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Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition against a Tory pact with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party.

More than 300,000 people backed the call in just 12 hours after it was posted in response to an emerging deal with the socially hardline party.

The petition calls for Theresa May to resign and labels the move a “disgusting, desperate attempt to stay in power”.

The DUP has been criticised for its right-wing stance on social issues including gay rights and abortion.

The party opposes gay marriage and Northern Ireland remains the only part of the UK where women cannot access abortion unless their life is endangered by the pregnancy.

In 2016, DUP leader Arlene Foster said: “I would not want abortion to be as freely available here as it is in England.”

The Prime Minister has been forced to seek a “confidence and supply” deal with the DUP after losing her majority in a snap election that spectacularly backfired.

Eight seats short, she plans to lead a minority government relying on the DUP’s 10 MPs for support to push through legislation.

The deal has sparked fears the business of government could face paralysis. And Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, appeared to voice concern that the pact could threaten gay rights in the rest of Britain.

Ms Davidson, who became engaged to partner Jen Wilson in May 2016, tweeted a link to a speech she made about marriage equality in an apparent criticism of the plan, but since has said she’s received assurances from the PM the LGBT rights will not be affected.