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My understanding is that ever since Thatcher was thrown out amid riots in 1990, the Conservatives have been trying hard to rebrand themselves as a "centrist" party that offers good governance with a socially liberal outlook. And many, indeed, bought it.

But after the DUP forces May to introduce the first round of Torquemada legislation, they'll no doubt have to start their rebranding all over again.

I suppose in a way the DUPpers are right: God does work in mysterious ways.

was her speech to the Tory Party conference during their long wilderness period out of government when she castigated them for being seen as "the nasty party".

A number of analysts pointed out that the Tory manifesto at this last election was in many ways to the right of the British National Party, never mind UKIP. The speed and ease with which she segued into the DUP arrangement (to the embarrassment of many of the Tory talking heads I've seen trying to defend it so far, including Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson) is telling.

Let's not forget that there were credible reports they were seeking a full coalition (to avoid being held to ransom at later dates), and it looks like the DUP rebuffed them.

He was smart enough to point out the obvious; but not brave enough to try to change it in any real way.

Here's what was actually said:



It'll be interesting to see how much transparency we get about the terms of the deal that's been struck.

The less they say, the more people will speculate, which is likely to be even worse for them.


Anyway, given the roller-coaster switches in the narrative over the last 48 hours, I'm still skeptical there's been a deal at all!

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My guess is that controlling the obdurate Ms. Foster will prove to be all but impossible for the prime minister.

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Please post this to LBN, Denzil! Thanks!

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Not sure how the deadlines work on a Sunday, but I'll look around.

Prime Minister's Questions should be fun.

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Thank you for all your updates, Denzil.

without any apparent acknowledgement of the updated story on the page. I've worked on blogs where we were more stringent!

According to the DUP, nothing's been decided yet.

And even if they have some sort of pact, I think it would have to be significantly limited due to the rules of the Good Friday Agreement. I don't know all the details, but am fairly sure that for example, a full-blown coalition, where DUP-ers had cabinet seats, would not be permitted under the terms of the agreement.

I must say, I can't imagine even all Tories being thrilled by the prospect of sharing government with a cross between the mirror-image of Sinn Fein and the Palin/ Bachmann/ Pence branch of the American Republicans

- no deal announced before May had to attend the reconvening of parliament:

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My understanding of British politics is vague at best, so I was wondering: what would the left-leaning Sinn Féin have to gain from keeping Mayhem and her anti-Irish Tories in power?

There must be good - and probably pretty sneaky - reason in there somewhere.

- she's trying to smooth things over with the Good Friday Agreement in peril.

Only one party's in line for a partnership of some sort if they can cobble it together, though, assuming May survives till the Queen's Speech, which doesn't seem a foregone conclusion at the moment, despite the brave Tory "business as usual" faces.

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History is often made by the most unlikely of people.

Ireland won’t sign any Brexit deal unless Good Friday Agreement is protected

Ireland will block any Brexit deal that does not “fully” protect the Good Friday Agreement, according to the country’s new foreign minister.

Simon Coveney, in Stormont for talks to reinstate powersharing in Northern Ireland, warned that the Irish government would insist on finding a solution that protects its terms in full.

Ireland, as one of 27 remaining EU member states, has the right to block a Brexit deal in its national parliament.

“We have a Good Friday Agreement, which is also an international legal document that needs to be respected in the context of Brexit negotiations,” Mr Coveney told RTE, Ireland’s state broadcaster.

https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/politics/ireland-wont-sign-brexit-deal-unless-good-friday-agreement-protected/