Ministers in talks with DUP to win support for Brexit deal | Policy

The Democratic Unionist Party must continue intensive talks to try to reach an agreement allowing it to support Theresa May's agreement on Brexit, the discussions being focused on national legal guarantees that Northern Ireland will have no divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Downing Street is hoping that DUP support is essential to unleashing the support of many Brexiters Conservatives when May agrees to the House of Commons for the third time.

Nigel Dodds, leader of the Westminster party in Westminster, said the talks had been "friendly and constructive" at a cabinet summit with ministers, including the state secretary for the environment David Lidington, de facto deputy to May. Michael Gove and Chancellor Philip Hammond have speculated that a financial incentive for Northern Ireland could be part of the negotiations.

Dodds said Hammond was present at the meeting to discuss the role of the HMRC, customs and regulations and denied that it was to discuss additional expenses.

"I would read nothing about the fact that the Chancellor was present, apart from being a prominent member of the government who is clearly involved in many of the issues we are talking about," Dodds said. "We do not discuss money in these discussions; it's about Brexit and how we protect the future of the UK and the economic and political future of Northern Ireland. "

The talks are expected to continue this weekend and will probably cover the role of any future Northern Ireland Assembly if Irish support is used – one of the problems that senior officials of the DUP have sought further clarification. The ministers are aware that the DUP will try to obtain the maximum of concessions.

Dodds particularly insisted that May's government did not faithfully implemented what had been agreed and included in paragraph 50 of the December 2017 Joint Report, according to which the badembly would have a veto over any new regulatory difference.

"Much will depend on what the government will be able to do to provide the necessary guarantees to alleviate our concerns," Dodds said at the end of the meeting.

"We had already indicated that the Government had so far deleted paragraph 50 of the December Joint Report, which provided for a lockdown and a provision for Northern Ireland with respect to what could happen in the future. Background and the overall economic situation. the integrity of the United Kingdom's internal market. "

A former minister said that, in order for GRE to come back and support May's agreement in its third request, "there is an obligation to release – and this is the DUP – and their main concern is that they will separated from us ".

Among the options under discussion are the inclusion in national law, perhaps in the draft law implementing the withdrawal agreement, of the promise that Northern Ireland would be opposed to a veto on any new obstacle in the Irish Sea.

The government promised a "strong role" for the late Stormont badembly if the Brexit backstop was triggered, in a document setting out guarantees before the first meaningful vote.

At the time, Dodds said the promises were "cosmetic and meaningless" and that the proposals made it clear that Stormont could never "cancel" support because it would be part of a binding international treaty. .

The Prime Minister is expected to return to his market for a third meaningful vote next Tuesday, but will not do so unless he thinks the vote is winnable. That would be to convince 75 members to exchange their votes.

May said that there would be a brief technical extension to Article 50 if the agreement was pbaded on Tuesday, but that, if he does not receive support from the deputies, it will require a much longer extension, which will include participation in the European elections. the holding of indicative votes in Parliament on various Brexit results.

Brexit Secretary Steve Baker, who was among the eight government ministers to vote against the prospect of postponing Article 50 on Thursday, made it clear that he would resign if the deal did not pbad. and May wanted a longer extension.

"We need an agreement, we have to go beyond it. But if we do not agree, we should leave without agreement. That's still my position and I voted as the constituency expected it, "Baker told ITV. "If we can get the contract through as I hope, we will still need a short technical extension, but otherwise, we should not be afraid to leave without any agreement."

Meanwhile, Esther McVey, a former secretary of social affairs and pensions, who resigned because of the May agreement, hinted that she could support him next week after Parliament voted in favor of extension of Article 50 – potentially for a long time.

"What's important is that people will have to accept a bad deal rather than an agreement," she told the BBC's political thought podcast. When asked if she could vote for the agreement next week, she replied, "Yes."