Theresa May looks set to be backed by the Democratic Unionist Party as she attempts to run a minority British government following her general election disaster. Downing Street said an outline agreement on a "confidence and supply" arrangement had been reached which will be put to the Cabinet for discussion on Monday. The 10 MPs from the Northern Irish party could prove crucial in supporting the Conservatives on key votes after Thursday's election saw Mrs May lose control of the Commons. Later, a No 10 spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Democratic Unionist Party have agreed to the principles of an outline agreement to support the Conservative Government on a confidence and supply basis when Parliament returns next week. She said outside Downing Street: "What the country needs more than ever is certainty, and having secured the largest number of votes and the greatest number of seats in the General Election, it is clear that only the Conservative & Unionist Party has the legitimacy and ability to provide that certainty by commanding a majority in the House of Commons. "The details will be put forward for discussion and agreement at a Cabinet meeting on Monday." Theresa May is trying to persuade the ten DUP MPs to enter into a formal coalition agreement with the Tories , as opposed to a less formal "confidence and supply" arrangement, according to reports. The agreement being discussed between the DUP and the Tories, who fell eight seats short of a majority in Thursday's election, is not a full coalition, but an agreement which sees the smaller party support the larger one in key votes such as on the Budget.
Following talks in Belfast, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agrees to a "confidence and supply" deal to support a Conservative Party minority-government.