Katy Balls Katy Balls

DUP abstain on finance bill – what it means

Although Theresa May looks set to avoid a confidence vote for the time being, tonight’s Finance Bill votes could serve to undermine her authority further. Government whips have spent the day frantically trying to persuade swing MPs to vote with the government against a series of amendments.

Those efforts have been rather fruitless in some respects – with the government already forced to concede on the Jo Johnson backed amendment calling for the Treasury to publish a comparison of the impact of the Brexit deal with the impact of Britain’s existing terms with the EU.

Adding to May’s woes is the fact the DUP have abstained on most of the votes. In theory, they should back May’s government here as it’s a vote on the Budget which is part of the confidence and supply agreement.

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