It's amusing seeing the DUP being referred to as "the Irish DUP" in the British and international media. Bet they're loving that!
More seriously though, I hope they're finding the extra scrutiny and exposure to a more widespread audience uncomfortable. It's certainly demonstrating the scale of the chasm between the British values of most Britons and the regressive values of northern unionism.
If the DUP can influence/govern via direct rule, what then is the incentive for them to work towards re-establishing the devolved institutions at Stormont and involve others who won't be as congenial to their wishes as their new Tory partners in Westminster?
Also, surely the DUP's influence/presence in government at Westminster is incompatible with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. I don't regard the British government as a neutral player when it comes to northern affairs anyway, but they have at least claimed to be a neutral "broker" or "mediator" in recent decades. Now that the DUP will have a role in the next UK government, however, it will make a total mockery of any such notions of governmental neutrality. What safeguards might be put in place to protect the rights and interests of the nationalist community? What if Jeffrey Donaldson was to become secretary of state for the north, for example?
Interestingly, the DUP allege that they didn't actually promise an Irish language act at St. Andrew's (so they say there's no duty on them to facilitate it) and claim that it was actually the British government that promised it. The St. Andrew's Agreement stated:
"The Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language."
If the DUP are now going to form part of or play a role in the next British government, however, won't they be obliged to deliver on that promise? Maybe they're unwittingly putting themselves in a bit of a bind on that front...
The DUP also repeatedly claim to want a "frictionless border" in Ireland, but they were recklessly pro-Brexit and also reject the prospect of special status. One of their demands to the Tories - in return for offering the support of their ten MPs - is that the north will not be granted any special status that differentiates it from Britain's post-EU status. If you want the border to be "frictionless", some form of special status will be a prerequisite, however, so their stated wishes don't quite add up.
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