Victoria Derbyshire

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Labour MP Stephen Kinnock claims that a deal between the Conservatives and the DUP would create "serious danger of wrecking the Northern Ireland peace process".

Talks have continued in Northern Ireland between Stormont's political parties and the British and Irish governments, in a bid to restore the collapsed institutions. The DUP had been part of a power-sharing executive with Sinn Fein.

"By entering into a confidence and suppy agreement you have removed the neutrality of the British government completely," Mr Kinnock tells Victoria Derbyshire.

However, Conservative John Redwood insists: "The government wouldn't do anything to jeopardise the talks that are continuing between the parties in Northern Ireland."

Victoria Derbyshire

Conservative MP John Redwood tells Victoria Derbyshire that his party is not going into coalition with the DUP but will receive backing for the Budget and in any confidence votes.

"They're not going to be ministers, they're not going to influence Conservative policy on lots of other things," he says. "We will have our own separate identities on other issues."

Would a deal make the Tories the "nasty party" again, as former party chairman Lord Patten has claimed, external?

"No, of course not," Mr Redwood insists, adding that the Conservative Party would have its own, differing, views on social matters.

However, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock thinks the Conservatives would be better off running a minority government.

Pursuing a deal means "[DUP leader] Arlene Foster is now the most powerful politician in the United Kingdom", he claims.

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Sources have told the BBC the "confidence and supply" deal between the Tories and the DUP is expected to be announced in the next couple of hours.

Theresa May has been seeking the backing of the DUP's 10 MPs after losing her majority in the general election and both sides have been in talks.

A "confidence and supply" deal is likely to see the DUP supporting the Conservative minority government over finance measures and in any votes of confidence.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

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It is thought Grenfell Tower's recently-installed cladding may have helped the fire to spread and now cladding is being tested from as many as 600 tower blocks across England.

Housing Minister Alok Sharma urged landlords to "urgently" submit samples for testing but added that they shouldn't wait for the results but "act now" to improve fire safety.

In Camden, north London, tower blocks have been evacuated amid safety fears. "In Camden it wasn't just the cladding," Mr Sharma told Today. "There were other multiple failures when it came to the fire safety regime."

With tests continuing and a public inquiry promised, the minister insisted that "we have to be led by the experts" when making changes to fire safety regimes.

He promised: "We will make the changes that are required because this must never, never happen again in our country."

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

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Following shadow chancellor John McDonnell's allegation that victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were "murdered" by "political decisions", shadow housing secretary John Healey told Today that his shadow cabinet colleague was "giving voice to the very real anger and disbelief that many people have".

But he added: "I wouldn't use the word murder. It's not yet possible to point to direct cause and effect."

The MP, who was briefly a housing minister in the last Labour government, defended its record of refurbishing tower blocks and bringing in new fire regulations.

However, he argued that it "became clear" following inquiries into tower block fires in Camberwell, south London and in Southampton, that more needed to be done. Coroners' reports were released in 2013.

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Labour's John McDonnell has claimed victims of the Grenfell Tower fire were "murdered" by "political decisions".

Speaking at Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, the shadow chancellor blamed the decision to "view housing as only for financial speculation".

At least 79 people are feared to have died in the fire in west London, which began in the early hours of 14 June.

Housing minister Alok Sharma said it was "disappointing" that people wanted to make it "a party political issue".

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Good morning and welcome to what looks like being a busy political day ahead. The developing story at the moment is the news that the DUP and the Conservatives have all but agreed their deal to ensure that Theresa May can rely on the DUP MPs' votes in key votes on things like the Queen's Speech, the Budget and confidence motions.