The magic money tree has been found – Labour movement reacts to Tory-DUP deal

The minority Conservative government is to be propped up by the Democratic Unionist party, it has been confirmed today.

The pension’s triple-lock and universal winter fuel payments will continue to be guaranteed – which is different to the Tory manifesto, but means that a Labour pledge shall be enacted.

There was also an arrangement for Northern Ireland to get an additional £1bn. You can read the full agreement here.

Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central and shadow diverse communities minister, tweeted:

We are paying £1billion pounds to save TM job as PM we paid £130m for a pointless general election. This is not what the country voted for

— (((Dawn Butler MP))) (@DawnButlerBrent) June 26, 2017

Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract, Normanton and Castleford, tweeted:

It’s not just Northern Ireland that needs more investment. Tories can’t do this deal & keep cutting schools, NHS & police everywhere else

— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) June 26, 2017

Harriet Harman, former Labour deputy leader and Camberwell and Peckham MP, commented on Theresa May not even coming out to announce the deal herself:

PM should make a statement setting out terms of the agreement https://t.co/bdXl7sMd59

— Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) June 26, 2017

Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, tweeted:

Money can be found when May’s own job depends on it. Just surprising that she thinks her continued time in Number 10 is worth £1bil. https://t.co/4qtR7WNdAB

— Neil Coyle (@coyleneil) June 26, 2017

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, tweeted:

Weak & unstable May Govt totally in pocket of the DUP. Extra govt cash for N Ireland but no extra investment for English NHS & rest of U.K.

— Jonathan Ashworth (@JonAshworth) June 26, 2017

Carwyn Jones, Welsh first minister, said in a statement:

“Today’s deal represents a straight bung to keep a weak Prime Minister and a faltering Government in office. Only last week we were told that the priority was to ‘build a more united country, strengthening the social, economic and cultural bonds between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.’ This deal flies in the face of that commitment and further weakens the UK, and as currently drafted all but kills the idea of fair funding for the nations and regions. It is outrageous that the Prime Minister believes she can secure her own political future by throwing money at Northern Ireland whilst completely ignoring the rest of the UK. I have spoken to the Secretary of State for Wales this morning to clearly state my view at this unacceptable deal – as Wales’ voice at the Cabinet table, he has a duty to fight against this deal and secure additional funding for our country.”

“However, the UK Government are not the only ones with questions to answer today. It appears that the DUP have given the Tories the go-ahead to legislate how they please on Brexit, which could include taking powers and resources away from the devolved administrations. This is a short-term fix which will have far-reaching and destabilising consequences.”

Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour leader said: “This deal with the DUP has taken more than two weeks to stitch-up, proving just how little authority Theresa May has left.”

“If the price of propping up this miserable Tory government is hundreds of millions of pounds for Northern Ireland, it is vital that all nations and regions of the UK also get extra funding to end austerity.”

“If Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has any influence in Downing Street at all, she will be demanding extra cash to reverse the spending cuts her government has inflicted on Scotland – aided and abetted by the SNP, which has simply turned Holyrood into a conveyer belt for Tory cuts.”

“By attempting to secure her future by throwing money at one part of the UK, the Prime Minister’s deal risks weakening the bonds that unite the UK – and shows how empty her rhetoric is about the future of the Union.”

“Only Labour has a plan to invest in our public services, and Jeremy Corbyn’s government-in-waiting in Westminster would provide a multi-billion boost for Scotland’s NHS and schools.”

Jeremy Corbyn said: “Austerity has failed. Cuts to vital public services must be halted right across the UK, not just in Northern Ireland.”

“The Government must immediately answer two questions. Where is the money for the Tory-DUP deal coming from? And, will all parts of the UK receive the much needed additional funding that Northern Ireland will get as part of the deal?”

“This Tory-DUP deal is clearly not in the national interest but in May’s party’s interest to help her cling to power.”