Yahoo News We could have won election if we had adopted policies in DUP deal, says former party chairman Grant Shapps
The Conservatives could have won the election if the party had adopted some of the policies in the deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to support the minority Tory Government, a former party chairman has said.
Grant Shapps, who chaired the party from 2012 to 2015, said on Twitter that Theresa May could have had won a majority in this month's general election with the policies the DUP asked her to scrap.
The £1billion deal with the Northern Irish party was signed today which forced Mrs May to scrap unpopular parts of her manifesto including the change to Winter Fuel Payments, scrapping the triple-lock on pensions and the new social care policy.
Critics claimed that these policies had resulted in the Tories failing to win a majority at the June 7 general election.
Mr Shapps, who was also a Minister of State for International Development wrote on Twitter: "Hmm. No change to Winter Fuel Payments, Triple-Lock Pensions & LongTerm care. With this manifesto, we could have had a stonking majority!"
Hmm. No change to Winter Fuel Payments, Triple-Lock Pensions & LongTerm care. With this manifesto, we could have had a stonking majority!
— Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) June 26, 2017
Many commented that the 'magic money tree' so frequently spoken of in the election appeared to have been found after the £1billion deal was signed.
Roughly speaking, £1bn over two years would fund an annual payrise of £1,500 per UK nurse. https://t.co/WuZuVch5z5
— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) June 26, 2017
at least it's a patriotic magic money tree pic.twitter.com/vw4v6voJ38
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) June 26, 2017
That Magic Money Tree just dropped a billion quid into Arlene Foster's lap.
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) June 26, 2017
However, former Prime Minister David Cameron commended Theresa May for her decision to sign the deal - which had been opposed by former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major.
He tweeted: "Task facing PM, given the circs, is to deliver the most stable govt possible - today's DUP deal helps achieve that. All Cons should support."
Other Conservative MPs also voiced their support for the deal:
Lib Dems criticise hung parliament deal after successful surgery to remove their irony glands. https://t.co/Xx1fdza7nJ
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) June 26, 2017
A positive deal struck with the DUP and one that allows the govt to take forward the result of the referendum.
— Kevin Foster (@kevin_j_foster) June 26, 2017
The deal will see the DUP's 10 MPs back Mrs May on key votes in the House of Commons, mainly related to Brexit, the economy and defence.
The "confidence and supply" agreement comes just days before MPs will vote on the contents of Mrs May’s Queen’s Speech which sets out her legislative plans for government.
It was signed by Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson and the DUP's Sir Jeffrey Donaldson while Mrs May and Mrs Foster, along with Damian Green and Nigel Dodds, watched on.
Speaking in Downing Street after agreeing the deal Ms Foster said: "As part of our policy agreement both parties have agreed that there will be no change to the pensions triple lock and the universal nature of the winter fuel payment across the United Kingdom.
