What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Theresa May’s crunch talks with the DUP are reportedly ‘not going as expected’, less than 24 hours before the Queen’s Speech.

The Tories are under pressure to confirm their deal with the hardline Northern Irish party tonight, ahead of tomorrow’s State Opening of Parliament.

Last week, Mrs May appeared to call the party’s bluff, confirming the date of the Queen’s Speech without an agreement on a ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement.

And today, DUP sources told Sky News the talks “haven’t proceeded in a way that DUP would have expected.”

(Image: AFP)

They urged the government to give “greater focus” to the talks and said the “party can’t be taken for granted”.

Government sources said no agreement with the DUP was likely until Thursday at the earliest.

The terms of the confidence and supply arrangement have yet to be agreed amid wranglings over the DUP ’s demands for funding and cuts to corporation tax.

The Government will set out a slimmed down agenda in tomorrow’s Queen’s Speech with key manifesto promises such as its social care plans expected to be shelved. Instead there will be a focus on counter terrorism and investment in skills and infrastructure.

(Image: AFP)

The government will unveil the Queen’s Speech at 11.30am tomorrow, with a vote to follow next Tuesday.

Last week, a senior Tory source insisted there was “broad agreement on the principles” of the Queen’s Speech between the Government and the DUP .

But they said they were pressing ahead without a formal deal in place because they were “confident there will be sufficient support across the house for passing the Queen’s Speech.”

The Tories can still win the Queen’s Speech vote by a slim margin as long as the 10 DUP MPs don’t vote against it. If they abstain, Mrs May will still command a slight majority.