MICHAEL GOVE has refused to say whether Northern Ireland could get ANOTHER cash injection in the future - after the Tories agreed a £1.5bn deal with the DUP to stay in power.

The Environment Secretary dodged questioning on whether they could come back and ask for more money, after a number of top political figures voiced their concerns.

4 Michael Gove dodged a question on whether the Government would give Northern Ireland another payment in future

4 The DUP signed a deal with the Conservatives in Downing Street on Monday Credit: Getty Images

Mr Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show this morning that the Government was investing in Northern Ireland due the "unique problems" the country had, and it was welcomed by politicians across the spectrum.

He said calling it "bung" for the DUP was unfair because the money would be going to help all voters in Northern Ireland.

"This money crosses all sectarian divides of the past," he said, and it was "quite right to prioritize parts of the country which have suffered," Mr Gove said.

But ex Treasury official Nick Macpherson said the DUP would be "back for more".

He said last week that the deal - which can be reviewed every two years - was just a "downpayment".

Former leadership hopeful Mr Gove, who was recently brought back into the cabinet by Mrs May, said today: "Bung implies that this money is going to the DUP on their own, a partisan deal. Its not, it's about strengthening the whole UK and helping people in one of its most vulnerable areas.

"It is absolutely right that after a general election, we should have the chance to review how we help the most vulnerable in our society.

"The money doesn’t go to the DUP. It also goes to Sinn Fein voters, Alliance voters, SDLP voters, the people of Northern Ireland."

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After Theresa May failed to win a majority at last month's election, she was forced to do a deal with the Northern Irish party in order to remain in No10.

That involved giving them £1.5billion in investment - for roads, schools, the health service and other projects.

It also involved a promise not to scrap the triple lock on pensions, and to keep the winter fuel payments in place, regardless of income - both of which were set to be ditched by the Tories after the election.

"We want to make sure the UK as a whole is stronger," Mr Gove said this morning.

"We are also ensuring that pensioners are protected, the triple lock is there, winter fuel payments are in place.

"As a result of this deal, people all across the UK benefit. I don't think anybody, including the Labour party, thinks we shouldn't invest in Northern Ireland."

4 The true cost of the DUP deal could be much more

4 Environment Secretary Michael Gove was brought back into the cabinet last month Credit: Rex Features

The Sunday Times reported today that Mr Gove initially thought a phone call summoning him to Number 10 to rejoin the cabinet was a "wind-up".

He then received a second call asking him to meet a civil servant near Whitehall.

Mr Gove told the paper: "I then thought this is a massive wind-up.

"Dom Joly has been rehired to do Trigger Happy TV and I will walk through the underpass and there will be a giant inflatable red box and they will say 'Gotcha!'.