SPIKED: Everyone needs to calm down about the DUP

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Theresa May is still in talks to secure a ‘confidence and supply’ deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in an attempt to shore up her minority government after last week’s shock election result. This scramble to form a workable administration provides the DUP with opportunities to punch above its weight. And it’s clear that party leader Arlene Foster intends to drive a hard bargain. However, it’s the reaction to the talks that has been most striking. Even though the Tory-DUP deal falls far short of a formal coalition, there have nonetheless been waves of anger across the media and social media, and even protests on the streets, all expressing fury that a party like the DUP is being engaged in this way.