THE unionist chief propping up Theresa May’s government is to lead a major Orange Order parade in Scotland.

Northern Irish DUP leader Arlene Foster will be the star guest at the Boyne demonstration in Cowdenbeath, Fife, later this month.

4 Arlene Foster will be in Scotland later this month Credit: PA:Press Association

An insider suggested Ms Foster could be in Scotland to “make a point to Nicola Sturgeon about a second vote on Scottish independence”.

But a senior SNP source said: “We have no knowledge of this visit and are really struggling to believe that Arlene Foster believes that this is a sensible idea.”

The march, arranged by the Country Grand Lodge of the East of Scotland, takes place on a Saturday and Ms Foster is expected to be in Scotland from Friday until Sunday.

It’s not known if she has political meeting planned for her trip, but the Scottish Government said they had no knowledge of the visit.

4 Foster will lead a march in Fife Credit: Tom Farmer - The Sun Glasgow

A Northern Irish source said: “Rather than being seen as controversial, this should actually be seen a major coup for the Orange Order in Scotland to have someone of Ms Foster’s level attend and speak.

“This is a person who is highly influential with Theresa May and regardless of what you think of her views, she is a stateswoman who has rubbed shoulders with Nicola Sturgeon as a devolved leader.”

Ms Foster was Northern Ireland’s First Minister until January 2017 when the Stormont power-sharing agreement collapsed.

The DUP have been in the spotlight in recent days over the issue of abortion, after Ireland voted overwhelmingly to overturn a ban on terminations.

4 Last year, 4,500 people marched from the city’s George Square to the park Credit: Alan MacGregor Ewing - The Sun Glasgow

Ms Foster’s party - whose 10 MPs are propping up Theresa May’s government - oppose extending women’s rights to Northern Ireland.

A source said: “It’s the biggest parade in Scotland this year so it’s a pretty big deal.

“Arlene Foster’s office contacted the East of Scotland county master a while back to ask if she could lead the parade.

“I don’t know if the idea is to drum up support for her party or to make a point to Nicola Sturgeon about a second vote on Scottish independence.

“Given her position, there will have to be tight security for obvious reasons.

“Police Scotland have given the go-ahead for there to be an armed guard for her personal security.

“It won’t go down well with some people but the Orange community in Scotland will be thrilled to see her at the front of the parade.”

Robert McLean, executive officer at The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland, said: “Arlene Foster is the guest speaker and will be at the front of the parade.

4 Foster meets with Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May for Brexit talks Credit: AFP or Licensors

“She will be the main speaker on the platform.”

Mr McLean said it was “not unusual” for DUP politicians to “come over the water”.

He added that former Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, the DUP leader between 2008 and 2015, attended an Orange Order event in Ayrshire when he was leading the party.

A DUP spokesperson said: “We can confirm that DUP leader Arlene Foster has been invited to attend an event by Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland. This event is due to have representatives of the Orange Order from Northern Ireland and Scotland.”

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A senior Scottish Government source said they had not been aware of the trip and no meetings were planned with Ms Foster.

The Scottish Tories also said they were unaware of the visit and no meetings were planned.

Police Scotland said it never comments on personal security arrangements.

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