Northern Ireland

Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond to appear at DUP conference

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson will address the DUP conference. Picture by Victoria Jones/PA Wire
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson will address the DUP conference. Picture by Victoria Jones/PA Wire Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson will address the DUP conference. Picture by Victoria Jones/PA Wire

ARCH Brexiteer and former foreign secretary Boris Johnson will address the DUP's annual conference on Saturday.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, a supporter of the draft withdrawal agreement, will also address conference delegates and guests during a private dinner on Friday night.

The appearance by the two leading Tories, which was revealed last night by the Impartial Reporter, comes amid strains in the confidence and supply deal that sees the DUP's 10 MPs support Theresa May's minority government at Westminster.

Arlene Foster's party is angered that the Brexit deal contains potential provisions that would create regulatory differences between Northern Ireland and Britain – what the DUP describes as a 'border in the Irish Sea'.

On Monday, the party's MPs abstained from votes on a series of amendments to the Conservatives' Finance Bill, while supporting Labour on one vote.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said the Tory government had "seriously broken" its commitment that Northern Ireland.

Ian Knox cartoon November 21 2018 
Ian Knox cartoon November 21 2018  Ian Knox cartoon November 21 2018 

Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson resigned from the cabinet in July over the so-called Chequers draft of the Brexit agreement and is regarded as a potential successor as Tory leader.

Mr Hammond, who has been chancellor since 2016, was Mr Johnson's predecessor as foreign secretary and an advocate of remaining in the EU.

The DUP conference takes place at the Crown Plaza hotel near Shaws Bridge in south Belfast on Saturday.

Read More: Tories avoid DUP abstentionism by accepting raft of opposition amendments