BBC News Channel

Former Labour Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain says he shares Sir John Major's concerns that Theresa May could be "compromised" by doing a deal with the DUP to shore up her government.

Describing the former Conservative prime minister's views, as expressed in an interview on BBC Radio 4's World at One, as "compelling" and "extremely authoritative", he says he cannot see how the PM can be neutral on the peace process following its negotiations with the DUP.

Lord Hain says members of the DUP, including Nigel Dodds, Ian Paisley Junior and leader Arlene Foster are "tough negotiators" who will "demand a high price for" their help.

But he adds that if they ask for more money for the health service, or to get rid of the Conservatives' "unpopular pension proposals - well, good luck to them".

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Bluntly, the DUP wants cash - for economic regeneration, to deal with so-called legacy issues from the Troubles, and they want to halt austerity. DUP folk want to be able to say to voters in NI that they have forced the Tory government to adopt a more compassionate approach.

The fact that a deal still hasn't been signed says to me that the DUP is playing hardball, and if Mrs May thinks she's a bloody difficult woman, Arlene Foster can more than hold her own.

Things would get very difficult if the DUP starts looking for concessions in areas like parades in Northern Ireland or flags, or foreign donations to Sinn Fein. Those are very, very emotive issues and could have significant ramifications for the peace process, and Mrs May would be very wary about risking that.

Theresa May "is putting a fox in charge of guarding the henhouse" by appointing leading Brexiteer Steve Baker as a Brexit minister, Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael has said.

"Far from softening her stance on Brexit, Theresa May is doubling down by appointing an arch Brexiteer to help lead the negotiations," he said.

"It flies in the face of last week's election in which the British people clearly rejected her extreme version of Brexit.

"She is putting a fox in charge of guarding the henhouse."

Mr Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, added:

Katya Adler
Europe Editor

Theresa May planned this Paris visit weeks ago, aiming to dazzle and intimidate with her hard Brexit credentials, emboldened by a powerful popular mandate hot off the back of her snap election.

Instead, she arrives at France's grand presidential palace politically humiliated and on the Brexit backfoot, while the dynamic and wildly pro-European new French president, Emmanuel Macron, basks in high public approval ratings - his centrist party La Republique en Marche poised to sweep to the kind of decisive victory Mrs May once dreamed off in the second round of French parliamentary elections this weekend.

Tonight's dinner between the two leaders will be amiable enough, with plans to launch a joint counter-terrorism strategy - fining social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter if they don't remove extremist content. They'll also attend an England v France football friendly at the Stade de France with a minute's silence before kick-off to remember the dead and the injured in the London, Manchester and Paris attacks.

But the prime minister will find President Macron impervious to any charm offensive ahead of the start of Brexit negotiations. He has promised to be tough and has much to gain from Britain's departure - banks and businesses from the city of London - he hopes, and with the UK out of the way, better chances for his dream of closer European integration in defence and migration.

The News, Portsmouth

Image source, Conservative Party

According to The News, external in Portsmouth, a former Tory MP has hit out at the party’s "rubbish" manifesto and urged further engagement with young people following its disappointing result in the general election.

Flick Drummond, who was Portsmouth South MP for the last two years, told The News the student vote proved to be critical in her loss to Labour candidate Stephen Morgan.

She said the feeling among backbenchers towards Theresa May was "very angry", but the party would stick with her as "there really is nobody else".

According to The News, Mrs Drummond said:

The Daily Telegraph

According to the Daily Telegraph, external, Brexit Secretary David Davis has lost his most hardline Brexit minister in what the paper sees as the latest sign that Theresa May is planning to soften the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The paper says David Jones, a minister of state in the Department for Exiting the EU, was sacked by Mrs May. He was replaced by Baroness Anelay, who is thought to have supported the Remain campaign.

That came as another of his ministers, Lord Bridges, resigned at the weekend amid claims that he could not work with Downing Street.

The peer was replaced by Steve Baker MP, a key player in the Vote Leave campaign and prominent Eurosceptic MP.

The Telegraph reports that the changes mean the government’s Brexit department has lost two of its four ministers just days before talks are due to start on Monday.

The decision was apparently a surprise to Mr Davis, who only found out when he was informed by Mr Jones on Monday evening, the paper says.

One source said:

DUP leader Arlene Foster says she hopes the talks with Theresa May will reach a conclusion "sooner rather than later".

She says the discussions pertain to "the nation generally, bringing stability to the UK government in and around issues relating to Brexit, obviously around counter-terrorism, and then doing what's right for Northern Ireland in respect of economic matters".

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has said the views of the 48% who voted against Brexit "cannot be brushed aside" by the government.

The Prime Minister manages a one-liner as Commons Speaker John Bercow is re-elected unopposed.

Nigel Dodds, the DUP's deputy leader, praised John Bercow for allowing the smaller parties to have their voice heard in the Commons.

He also paid tribute to MPs across Northern Ireland and especially from other parties there who were not re-elected.

"We bear a heavy responsibility now in this House - along with the Independent member - as the only representatives from Northern Ireland," he said.

"And we intend to carry out that responsibility very, very carefully indeed," Mr Dodds said, adding that he hopes for the restoration of the Northern Ireland assembly.

Image source, Reuters

After the big Downing Street fight earlier (between Larry and Palmerston, not Mrs May and Mrs Foster) cat charity the Blue Cross has come up with some ways to keep warfare at bay.

It suggests arranging plant pots outside the front door so cats can conceal themselves.

"Out of sight is often out of mind for a cat," it says.

"Cats readily exploit vertical space so a system of platforms and ladders might help too."

House of Commons
Parliament

Stewart Hosie, speaking for the SNP after the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson lost his seat at the general election, opened his remarks by urging more respect across all the parties.

He praised John Bercow as Commons Speaker for being "incredibly diligent" in his attention to detail.

He adds: "Given there is no absolute majority in this House, we're in for some interesting times," and turning to Mr Bercow said: "May I wish you all the very best of luck."

The National Assembly for Wales is set to be renamed the Welsh Parliament after it was backed in a consultation.

Sixty-one percent of nearly 3,000 responses agreed to a name change, with nearly three-quarters backing Welsh Parliament as the best option.

A law to change the name is expected to pass before the 2021 election.

Read more here.