Speaker rejects SNP request to debate government's £1 billion DUP deal

John Bercow has rejected an SNP request for an emergency debate on the Government's £1 billion deal with the DUP.

The Commons Speaker said he had listened carefully to representations from Pete Wishart but was not persuaded the matter should be discussed under the emergency debate procedure.

Theresa May's minority Government has been criticised by opposition parties after agreeing a “confidence and supply” arrangement with the DUP, meaning its 10 MPs will vote with the Conservatives on the Queen's Speech, the Budget, and legislation relating to Brexit and national security.

The support from the DUP alongside the 317 Tory MPs allows Mrs May to have an absolute majority in the Commons, something she lost following the snap election

Mr Wishart, making his application for the debate, said: “The central part of this deal involved a funding arrangement that would see Northern Ireland benefit from over £1 billion of extra investment while the other nations of the United Kingdom would secure next to nothing.

“The full details of this deal must be fully debated and all the issues properly scrutinised as quickly as possible, certainly ahead of Thursday's votes on the humble address.”

The first test of the DUP-Tory arrangement will occur this week with votes on the Queen's Speech, which outlines the Government's legislative programme for the next two years.

Mr Wishart added: “There are also questions about the role of the Scotland Office in all of this.

“On Sunday, the secretary of state for Scotland (David Mundell) noted that he would not support any funding which 'is deliberately sought to subvert the Barnett rules'.

“This clearly does. This deal fails that test.