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DUP MPs absent from stormy Westminster exchanges due to potential travel disruption

The green benches were filled to near capacity as the British prime minister was quizzed on his Brexit proposals
The green benches were filled to near capacity as the British prime minister was quizzed on his Brexit proposals The green benches were filled to near capacity as the British prime minister was quizzed on his Brexit proposals

THE DUP has said its ten MPs were absent from Westminster yesterday as Boris Johnson was quizzed on his Brexit proposals because they had already made plans to travel home.

The green benches were filled to near capacity in the morning when the British prime minister faced questions from MPs about his final proposals to the EU.

However, the Tories' confidence and supply partners were missing as MPs engaged in a series of raucous and acrimonious exchanges, with independent unionist Lady Sylvia Hermon the only Westminster representative from the north present in the chamber.

A DUP spokesman said there was northing untoward in the MPs' absence, citing potential disruption to flights caused by Storm Lorenzo.

"MPs did not receive notice of the prime minister’s statement until this morning when many had already made alternative plans to travel back to Northern Ireland because of possible travel disruption," the spokesman told The Irish News.