Jenny1

Yes. Sure that's right. I'm thinking about the cash.

As Jessica Elgot tweeted - in a long exchange about the putative deal with the DUP this morning, Michael Fallon never committed to the nature of the terms becoming public.

Seabag Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I'd not wonder too hard about the deal, as May and > her 'government' are toast on this one I reckon. But whichever Tory is trying to be PM, they're going to have to cobble an arrangement together. I doubt the Conservatives will give up the battle to form some kind of viable government too quickly. I can imagine the DUP will want their X billion for infrastructure projects up front though....as they won't want to bet on the whole wobbly edifice lasting very long.

Once a deal is done with the DUP, I wonder if we'll find out how much cash they've demanded?

I just hope we don't get foisted with Boris.

Sorry - got that wrong. That was attributed to Cameron of course (or one of his crew). The Major quote I shall have to seek out...something along the lines of 'romantics, lunatics and bastards'.

jaywalker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > The DUP connection is already absolutely toxic. > She risks losing many seats with this connection - > the Mirror headline today is all you need to see > that. And she is putting peace in Northern Ireland > at risk to stay in power. Not good. And also not > necessary: she could get supply from the centre > ground (in exchange for a softer than soft Brexit) > - but of course that would mean the hard right of > her own party splitting off. > > Well I wish she had the flexibility and vision to seek moderate alliances. But I guess if she had that capacity we would never have had all this 'Brexit means Brexit' silliness. She does seem to be in hock to the 'swivel-eyed loons' (as Major famously called them).

Louisa Wrote: If > they've learnt anything from this, it's surely > that they need the moderate centre to take the > discussion back towards a soft Brexit and > remaining in the single market. > > I certainly hope that's what they've learnt. But there are plenty of die-hard Tory MPs (both on social issues and Brexit).

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > One has just resigned (Nick Timothy)... It was clearly not sensible or productive for May to operate such an isolationist management style; sitting in her bunker with Hill and Timothy. But Timothy is, ideologically, from the 'moderate' wing of the party. I do hope we're not now going to see the rise of the Tory extremists.

Also to say the Epley Manoeuvre is something many NHS GPs can do. Though not all.

Aboslutely. I'm sure they're all positioning like crazy. I'd just like one of them to actually do something decisive to reshape the political landscape for once.

Blast. Seems it's not true!

I'm not altogether a fan of Ruth Davidson but this move, I like. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/09/ruth-davidson-planning-scottish-tory-breakaway-challenges-theresa/ So now the Scottish Tories are taking the lead in splitting from the Conservative Party and will fight for continued membership of the Single Market. I see this as simple common sense and a way of salvaging some kind of viable economic future out of the havoc created by Cameron and Co. I hope other politicans (of whatever party) will also take this as a sign that now is the time to start think creativly about how you organise yourselves. If they had more gumption we'd have had a new centre party by September of last year.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > She hasn't thought this through has she? Sound > familiar?...:) Does look as if we're in Cameron's favourite territory, 'back of envelope' land.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Direct rule on it's way?... I don't think so. Can't see that being implemented. I just assume the DUP/Tory agreement can't last very long.

Yes. He made a similar point on World At One. The UK government cannot function as the honest broker in the NI power sharing agreement (which of course has hit the rocks), it it's dependent on one of the parties involved for it's own political survival.

Yes - have taken the Stemetil. It doesn't 'cure' the underlying problem but deals with the symptoms. I suffered no side effects. I really think rest is important if the cause is suspected to be viral - as it is for many people. But the Epley Manoeuvre is really worth a try.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Soundbite Alert!...In the national interest has > replaced Strong and stable... What is so irritating about this (to put it mildly) is that, as others have said, this is the second time in 12 months that a Tory government has, completely unnecessarily, created a national crisis. In what universe do you manufacture 'the greatest peacetime challenge this country has ever faced' (or words to that effect), and then, without so much as a blush, put your 'Churchill cloak' on?

Very funny quote on twitter describing the DUP manifesto - 'Basically just The Bible, with fortnightly bin collections'.

JoeLeg Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I imagine they'll bring a shopping list. Wonder what'll be on the list. Aside from assurances that Northern Ireland will have no 'special status' after Brexit. As rendelharris says, they're an illiberal bunch.

Alan Medic Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A coalition of chaos maybe? That'll be it.

DulwichFox Wrote: ----------------------------------------------------- > > It's like you going to Pub to buy a pint. The pint > costs ?4.00 and you only have ?3.95 so a mate > gives you 5p > > Is he entitled to a sip. ? > > Foxy Trouble is I think the DUP might be the kind of mate who says 'A miss is as good as a mile. Without that 5p you'd have no pint at all. I'm entitled to half.'

So how much influence will the DUP wield in this arrangement? Not too much I hope. Don't like their illiberal agenda.

I was trying to dodge the election result until this afternoon - but I opened an email that I thought was about something else. So glad I did - this is all very interesting. Very funny tweet from Hadley Freeman - Pity the poor soul this morning who will have to explain 'hung parliament' to Trump.

In direct contrast to my behaviour twenty years ago ('Were you up for Portillo?'), I'm going to see how long I can go tomorrow without finding out the election result. Something along the lines of the Likely Lads Football Score episode. My aim is to reach 17:00 without having a clue as to the result. It'll be difficult - but not impossible, I think.