that Theresa May will be able to continue as Prime Minister with their support, although what is not clear yet is what policy concessions – if any – she will need to make in order to maintain their support for the next five years.
It is
reported that there is a lot of hostility to this proposed arrangement, which
is not surprising. Labour voters are
unlikely to welcome a situation in which the Conservatives are able to cling to
power, and Liberal Democrat voters are unlikely to welcome a situation in which
the Conservatives are able to cling to power without Tim Farron becoming Deputy
Prime Minister.
However the
hostility goes further than that.
Earlier today I looked at the website of the Democratic Unionist Party,
and found its policy commitments to be vague and unremarkable, but consider
these facts. Northern Ireland is the
only place in the United Kingdom where there is no visible abortion industry,
and also the only place in the United Kingdom where same-sex marriages have yet
to be legalised. It is also reported in
a national newspaper that the Democratic Unionist Party supports the return of the death penalty, and also that it supports the teaching of Biblical creation –
the belief that the Book of Genesis is an accurate account of the early history
of the world – should be taught in science lessons in schools.
Update: it is now reported that the Democratic Unionist Party has agreed to a supply and confidence deal with the Prime Minister. This means that they will vote with the Conservatives each year on the finance bill (commonly known as the budget), but will not necessarily support them on every issue.
There have been protests against this deal in Westminster today, and I find it amusing that at least one protester held up a poster bearing the slogan Pray the DUP away. To which deity does this protester want us to pray? Surely not the same God that the Bible-bashers of the Democratic Unionist Party believe in.
I have already
made clear my feelings about capital punishment in some of my previous posts.Update: it is now reported that the Democratic Unionist Party has agreed to a supply and confidence deal with the Prime Minister. This means that they will vote with the Conservatives each year on the finance bill (commonly known as the budget), but will not necessarily support them on every issue.
There have been protests against this deal in Westminster today, and I find it amusing that at least one protester held up a poster bearing the slogan Pray the DUP away. To which deity does this protester want us to pray? Surely not the same God that the Bible-bashers of the Democratic Unionist Party believe in.
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