As the Catholic Herald went to press, it was unclear whether Theresa May would formalise a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Such a pact, given the DUP’s 10 Westminster MPs, would allow May to claim a working parliamentary majority. Downing Street first issued a statement saying that they had an agreement, then issued a retraction shortly afterwards.
The general expectation is for a limited agreement, on which the DUP will vote for a Queen’s Speech and some other bills, in exchange for Tory policy pledges. But whatever emerges, the DUP negotiations have revealed serious disagreements about Irish history, sectarianism and social conservatism – disagreements no less keenly felt among Catholics as everyone else.
