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Brexit Deal Drama: 'DUP Enjoy Holding Knife to May's Throat, Fear Corbyn Gov't'

© REUTERS / Andrew PatonDUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds are seen after Arlene Fosters speech at her party's annual conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 25, 2017.
DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds are seen after Arlene Fosters speech at her party's annual conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 25, 2017. - Sputnik International
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The pro-British party in Northern Ireland has objected to a clause about future arrangements for the Irish border, undermining the Brexit deal efforts by UK PM Theresa May. However "bringing down the British government may be a step too far for them," as they are wary of the Labour-led alternative, an academic suggested to Sputnik.

The UK government has been — so far unsuccessfully — negotiating with their coalition partners, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

READ MORE: DUP Gives UK PM Silent Treatment, Demands More Work on Irish Border Issue

At the same time, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar saw his popularity surge December 7 after polls suggested his tough statement that he expects Britain to present a new proposal on the Northern Irish border to the EU within 24 hours is playing well with voters.

The latest word from European Commission on the Brexit deal is the Sunday, December 10 deadline for the UK PM to return to Brussels with an acceptable proposal. 

Speaking to Sputnik, Professor Roger MacGinty of Manchester University's Politics Department commented on the extremely complex political dynamics between Britain and the EU as well as within the Conservative-led Government.

Sputnik: What possible proposals or concessions could Prime Minister May make on Northern Ireland that would be acceptable to all sides?

Roger MacGinty: I suspect that some creative word-play might be the route to solve this. Civil servants in London, Dublin and Brussels will be poring over the thesaurus. The DUP will demand some form of wording, or a side deal, that assures them that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom.

The DUP argument that Northern Ireland must have exactly the same status as the rest of the UK does not make sense. The Good Friday Agreement already gives Northern Ireland a different status to the rest of the UK. Indeed, the DUP have made sure that Northern Ireland is different in terms of its social legislation.

© REUTERS / Hannah McKayAnti-Brexit protesters hold flags as Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party speaks, flanked by other DUP MP's, outside the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain December 5, 2017.
Anti-Brexit protesters hold flags as Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party speaks, flanked by other DUP MP's, outside the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain December 5, 2017.  - Sputnik International
Anti-Brexit protesters hold flags as Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party speaks, flanked by other DUP MP's, outside the Houses of Parliament, London, Britain December 5, 2017.

Sputnik: What do you think motivated the DUP's rejection of the agreement on Monday? Had they judged that the Prime Minister was going to let Northern Ireland stay in the Customs Union?

Roger MacGintyThe DUP have a long history of truculence in negotiations. They boycotted the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement because Sinn Fein were in the room. Their campaign slogans often begin with the word "no."

Their base expects them to defend the Union with the United Kingdom and so they cannot be seen to back down. There is also no doubt that they enjoy the limelight. It sells well back home.

© REUTERS / Andrew PatonDUP leader Arlene Foster reacts during her party's annual conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 25, 2017.
DUP leader Arlene Foster reacts during her party's annual conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 25, 2017.  - Sputnik International
DUP leader Arlene Foster reacts during her party's annual conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, November 25, 2017.

Sputnik: Is this an issue the DUP might actually be prepared to collapse the Government over?

Roger MacGintyBringing down the British government may be a step too far for them though. They fear a Jeremy Corbyn-led government. They regularly accuse Corbyn of being a "terrorist sympathiser" and he is clear that he supports a united Ireland.

The DUP enjoy holding the knife to Theresa May's throat and quite a few Tory back-benchers are encouraging them to keep it there. The Brexit fanatics see the DUP intervention as a good thing.

© AP Photo / Vianney Le CaerJeremy Corbyn poses for photographers upon arrival at the GQ's Men of The Year awards, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.
Jeremy Corbyn poses for photographers upon arrival at the GQ's Men of The Year awards, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. - Sputnik International
Jeremy Corbyn poses for photographers upon arrival at the GQ's Men of The Year awards, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017.

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