"The Nasty Party" - How the DUP is Toxifying the Tories

by Katie Sharp

Recently, the views of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have come to the media’s attention after the party agreed to prop up a Conservative minority government. Many people have criticised Theresa May’s decision to enter an informal coalition with a party that has views many would describe as backwards and antiquated. This is particularly significant, considering the fact that Conservatives have been trying to rid themselves of these labels for years. As May said herself at the 2002 Conservative party conference: There's a lot we need to do in this party of ours. Our base is too narrow and so, occasionally, are our sympathies. You know what some people call us: the nasty party."

This quote makes it seem very odd that May would contradict herself later on (it’s not like we’ve seen her do something like this before with the snap general election, of course). Using the DUP as a way to cling on to power proves that all the Conservatives currently care about is keeping hold of power, something they may certainly pay for in the next General Election if this minority government turns sour.

Unsure of the views of the DUP? Here are the views of some of the current DUP MPs.

Sammy Wilson, MP for East Antrim, former Minister of the Environment for the DUP- denies the existence of climate change (“I still think man-made climate change is a con”), described breastfeeding in the House of Commons as “voyeuristic” and the women who want to as “exhibitionists”.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/sammy-wilson-i-still-think-manmade-climate-change-is-a-con-28515999.html; http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/sammy-wilson-says-breastfeeding-commons-mps-voyeuristic-and-not-motivated-by-need-to-feed-baby-34903825.html

David Simpson, MP for Upper Bann- creationist, voted against the Same Sex Couples Bill in 2013 and spoke against the Bill, as seen in this video: 

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/tussle-of-biblical-proportions-over-creationism-in-ulster-classrooms-28064310.html

Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford - highest-claiming MP out of all 650, claiming £205,798 in taxpayer-funded expenses last year, excluding travel expenses.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/11/expense-claims-of-dup-mp-jim-shannon-to-be-investigated

Ian Paisley Jr, MP for North Antrim- homophobic (described homosexual relationships as “immoral, offensive and obnoxious”, is quoted as saying "I am pretty repulsed by gay and lesbianism. I think it is wrong.”).

https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0203/59544-paisleyi/; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6705637.stm