Talks between the British government and the DUP are expected to continue through the weekend after what the party’s deputy leader Nigel Dodds described as good and constructive discussions in London on Friday. The government is seeking to persuade the DUP to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal next week in the hope that most Conservative Brexiteers will follow suit. Mr Dodds was joined by DUP chief whip Jeffrey Donaldson, Belfast South MP Emma Little-Pengelly and the party’s chief executive Timothy Johnston. Mr Dodds said the fact that Mr Hammond attended the meeting should not be interpreted as evidence that the DUP was seeking cash in return for supporting the deal. This is about Brexit and how we can protect the future of the United Kingdom and protect Northern Ireland’s economic and political future,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times March 15, 2019 19:08 UTC