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A comparatively little-covered party in Northern Ireland has agreed to prop up Theresa May after she spectacularly failed to win a mandate from the British people.

The right-wing Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) confirmed they're set to back a Conservative minority government to help Mrs May maintain a fragile grip on power.

That means they'd vote in favour of a Tory Queen's speech and budget.

But what could they demand in return?

Why might Theresa May be a bit embarrassed to appear with them?

And how might her deal turn out to be exactly the " coalition of chaos " she warned would appear under Labour?

Here are some of the more controversial aspects of the party Theresa May has got into bed with - or things that'll just be really awkward for her.

1. They oppose abortion, even for rape victims

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The DUP is firmly opposed to the extension of abortion rights to Northern Ireland.

Their leader, Arlene Foster, last year vowed to maintain the province's ban on abortion, except where the life of the woman is at risk.

Official party policy does not provide an exception from their position on abortion even for victims of sexual assault.

Jim Wells, a DUP NLA member and former deputy speaker of the Assembly, said women who have fallen pregnant after being raped should instead consider putting their child up for adoption.

The closest they've come to concession on the issue was leader Arlene Foster agreeing to "carefully consider" a High Court ruling that said banning abortion for rape victims was against British and European human rights laws.

There are now fears it could affect abortion rights on the mainland - as the DUP won't want to walk away from their pact with nothing.

Tory Owen Paterson, a former Northern Ireland Secretary, warned after the deal: "You might get a debate I suppose on further reduction of abortion times."

2. They're anti-gay marriage

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DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr said gay relationships were “offensive and obnoxious” in 2005 and in 2007 said he was “pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism”.

The party blocked gay marriage despite it winning approval by Northern Ireland's parliament in 2015.

They used a legal tool to prevent same-sex unions passing it to law after it passed a knife-edge vote in the Assembly.

First Minister Arlene Foster vowed to keep blocking it, saying: "I could not care less what people get up to in terms of their sexuality, that's not a matter for me - when it becomes a matter for me is when people try to redefine marriage."

Gay marriage divisions threatened to derail this year's power-sharing talks in Stormont when the DUP refused to back down.

DUP politician Jim Wells said he'd quit if gay marriage was part of a pact with Sinn Fein, saying: "Peter will not marry Paul in Northern Ireland".

DUP Assembly member Mervyn Storey sits on the council of the evangelical Caleb Foundation, which warns Northern Ireland is on a "very dangerous and sinister road" and there must be "no room for compromise".

Gay marriage still isn't legal in Northern Ireland. The Westminster government could have forced it through if it imposed direct rule. But would it now?

3. Some uncomfortable past links

(Image: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

The DUPhave strong historical links with Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Specifically, the terrorist group Ulster Resistance was founded by a collection of people who went on to be prominent DUP politicians.

Former First Minister Peter Robinson, for example, who was DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s first minister until last year, was an active member of Ulster Resistance.

He was long ago pictured in the red beret of the group.

Although the DUP played an important role in power-sharing, which ensured lasting peace, it was in 1998 the only major party to oppose the Good Friday Agreement.

This is an uncomfortable bit of history for Theresa May, considering she built a lot of her campaign on Jeremy Corbyn 's 30-year-old statements about the IRA.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has claimed the Tory-DUP pact could violate the Good Friday Agreement's commitment that the Westminster government should not take the side of either unionists or nationalists.

With Northern Ireland's devolved administration in limbo after power-sharing collapsed, critics fear the situation will go from bad to worse.

4. Climate change scepticism

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The DUP's former environment minister described climate change as a 'con.'

Denial of climate change is not official party policy - but they've had their fair share of sceptics over the years.

Ex-environment minister - and finance minister - Sammy Wilson, who was last night re-elected MP for East Antrim, said in 2008: "I think in 20 years’ time we will look back at this whole climate change debate and ask ourselves how on earth were we ever conned into spending the billions of pounds which are going into this without any kind of rigorous examination of the background, the science, the implications of it all."

It means Theresa May will have some allies who think similarly to her new best friend Donald Trump, who has pulled out of the Paris climate accord.

5. Creationism

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Creationism is pretty rare in the United Kingdom, but not unheard of among the elected politicians of the DUP.

Last year the party's Assembly member for West Tyrone, Thomas Buchanan, praised an event promoting the rejection of evolution among children.

He told the Irish News: "I’m someone who believes in creationism and that the world was spoken into existence in six days by His power."

And the Caleb Foundation - mentioned above - is described as one of the leading creationist pressure groups in Northern Ireland.

It pushed for creationist theory to be displayed at the Giant's Causeway - and its chairman met none other than Arlene Foster, then tourism minister and now DUP leader, to discuss the request.

6. They're opposed to Tory policy on winter fuel payments...

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The Tories announced plans to means test winter fuel payments for better-off pensioners in their manifesto.

But the DUP are vehemently opposed to such a measure.

Their manifesto reads: "Some parties have once again placed universal benefits like the winter fuel allowance in their sights. The DUP will resist any assault on these important universal benefits."

There's speculation Mrs May could be forced into some sort of compromise.

7. ... And on the pensions triple lock

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The Tories also revealed they would scrap the so-called "triple lock" on pensions - which guarantees to increase pensions in line with earnings, inflation or 2.5% every year - whichever is highest.

The DUP manifesto says they wouldn't support scrapping the lock.