DUP rebels against the Government over Brexit bills
The Democratic Unionist Party which supports Theresa May's government failed to back her in several votes after being vocally critical of her draft Brexit deal.
May agreed a draft arrangement to leave the European Union last week, but DUP leader Arlene Foster has said that May should demand a better deal, arguing the current proposal could undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom.
Under the terms of the DUP's arrangement with May's Conservative party, the Northern Irish party has agreed to back May's government on, among other things, "the Budget; finance bills; money bills".
But on Monday, the DUP abstained on the first two votes on the Finance Bill, and eight DUP lawmakers voted against the government in a third vote, on an amendment to the bill proposed by the opposition Labour party.
While the government still won the votes, commentators said that the move had a deeper significance given the tensions between the DUP and government.
Published: by Radio NewsHub