These are the DUP's views on abortion, LGBT rights and other major social issues

Theresa May and her Conservative party has reached a “supply and confidence” deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, in order to prop up her minority government.

The Conservatives require the 10 DUP votes to successfully pass legislation in Parliament after the spectacularly lost their majority during the 2017 snap election, ironically called by the Conservatives.

The deal has attracted a lot of criticism, mostly due to the DUP's strong political stances on LGBT rights, abortion and how old the planet is.

Here's why a lot of us should all be concerned.

1. Abortion

Women in Northern Ireland can’t have an abortion, largely thanks to the DUP – who have opposed many attempts to liberalise the country’s ban. Some women are forced to travel to England for the procedure, or (in some extreme cases) buy illegal abortion pills online.

Northern Ireland has some one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. A high court judge ruled in 2015 that the ban on abortion breached human rights.

The group's leader Arlene Foster, told the Guardian in 2016.

I would not want abortion to be as freely available here [Northern Ireland] as it is in England and don’t support the extension of the 1967 act

2. LGBT rights

The DUP was involved a campaign in the 1970s and 80s called “Save Ulster from sodomy!”.

Former first minister Peter Robinson's wife Iris, who was an MP at the time, said homosexuality was an “abomination”, and the MP Ian Paisley said he felt “repulsed” by homosexual acts.

3. Same-sex marriage

The party opposes same-sex marriage. Its leader Arlene Foster said last year that those campaigning for same-sex marriage were trying to “redefine marriage”.

While Jim Wells, former Deputy Speaker of the Northern Irish Assembly, said at a hustings in 2015.

The facts show that certainly you don't bring a child up in a homosexual relationship ... that a child is far more likely to be abused or neglected ... in a non-stable marriage.

4. Climate change

The Dup doesn’t have a great reputation on climate change. It once appointed a climate change sceptic, Sammy Wilson, as its environment minister. He said it was a "con" to suggest humans had any part to play in weather change.

5. Creationism

Creationism is the belief that the world and its inhabitants were created by a supernatural being less than 10,000 years ago. Science disagrees, and puts this figure more around the half a billion years mark.

It’s alleged that around half a dozen senior DUP politicians have been involved in promoting young earth values – and they want it to be taught in schools.

One survey found up to 40 per cent of DUP activists believe creationism should be taught in schools.

DUP politician Edwin Poots told the Radio Times:

You’re telling me that cosmic balls of dust gathered and there was an explosion. We’ve had lots of explosions in Northern Ireland and I’ve never seen anything come out of that that was good.

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