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It would still be a lot easier than doing a deal with the SNP though, don't you think?! They are both unionists and thereby conservatives after all.
In an ideal world, this hung parliament should result in a more consensus driven approach to Brexit. As we know, the world isn't ideal.
Therefore, it's possible that Brexit itself could eventually be threatened, because a chaotic exit or a weakened Britain (both likely on account of this election) close to Europe's shores isn't good for anyone or global financial stability.
Ultimately money talks, and it's quite possible some will attempt to use this fiasco to initiate a 2nd referendum down the road.
Indeed...they are as determined as 'Daniel Craig is not Bond' used to be.
And their hand has been strengthened no end by the events of the past twenty four hours or so.
Just as an aside, I was speaking to the Labour party candidate for my constituency yesterday. I made it clear that I was a Brexiteer and that, like many of my ilk, I knew exactly why I wanted out. I was given the rather vague reply that Labour respected the outcome of the referendum but wanted a brexit which worked for everyone. I replied that I wanted a brexit which worked for Britain. The person in question has since been elected in a safe Labour seat but Brexit voting area. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens......
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is much older than the DUP and has its origins from the Irish Unionist Party. It was formed out of the Ulster Unionist Council in 1905, opposed Home Rule and ruled Northern Ireland for over 50 years as the majority party between 1921 (when Northern Ireland was founded as a separate state after the partition of Ireland) and 1972, when the Stormont parliament was prorogued by the Edward Heath Conservative Government.
They again were the majority party at Stormont when devolution was returned to Northern Ireland under First Minister and UUP Leader David Trimble 1999-2002, and Seamus Mallon of the moderate nationalist SDLP after the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement of 1998.
Since then, its fortunes have dwindled, being the more moderate party within NI unionism. The Rev Dr Ian Paisley created the Protestant Unionist Party in 1970 to fight the 1970 General Election. He took North Antrim from the UUP and held it until he stood down in 2010. His son Ian Paisley Jnr then took over and still holds the seat today. The DUP was formed in 1971 out of the PUP that preceded it. From 2003 the DUP was in the ascendancy and when devolution was restored in March 2007 the DUP and Sinn Fein were the largest parties, the two hardline parties in NI. This power sharing Executive collapsed in early 2017 after Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned as a result of the DUP's handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal massive overspend. There was a Stormont Assembly election in March 2017 where Sinn Fein did very well and the DUP just about managed to stay the biggest party in the assembly. There is still no government in NI at devolution level, but direct rule has not as yet been imposed from Westminster. The parties have until the end of June 2017 to reach agreement on this and there might be another Assembly election in the autumn again.
There are also some smaller unionist parties like the more hardline Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) (formed in 2007) and the more socialist-minded Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) (formed in 1979) but they have little representation in Stormont. The TUV has a sole MLA, Jim Allister, Party Leader, in North Antrim.
Hope that goes some way towards explaining the complexities of Ulster politics!
I can only agree, @Ludovico. She had a great opportunity to get a massive Tory majority and she blew it day after day. She may not be PM much longer, even with the agreement she has in place with the DUP. Whatever will be, I certainly can't see the Tories allowing her to fight another General Election again.
Not if they want to lose more seats in the next election, May is definitely what one could call a wet blanket.
Yes, she's damaged goods and may not even last this year. One certainly cannot predict what lies ahead with the same certainty some commentators did when this General Election was called!
Since 2010 things have been that way I feel. Voters in the UK rarely come out and back any one party by giving it a large or even workable majority these days it seems. It's symptomatic of voter apathy and weariness with the artificiality of much of modern politics.
I wonder if she ever truly had this opportunity. For the record I did not want a tory landslide and was actually depressed when I thought this would happen. I think calling an election at this point was sheer arrogance and hubris. She was bound to do less than the polls then she behaved as if she the election was in the pocket.
Well, yes, that could just have been more hubris from May's team and the media that backed her, and it most likely was just that. I think a majority in double figures, say 30, 40 or 50 was much more likely than a landslide and the election results have proven that even that was elusive!
Theresa May has won the election. Even if she has lost 12 seats of 330.
Things are being blown out of proportion by the left-sided media like always.
She gambled and lost the majority, that's too bad for the Tories but in the end good for the country.
Corbyn by the way is a Brexiteer. With him as PM nothing would change regarding Brexit.
May on the other hand, even with 12 seats less, is still much better to handle the Brexit than Corbyn. Imho.
I'm surprised nobody has started blaming ISIS for interfering in the election. It will make a change from the Russians.
Actually the Conservative Party won the election. Corbyn voted to remain in the EU.
Yes, plus Jeremy Corbyn really managed to get the "youth vote" out in this General Election and they are of course vital for political parties to galvanise to ensure their continued survival and the survival of a participatory parliamentary democracy. This "youth vote" largely going to Labour was as much of a reason for May not getting a majority over Labour as anything else in the end analysis.
Turnout was the highest its been for 25 years.
Yes, the 1992 General Election where John Major won for the Tories unexpectedly. He had a smallish majority though. How fortunes change and Theresa May looked virtually unassailable when this election was called in April 2017!
But generally a terrorist attack strengthens the party in power. Especially a conservative one. May cutting police budgets did not help but I think she lacks natural empathy that probably caused issue.
I am not a fan of Hillary but at least 1)she won popular vote and 2)could do (and win) debates. May didn't even bother to turn up! When you show such disdain for voters they will keep a grudge. Going from a majority and very encouraging (if overoptimistic) polls to a hung parliament is no victory. You just avoided complete defeat. One more week of this and I genuinely think Jeremy Corbyn would have been prime minister.
And apparently Theresa May did go for a "presidential style" of election. In a parliamentary system I don't think it's a good idea. You really need to show that you are a leader of a team not a one woman show... especially if you are not good at campaigning.
It's okay though, she'll get past it no problem - she's strong and stable.