The Democratic Unionist Party has agreed to the principles of an outline agreement to support Theresa May\u2019s Conservative Party on a \u201cconfidence and supply\u201d basis, Downing Street announced Saturday.<\/b>
\n\u201cWe can confirm that the Democratic Unionist party have agreed to the principles of an outline agreement to support the Conservative government on a confidence and supply basis when parliament returns next week, \u201d a government spokesman said.
The announcement followed a meeting between May\u2019s Chief Whip Gavin Williamson and DUP members in Belfast.
\u201cWe welcome this commitment, which can provide the stability and certainty the whole country requires as we embark on Brexit and beyond. The details will be put forward for discussion and agreement at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.\u201d
A \u201cconfidence and supply\u201d alliance differs from a full coalition, and comes as a number of Conservatives expressed concerns about entering into a partnership with the DUP, in light of the Unionist\u2019s views on abortion and gay marriage.
A confidence and supply agreement would see the DUP backing the Tories on its budget and in confidence votes, but would not see DUP members take up cabinet positions. In addition, the DUP also expect concessions from Conservatives on its own policies. The DUP agreed in principle to support the Tories after the Conservatives won 318 seats in the General Election, leaving them short of the 326 needed to form a majority government. The DUP won 10 seats in the snap election.
On Friday, a petition to stop the Tory\/DUP \u2018coalition of chaos\u2019 attracted 540k signatures in 24hrs.<\/p>\n

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