Theresa May fails to soften DUP's Brexit position during her visit to the North

British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is visiting Northern Ireland to mobilize support for her Brexit deal, has failed to mitigate the persistent opposition of the DUP to the withdrawal agreement.

DUP leader Arlene Foster accused the prime minister of engaging in a "propaganda" exercise, while Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said she had no chance whatsoever. to end his abstentionist position in Westminster to "save Ms. May".

Ms. Foster, after meeting with Ms. May at Stormont on Tuesday night, reiterated that the withdrawal agreement was "unacceptable and she will not persuade the DUP to support it".

Ms Foster called on Ms May to "remove the net" and negotiate a better deal with the European Union.

"The time has come to accept the fact that the withdrawal agreement, in its current state, is prejudicial and that the United Kingdom can not accept it. The conversation can then begin to make sure we get an agreement that works for everyone, "said the DUP leader.

But May said the Brexit compromise was the best way forward. Ms. May, who was late for her previous visit to Wales on Tuesday, visited Queen's University in the late afternoon, where she spoke to academics and students as well as to a range of representatives of the major churches and the business, agriculture and volunteer sectors.

"If this deal does not succeed, we will see a return to division and uncertainty," she told reporters at Queen's.

"The message I have clearly heard today from the voluntary sector, young people, businesses, the agricultural sector, academics, is the importance of this certainty and of the importance of it. importance for Parliament to accept this agreement. that we can continue to develop our future. "

During her visit, Ms. May declined to answer questions about whether Sinn Féin MPs should sit in Westminster to support the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

On Monday, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar blamed Sinn Féin for not giving the green light to his seven MPs to go to Westminster to support the EU-UK deal.

"We all know why Sinn Féin does not take his seat in Westminster and that's up to them. My job is to show members who will be voting on December 11th why this is a good deal for the UK, "said the Prime Minister.

Sinn Fein's leader, Ms. McDonald, who led a party delegation with Ms. May at Stormont on Tuesday night, was adamant that there would be no change in her party's refusal to sit in the House of Commons.

"Any idea that Sinn Fein MPs would use their shippers and stop the Brexit or save Ms. May was politically fanciful (and) I would even say politically illiterate," she said.

Ms. May was not willing to say whether her contract of supply and trust of a billion pounds with the DUP, under which the ten deputies of the Democratic Union would keep the Conservatives in power, would be deposed if the DUP voted against the withdrawal agreement of 11 December.

Ms. May also disapproved of comments by US President Donald Trump, who said the withdrawal agreement looked "very much like a" for the EU, but could hinder trade between the UK and the US. United States.

"It is absolutely clear that we can conclude free trade agreements [WITH AMERICA], Said Ms. May. "The political declaration that defines the ambition of our future trade relations with the European Union makes it clear that we can pursue an independent trade policy."

This means that the UK can enter into trade agreements around the world, she added. "In fact, we are already working with the Americans, we have a working group that is studying the UK-US trade arrangements and has met several times to look at some of the of these questions. "

After speaking at Queen's, Ms. May then traveled to Stormont to meet the DUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Unionist Party and Ulster Alliance.