Theresa May completing Cabinet after election disappointment leaves PM weaker

Britons have signed a petition against Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to form a coalition government with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland following her party's disastrous loss in the general elections, calling on her to step down.

The UK election of 2017 ended in a hung parliament after the ruling-Conservative Party of Prime Minister Theresa May failed to retain its majority, however, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would lead a minority government.

May will also need the support of the socially conservative, pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which won 10 seats in Northern Ireland. "I think the only thing that political commentators can agree on is that we have uncertainty right now and nobody has any clue what shape this negotiation is going to take".

DUP leader Arlene Foster told a news conference later that her party will begin discussions with the Tories, suggesting that the deal is not yet in the bag.

They formed part of May's small inner circle and were blamed by many Conservatives for the party's lackluster campaign and unpopular election platform, which alienated older voters with its plan to take away a winter fuel allowance and make them pay more for long-term care.

Two terror attacks put scrutiny on her record of cutting police numbers, playing into the hands of the opposition Labour party and its promise to end austerity.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat said: "I joined a party that introduced equal marriage, backs civil rights and defends freedom of faith".

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May addresses the country as her husband looks on after Britain's election at Downing Street in London.

The news came as May prepared to name the rest of her cabinet, after revealing on Friday that her five most senior ministers would remain in their posts.

Politicians on the modernising wing of the Conservatives fear the party's progress in appealing to minorities could be wasted, and say they are already receiving large volumes of correspondence from constituents concerned about a formal alliance with a party that has consistently blocked same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, and opposed any move to legalise abortion. The Telegraph said senior Conservatives including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, interior minister Amber Rudd and Brexit minister David Davis were taking soundings over whether to replace her.

But no deal has yet been finalised and talks on the arrangement will continue during the week as May desperately tries to shore up her position after losing her Commons majority in the election.

She had expected to increase her majority, after promising people "strong and stable" leadership.

Electoral Commission rules say that "regulated donees can only accept a donation of more than £500 made to them in connection with their political activities if it is from a "permissible" donor'".

It risks upsetting Northern Ireland by aligning London closely with the pro-British side in the divided province, and increases the chance that Britain will fall out of the European Union in 2019 without a deal.

Timothy said Sunday that the election result was "a huge disappointment".

"Also, they will seek to influence Brexit negotiations so that the Northern Irish economy does not suffer from the creation of some kind of hard border between the Republic of Ireland in the south and Northern Ireland".

A source close to the DUP said the party was seeking more funding for the province and concessions for former British soldiers in exchange for supporting May.

It is a far looser arrangement than the coalition which the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats entered into in 2010.