The Daily Politics

The BBC's assistant political editor was supposed to be updating viewers on Arlene Foster's visit to Downing Street, but he ended up telling them about a "much more interesting fight about to erupt."

Although the general election has left some politicians bruised, Norman Smith spoke about the battle brewing in a turf war between Larry and Palmerston, cats who both live in the street.

He returned to the "face-off" between the four-legged rivals later in his live interview with Daily Politics presenter Jo Coburn.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Will there be a serious attempt to stop John Bercow resuming the chair of the Commons, now he has indicated he could seek to continue through the full length of the new Parliament?

Back in February, five Conservatives signed an early day motion of no confidence, but the attempt to unseat him fizzled out.

Even so, my guess is that the anti-Bercow camp will not be able to resist, if only to make the point that not everyone in the House supports him.

The Commons has to re-elect its Speaker at the start of each new Parliament.

Read more from Mark.

Political correspondent for Channel 4 News tweets:

BBC North America editor tweets:

And the director of British Future, which calls itself a non-partisan think tank, tweets:

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Sir John Major has said he is "wary" and "dubious" about a deal with the DUP.

The former prime minister, who was one of the architects of the peace process in Northern Ireland, told Martha Kearney that he understands why Theresa May "wants to shore up her parliamentary position", but that a "fundamental part of the peace process" in Northern Ireland is that the UK government "needs to remain impartial".

He added "people shouldn't regard [the peace process] as a given" and that "we cannot know if that impartiality is going to be crucial at some stage in the future".

Image source, PA

The Father of the House (that's Ken Clarke) chairs the proceedings from the table of the House and presides over the election of the Speaker.

The Father of the House ascertains if the previous Speaker is willing to take the chair by calling on the member to speak and confirm their candidacy.

A backbench MP will be called to support the nomination and move the motion that they do take the chair as Speaker.

There is no debate on the motion.

Then the Father of the House puts the question to a vote and collects the voices.

The member is then “dragged to the Chair” as the Speaker-elect.

John Pienaar
Pienaar’s Politics

The Cabinet has been taking stock of the ongoing talks with the DUP, our deputy political editor says.

Theresa May has a fairly short list of fairly big demands in return for cooperation - like more money for Northern Ireland.

The DUP is in a position where it wants to show the government who's boss. And on the government's side, it's an exercise in survival and there will be a cost to that.

Conservative backbenchers are keen to stay there, and at Downing Street, there is something of a vacuum.

No-one feels this is going to be a long-term arrangement, though it may continue for a while yet.

And Brexit is the high, high priority.

Some interesting thoughts on the back of the former Conservative prime minister's interview with the BBC's World At One:

Former Labour PM Tony Blair's press secretary, now writer, tweets:

Author of Fatherland tweets:

And election analyst tweets:

A junior finance minister has tweeted that she has left government.

Lucy Neville-Rolfe, who was responsible for liaising with the financial services industry over Brexit, became a Conservative member of Britain's upper house of parliament in October 2013 after a career at Tesco and in the civil service.

Theresa May appointed Lady Neville-Rolfe as commercial secretary to the Treasury in December, after she had worked since 2014 as a junior minister in the culture and business government departments.

Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter

A deal with the Democratic Unionist Party would allow the Conservatives to form a government. BBC News NI looks at party leader Arlene Foster's career to date.

How the election of the Speaker unfolds:

• Clerk of the Crown delivers the White Book to the Clerk of the Commons
• Lords: the Commissioners leave to put on their robes
• Commons: Father of the House takes the chair
• The Royal Commission returns, the peers now wearing their robes, and take their seats, and they instruct Black Rod to go to the Commons and summon MPs
• Black Rod goes to the Commons and invites MPs to go to the Lords
• MPs arrive in the Lords to hear the Commission read
• MPs return to the Commons and elect a Speaker.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Tory former prime minister Sir John Major says "it's doubly important" the UK government consults on Brexit if it does a deal with the DUP.

"We have to recognise the election changed - if not everything - then a very great deal," he says, adding the views of the 48% who voted for Britain to remain in the EU "can't be brushed aside".

Westminster sources tell the BBC that "a deal is as likely as not tomorrow as today" and within 36 hours, there will be a government commanding an absolute majority in the Commons and enjoying confidence and supply.

The BBC understands the deal has largely been agreed and that they are taking time to ensure the fine details.

Image source, PA

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has predicted his party can go from strength to strength in Scotland and has said he believes there will be another general election soon.

Speaking outside the Commons with seven Scottish Labour MPs - six of them newly-elected - Mr Corbyn said he thought last week's election could be seen as the launch pad for Labour in Scotland.

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

Former prime minister Sir John Major, one of the architects of the Northern Ireland peace process, says he regards it as "fragile".

He says he's concerned and "dubious" about the potential deal between Theresa May and the DUP - although he understands her need to shore up her government.

He says the danger is the UK government will not be seen as "impartial" if it is "locked into a parliamentary deal" with one of the parties in Northern Ireland.

If there are difficulties with NI executive and Brexit negotiations, the only honest broker can be the UK government, he says, but they would cease to be such if they are in a deal with the DUP.

The fear is if one of the parties is "aggrieved" and that allows the "hard men" lurking in the background to emerge again.

He says he believes Mrs May can continue in government without a deal with the DUP.