Theresa May’s new ally opposes same-sex marriage but wants to keep the winter fuel allowance, which the Tories plan to drop

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Theresa May’s new ally in government, Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party, is in favour of a soft Brexit, wishes to maintain a porous border with the Irish republic but also holds illiberal positions on abortion and gay rights.

The party, which gained two seats in the general election to hold 10 altogether, has not yet outlined what it might want from a formal deal with the Tories – but the prime minister said in her speech outside Downing Street that she could rely on her “friends and allies” from the party founded by Ian Paisley Sr.

The party, founded in 1971, maintains its socially Conservative positions but has been transformed into an efficient political force by successive leaders since Paisley stepped down in 2008.

Brexit and the Irish border

The DUP campaigned for Brexit but its manifesto argued for maintaining a “seamless and frictionless” border with Ireland. Objectives for the forthcoming Brexit negotiations included maintaining the Common Travel Area with the Republic and ease of trade throughout the EU.

Welfare spending

The manifesto retained the pensions “triple lock” and universal winter fuel allowance, both policies the Tories pledged to drop.

Opposition to same-sex marriage

While the party has changed radically since its beginnings, it has always maintained an opposition to socially liberal reforms which have taken place on the UK mainland.

Northern Ireland is the only remaining part of the UK where same-sex marriage is not legal after the DUP used a controversial veto mechanism to block any change to legislation. Senior figures in the party have called the issue a “red line” for power-sharing talks at Stormont.



Anti-abortion

The DUP has fought hard to halt an extension of abortion rights to Northern Ireland. Campaigners say their actions have forced thousands of women to travel elsewhere for terminations, or to rely on abortion pills bought online.



Climate denial

While climate change scepticism is not official party “policy”, the DUP has previously appointed a denier as environment minister in Northern Ireland, and it counts a number of creationists among its senior members.

Leadership

Much focus will now fall upon the party’s leader, Arlene Foster, a tough character whose politics were influenced by the Troubles. At the age of eight, her father, a part-time policeman, was shot and injured by the IRA on the family farm.

In 1988 a bomb exploded under the teenager’s school bus while it was being driven by a part-time soldier in the British army’s Ulster Defence Regiment.

She came to prominence over the “cash for ash” scandal, having overseen a government renewable heating incentive scheme that will end up costing taxpayers in Northern Ireland an estimated £500m. She denied any wrongdoing.

After the election result, Foster told Radio Ulster: “It’s too soon to say what we’re going to do yet. I think we need to see the final make-up of parliament and then we’ll reflect on that.



“I certainly think that there will be contact made over the weekend but I think it is too soon to talk about what we’re going to do.”