Sir John Major, ex-Tory PM, urges Theresa May not to make deal with DUP

Sir John Major, the Tory prime minister whos government “laid the foundations for the peace process” in Northern Ireland has urged Theresa May not to go into a deal with the DUP, as peace in Northern Ireland should “not be regarded as a given”.

He said he was “dubious” about a deal, confirming what others have suggested – that if Conservatives proceed with their dealings with the DUP, they could no longer be seen as a “partial honest broker” in restoring the power-sharing arrangements in Northern Ireland.

“My main concern is the peace process. A fundamental part of that peace process is that the UK government needs to be impartial between all the competing interests in Northern Ireland.

“And the danger is that however much any government tries, they will not be seen to be impartial if they are locked into a parliamentary deal at Westminster with one of the Northern Ireland parties,” he said.

-RT

The deal is still going forward at this time, with Theresa May meeting Arlene Foster this morning and spending “more than an hour” in discussions. But John Major is wary of the deal, as he claims peace could “unwind” as a result.

Sources

1. BBC – DUP hopeful of deal on Conservative government ‘soon’
2. RT – Former Tory PM John Major intervenes over ‘fragile’ DUP deal
3. Reuters – Former UK PM Major fears DUP deal could spark a return to violence in Northern Ireland