What are the policies of the DUP? How are they different from the policies of the Tories?
What demands will the DUP make for it to agree to support the Tories?
Oppose abortion and same-sex marriage.
The DUP are far more in favour of the Welfare State than the Tories; they opposed the Bedroom Tax and many benefits being cut as happens in Tory wet dreams. They also don’t want Brexit to make a special case for Ulster that would compromise it’s place in the Union.
Also they don’t really like Taigs a whole lot.
The DUP is nominally a right wing party, and Sinn Fein left, but people don’t usually tend vote for these groups because of economic or social concerns. They represent a certain identity, that is Protestant, generally (Free) Presbyterian. This lines up with social conservatism in many cases, they are less economically conservative. Not a single issue party, but close.
The Conservatives would have to not invite the Pope to places to gain their support.
Just saw this though: May reportedly won’t let the DUP dictate gay rights.
Part at the bottom mentions the creationist strain among some party members. Link therein also titled “Who are the DUP?”
Think stereotype of a southern US politician.
Against equality, against environmentalism or historical and scientific accuracy in general.
They like the idea of a police force that works strongly against their opponents, like the idea of having guns and denying them to their opponents, that sort of thing.
Notably they castigate their opponents for being “spongers” who claim too much welfare, but are happy to fall back on the state themselves and are quite corrupt when they think nobody is watching.
Here is thethe founder of the DUP screaming at the Pope.
Since he thought that Catholic clergy was too much of a Kiddie abuser supporter.
I’m so glad you posted that.
I’ve been wondering why the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers even cared about the Tories.
Paisley’ screaming at the Pope predates any clergy abuse scandal by at least a decade. His hatred has no altruistic reasons, I assure you.
So has the party changed since Ian Paisley was in charge?
Well I’m sure they’re no longer trying to create a Unionist paramilitary group, if that’s what you mean.
Eta: fyi, he led the party up until 9 years ago. 37 years as leader.
Indeed, great change: his son Ian Paisley Jr. wears the sash his father wore as North Antrim Westminster MP.
While the DUP is, ahem, not socially progressive, socially sensitive issues like abortion and equal marriage are devolved matters. The DUP doesn’t need to exert pressure at Westminster to to maintain restrictive abortion laws, and the refusal to recognise equal marriage, in Northern Ireland, and there is no prospect whatsoever that they could influence these matters in England, Wales or Scotland. Whatever deal they propose to the Tories will not focus on these issues.
It will focus on (1) lots of money for Northern Ireland, and (2) a soft Brexit, particularly in ways that are relevant to the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, and (3) no special treatment for Northern Ireland in relation to the EU. While they favour a soft Brexit, they want a uniform Brexit for the whole UK; they don’t want NI to have a softer Brexit than GB.
This is probably correct. I cannot imagine the DUP having any substantive influence on social policy in the mainland. If the DUP demanded some(which I seriously doubt) influence the Tories would not go ahead with it. Even if posters really dislike the Tories I think we have to assume there are enough socially progressive MP’s within the Tory ranks to prevent backsliding on LGBT or female rights.
There is also the point that there may not be much parliamentary time available for anything other than the legal consequences of Brexit and just keeping the ordinary day-to-day business of government going.
Why do you think anything will happen with respect to legal aspects of Brexit before 6 months or so from now? [I would think it would take at least that long for the EU and UK to reach an agreement on the Brexit fee and the rights of UK/EU citizens–and thus for Parliament to consider it.]