The DUP has denied accusations that it was offered a financial package to vote for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's controversial detention proposals in the House of Commons.
Opponents of 42-day pre-charge detention for terror suspects vowed today to continue the fight after the proposal scraped through the Commons by the narrowest of margins.
Conservatives are claiming that Mr Brown offered deals to secure the support of the nine DUP MPs and wavering Labour backbenchers whose votes finally won him victory by a margin of 315-306.
There is suspicion in Westminster today that Peter Robinson’s party secured some sort of additional support for Ulster as the price for voting in favour of the measure.
Downing Street insists that no deals were made, however, and the DUP say their MPs voted according to their consciences.
Newly appointed Stormont finance minister Nigel Dodds denied the DUP supported the Prime Minister in exchange for a financial package for Northern Ireland.
“Over the last number of days we have had detailed discussions with the government, opposition representatives, intelligence chiefs and other interested parties,” said Mr Dodds.
“As a result of our discussions it has become clear that there is a fundamental requirement for this measure, with all its parliamentary and judicial safeguards, to be in place so as our national security can be at an optimum level."
PA