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No Brexit deal is better than a bad deal, a leading DUP MP has told his party conference.<\/p>\nNo Brexit deal is better than a bad deal, a leading DUP MP has told his party conference.<\/p>\n
Nigel Dodds was speaking just days after MPs voted down British Prime Minister Theresa May\u2019s approach to the Brexit talks.<\/p>\n
MPs voted by 303 to 258 against a motion endorsing the government\u2019s negotiating strategy.<\/p>\n
With just over 40 days to go until the United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the European Union, the DUP deputy leader said Mrs May will have their support if \u201cnecessary changes\u201d are made to the backstop.<\/p>\n
He told his party\u2019s spring conference in Omagh, Co Tyrone, that they want a Brexit deal, \u201cbut we are very clear that a no-deal is better than a bad deal\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we leave the EU \u2013 for us the guiding star is the union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will do nothing to undermine that Union.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only way to a majority in the House of Commons is with DUP votes. With necessary changes to the backstop, the Prime Minister will have our support.\u201d<\/p>\n
In her speech to the conference, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said her party will say no when the deal is \u201cnot suitable\u201d, but will also \u201cnot be afraid to yes when the deal is right\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will measure any new draft Withdrawal Agreement against our own tests of both protecting the Union and respecting the referendum result,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mrs Foster added: \u201cWe must work for a sensible deal which works for every part of the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n