RESIDENTS in the Cotswolds have written to Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown to say they were horrified by a likely deal between his party, the Conservatives, and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Talks between both parties began shortly after the General Election last Thursday, which led to a Hung Parliament as the Conservatives failed to gain a majority support.

An announcement of a deal is expected to be delayed until next week following the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London during the early hours of Wednesday.

In response to the concerns of residents, Mr Clifton-Brown assured constituents that social legislation in the country will not change under a a deal with the DUP.

Erica Bower, of Eastleach, wrote to the MP over the weekend saying that “nobody” in the Cotswolds voted for an alliance with the DUP.

She said: “As one of your constituents, I would like to express my horror that your party is prepared to cooperate with the DUP in order to remain in government.

“The DUP stand against the rights, values and beliefs that the majority of the British public would now regard as normal.

“May's desperate deal with DUP does not represent the Cotswolds.

“Your party vowed to be forward-looking, but this alliance would link you to views that belong back in the 1800s.

“Please explain how you intend to oppose such an unpleasant alliance, as it is of immediate concern to myself and many of your constituents.”

Paul Hodgkinson, leader of the Lib Dems on Gloucestershire County Council also wrote to the MP saying: “I know that this election result has provided no clear or easy solution without an outright majority for any one party, but I really am appalled that the Conservatives are willing to partner with a party that holds extreme views.

“The Conservative Party created the situation we now find ourselves in by calling an election three years early which has resulted in a hung parliament.

"It is therefore essential that you and your colleagues in Gloucestershire listen to the growing chorus of disapproval over the possibility of the DUP holding the Government to ransom.”

Mr Clifton-Brown assured residents that a deal would be made carefully and sensitively, and that there could be some benefits from the arrangement.

He said: “Following the verdict that the electorate has given, we will either have a General Election or have to rely on the support of DUP.

“I recognise all of the down sides that you mention regarding the DUP but Theresa May has given Ruth Davidson an assurance that social legislation enacted by the previous Conservative Government will not be reversed and Northern Ireland peace talks will obviously need to be handled extremely sensitively.

“There may however be some plusses in the arrangement with the DUP particularly in terms of Brexit negotiations e.g. ensuring that there will be a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”