ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Unionist Ian Paisley Junior has said his party have been the victims of “near universal hatred” following their deal with the Conservatives.

The leading Democratic Unionist Party politician, and son of the late Reverend Ian Paisley, complained the vilification of his party has misrepresented their views and their pact with the Tories should be celebrated.

In an after-dinner speech at an event for British and Irish politicians held in Central London last night, he said other groups would not have tolerated the abuse levelled at their party.

He said: “We were the recipients of vitriol the likes of which would probably be considered reprehensible and indeed would not have been directed at any other group.

"If I had certainly said some of those things about other groups in our society, or if you had said them, even about Muslim groups, in this city, you wouldn’t got away with it.

“You got away with it about us. And I think that is something that needs to be said, but needs to be left there.”

The annual dinner held in London by the not-for-profit CHAMP group set up after the Good Friday Agreement to promote peace in Northern Ireland also included speeches from Sinn Fein.

Criticism of the socially Conservative DUP following the election has been aimed at their resistance to gay marriage and anti-abortion stance.

However Mr Paisley said the DUP’s 10 MPs had “kept their heads down” as leader Arlene Foster struck a confidence and supply deal with Theresa May to prop up her minority Government.

He said they “got £1.5 billion out of it” and jokingly added: “I’m not asking for sympathy – I’ve got the money, the cheque cashed.”

The DUP secured the money in return for their support in key votes on the economy and security.

Among the pay-out they secured £250 million for health and mental health services, £50 million for education, £400 million for infrastructure projects and £150 to install ultra-fast broadband across the province.

They also claimed victory for removing number of Tory cuts that would have hit pensioners in the Queen’s Speech.

Mr Paisley, the MP for North Antrim, said: “The DUP deal is something that I believe should be universally celebrated. £1.5 billion for all of our people, our Catholic people, our Protestant people, our people of no religion.

“£1.5 billion ….to make sure that security for our pensioners across the entirety of the United Kingdom is locked in place. Practical things like the winter fuel allowance whether you live in John O’Groats…or Enniskillen.

“I ask you, how could you object? You shouldn’t and I don’t believe you can.”

During his 15 minute address he failed to mention the collapsed power sharing deal in Northern Ireland which has left the province without a First Minister of Deputy First Minister since January.

Sinn Fein and the DUP have still failed to reach agreement on various issues, including Sinn Fein’s call for a stand-alone Irish Language Act.

Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone – although his party do not take their seats in Westminster - said in his speech to the dinner: “I don’t want to strike too divisive a tone but we believe rights for Irish language speakers, the rights of people to marriage equality, and for families of victims at coroners inquests, are taken for granted in Britain.

"These rights are being denied to Irish citizens at this time and this is unacceptable and I don’t think it would be tolerated in London, Dublin, Cardiff or Edinburgh so why should we tolerate it in the North of Ireland?”