After deal on abortion

voices will be heard and their rights upheld,” she told MPs.

Downing Street said the estimated cost was around £1million-a-year, but added: “We are committed to funding in excess of this if required to meet the commitment.”

The government’s decision to concede so rapidly underlined the fragility of Mrs May’s position in the Commons where she is now dependent on the votes of the 10 DUP MPs, having lost her majority in the general election.

The arrangement with the DUP, which will see £1billion channelled to Northern Ireland, was bitterly denounced in the Commons chamber by Tory backbencher Heidi Allen who said they should have been prepared to govern as a minority administration.

“I want an honest, transparent, collaborative, respectful and positive kind of politics so I can barely put into words my anger at the deal my party has done with the DUP. We didn’t need to do it,” she said.

“I must put on record my distaste for the use of public funds to garner political control. We should have run with a minority government and showed the country what mature, progressive politics looks like.”

There were problems also for Jeremy Corbyn with 49 Labour MPs defying the party leadership to back an amendment by former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna on Brexit.

The rebels included six shadow ministers, Ruth Cadbury, Rupa Huq, Andy Slaughter, Gareth Thomas, Catherine West and Daniel Zeichner.

The amendment called for Britain to remain in the European single party and customs union, in defiance of official Labour policy.

It was defeated 322 votes to 101 with most Labour MPs following the leadership in abstaining.

Following the vote, Mr Zeichner announced he was quitting as shadow transport minister.

Theresa May

Jeremy Corbyn