Theresa May allegedly 'misled' the Queen over the DUP deal

Palace officials have claimed the Queen was less than impressed with how Theresa May handled her election shock.

According to The Sunday Times, Her Majesty was 'left infuriated' by the 'crisis of confidence' that Theresa May underwent in the days after the general election.

Having gone into the election with high hopes, Theresa May threw away the Conservative Party's majority (their first since 1992) and her position as prime minister was in question.

Senior courtiers speaking to The Sunday Times have claimed that May 'misled' the Queen about her coalition agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party.

On the day after the election result, Theresa May gave a muted victory speech outside No 10, explaining that she planned to form a government propped up by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland.

I have just been to see Her Majesty the Queen and I will now form a government.

[...] we will continue to work with our friends and allies in the Democratic Unionist Party in particular.

Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom.

Downing Street issued a statement on the Saturday claiming that the DUP:

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.

Just one problem - an agreement hadn't actually been reached.

The DUP quickly issued its own statement contradicting No 10, insisting that there had been no agreement yet made.

Arlene Foster, leader of the DUP, said that no formal discussions would take place over the weekend, and that she would begin talks with Theresa May on Monday.

The DUP explained that, although discussions were occurring with Conservative representatives, those discussions would continue next week 'to work on the details and to reach agreement on arrangements for the new parliament'.

Five hours later, Downing Street issued a second statement:

The Prime Minister has tonight spoken with the DUP to discuss finalising a confidence and supply deal when Parliament returns next week. 

[...] As and when details are finalised both parties will put them forward.

It took May a further 17 days to get a proper deal with the DUP, delaying the Queen's speech and therefore spoiling Hey Majesty's plans to attend Royal Ascot.

Allegedly tensions were high between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street when the Queen's staff were unable to get a straight answer about the status of a DUP deal.

The Sunday Times also reports that following the Grenfell Tower fire, staff in Downing Street 'became so worried about the prime minister's welfare that one suggested sending for an SAS soldier to give her a pep talk to boost her resilience'.

The details are contained in a new book by Sunday Times journalist Tim Ship Fall Out: A Year of Political Mayhem.

HT The Sunday Times

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