DUP denies demanding £2bn for NHS and infrastructure in Tory talks
A senior MP says the party is lobbying for extra funding for Northern Ireland but the figures "are way wide of the mark".
Thursday 22 June 2017 11:58, UK
The chances of the Democratic Unionist Party reaching a deal with the Conservatives to support Theresa May's minority government have been described as "very good".
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP chief whip at Westminster, confirmed the party is lobbying for extra funding for Northern Ireland as part of any agreement.
But he denied reports the party was asking for £1bn for the health service and a further £1bn for infrastructure spending.
"The figures that are being bandied about are way wide of the mark," he told the BBC's Today programme.
"What we are asking for is recognition by the Government that after 30 years of a very violent conflict in Northern Ireland when the capital resources were spent on security - on police stations, fortifications, military establishments - our infrastructure fell well behind the rest of the United Kingdom. So what we are asking for is some help to make up that deficit."
Sir Jeffrey hinted the DUP had already secured concessions from the Tories, with the Prime Minister's pledges to end the triple lock for pensioners and means testing for the winter fuel allowance being left out of the Queen's Speech.
"We are interested in a deal that benefits the UK as a whole," he said.
"What we certainly don't want to see is pensioners and the more vulnerable being affected. If what we do benefits people across the United Kingdom then as a unionist party that is something we are proud of."
Asked about the chances of a deal before next week's key Commons vote on the Queen's Speech, Sir Jeffrey said: "I think very good. The sooner the better as far as we are concerned."
Earlier this week, Sky sources said the negotiations "haven't proceeded in a way that DUP would have expected", with the DUP urging the Government to give the talks "greater focus".
But Sir Jeffrey indicated that the situation had improved since the talks began after Mrs May became more personally involved, with initial discussions being led by Government Chief Whip Gavin Williamson.
"I think the Prime Minister is moving this process forward. She is engaged now. We welcome that. I think that since that has happened we have been moving forward," he said.
Chancellor Philip Hammond also expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached.
"We don't agree on everything, but on the big issues about the Union, about the need to grow our economy and to spread the benefits of that growth across all corners of the United Kingdom, on the need to be strong on defence and counter-terrorism - on all of these areas we agree with the Democratic Unionist Party and I am confident that we will be able to come to an arrangement with them to support the Government in the key areas of its programme," he told the BBC.