N Ireland’s DUP Weakened By Deal With UK Conservatives – Irish Socialist Party

Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been significantly weakened by June's post-parliamentary election deal with the Conservatives, the spokesman for the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) told Sputnik Wednesday.

"[Northern Ireland’s] unionism thinks it's in a strong position now, but they have never been weaker. Their propping up a Tory government in London that's visibly failing. DUP DUP basically supports the Conservatives in implementing austerity and it can lead to the lose of their personal image," Michael McLaughlin said.

Northern Irish politics have been tense since January when the coalition government comprising of the DUP and the left-wing Sein Fenn collapsed. The parties’ failure to reach a new accord on power-sharing raised the prospect of a the direct rule from London. After the Conservatives failed to reach parliamentary majority in the UK election in June, Prime Minister Theresa May made a deal with the DUP for support. However, this move attracted severe criticism from those fearful of a new breakdown in talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP.