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AFP
LONDON
British Prime Minister Theresa May's government brushed off a threat on Thursday by its Northern Irish allies to withdraw their support if she compromises too much on Brexit, just days before a crucial European Union summit.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May's Conservative government, threatened to vote against the forthcoming budget if she makes a deal that disadvantages the British province of Northern Ireland.
The warning, which comes amid continued opposition from May's own Conservative MPs to her Brexit strategy, further raised the stakes as negotiators in Brussels seek a breakthrough ahead of a summit of EU leaders on October 18.
Scottish Minister David Mundell suggested the DUP would come around, however, suggesting the alternative was either a government led by opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn or a Brexit next March without any deal at all.
"I'm sure they too will be persuaded the alternatives -- of no deal or potentially a Corbyn government -- would not be of benefit to them or Northern Ireland,"he said.
May gathered selected members of her cabinet late Thursday to update them on the Brexit talks, with speculation she wants to secure their support before agreeing to any new compromise with the EU.
