Tower blaze further delays May’s power deal with DUP

London, June 15
British Prime Minister Theresa May faced further delays in forming her new government today after her would-be allies said their agreement would be put back following a deadly tower block blaze in London.
The Conservative leader lost her parliamentary majority in last week’s election and is now desperately seeking the backing of the 10 MPs from Northern Ireland’s ultra- conservative Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
EU leaders have voiced growing impatience to start Brexit negotiations, which have already been delayed by the parliamentary election-and on which the clock is ticking.
An initial round of talks between May and DUP leader Arlene Foster ended with no agreement on Tuesday, although both sides said they were hopeful of a deal.
“The talks are continuing but I think the events in London today probably will have some impact on that. I think it’s unlikely there will be any announcement today,” a DUP spokesman told AFP.
Media reports suggested an agreement could be delayed into next week, but the spokesman said: “I certainly have heard nothing on this side to indicate that.”
On a visit to Paris on Tuesday evening where she met with French President Emmanuel Macron, May described the talks with the DUP as “productive”.