GETTY DUP MPs reportedly held talks with Tory backbenchers disaffected with Philip Hammond

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At the moment, the DUP are propping up the Tory Government under a “confidence and supply” agreement. A senior DUP parliamentary source claimed the party’s MPs had held talks with Tory backbenchers disaffected with Mr Hammond and shared their concerns. The source told the Telegraph: "We are very concerned about Philip Hammond's behaviour. It is evident to us that he is winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations, and his behaviour is very unsettling. "One has to wonder what his motivation is. He appears to be at least highly sceptical about Brexit and one could conclude from his current position and his behaviour that he is trying to frustrate the negotiating process and to undermine the Prime Minister.

"The DUP will continue to keep a close watch on the situation but we think that Mrs May needs to do something to reign her Chancellor in and to make it clear to him that this kind of behaviour has to stop. "It is not for us to dictate to the Prime Minister how she should manage her cabinet but as informed observers with a vested interest in making Brexit work, we are deeply concerned. If this behaviour continues the Chancellor's position becomes untenable. “We simply cannot allow personal agendas to get in the way of the needs of our nation."

GETTY The DUP are propping up Theresa May’s Government under a “confidence and supply” agreement

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The news comes after Mr Hammond was earlier this week forced to issue an embarrassing apology after calling the European Union “the enemy”. Speaking in Washington on Friday afternoon the Conservative politician said that the Tories were united in their approach to Brexit and should be focusing on tackling the real “enemy” rather than fighting among themselves. The Chancellor was quickly forced to retract his comments about the EU on social media.

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