Tory-DUP deal: £1bn Northern Ireland funding boost is 'just a down payment', warns ex-Treasury chief

Theresa May’s £1bn “confidence and supply” deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is “just a downpayment”, the former permanent secretary to the treasury has warned.

Nick Macpherson alleged that the Northern Irish Party will demand more funds from the Government in the future.

His comments came after Prime Minister Theresa May agreed a supply and confidence" deal with the Northern Irish party, which will support the government in motions of confidence and appropriation or budget votes, by either voting in favour or abstaining.

In return the party secured £1bn of extra funding, which will be spent on infrastructure and health spending in the country.

Taking to Twitter, Lord Macpherson described the deal as “profligacy”.

"£1bn for Ulster is just a downpayment. DUP will be back for more… again and again… They have previous in such matters. #profligacy”, wrote the former permanent secretary to chancellors Gordon Brown, Alastair Darling, and George Osborne.

His comments added to the chorus of criticism, Theresa May's Conservative Party have received since striking the deal.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell called it a “grubby” deal, while outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron called the agreement a “shoddy”, adding that it showed “the nasty party is back".

He said: “While our schools are crumbling and our NHS is in crisis, Theresa May chooses to throw cash at 10 MPs in a grubby attempt to keep her Cabinet squatting in No 10.”

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon called the agreement a “grubby DUP deal to let [Theresa May] cling to power".

“Let’s call this grubby deal what it is, this is a straightforward political bribe to desperately prop up Theresa May in office.”

However, Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon countered claims that the money was a “bung” to the DUP.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “Let’s be clear – we all have an interest in the future prosperity and security of the province.

“This is £1bn that will go to improving some investment, improving the infrastructure of the province, growing the private economy of the province, and ensuring its employment rate – which is behind Wales and Scotland – catches up.”

He said all taxpayers across England, Wales and Scotland have an interest in Northern Ireland “doing better”.

“I saw it described, ridiculously today, as some kind of bung to the DUP. The DUP is not getting this money. The money is going to invest in the people of Northern Ireland,” he added.