<p>The British electorate threw up another surprise on 8 June when Theresa May was denied the resounding House of Commons majority she was predicted and instead lost the party seats. The wheels appeared to come off her campaign after a U-turn on social care that gave Labour and Jeremy Corbyn the momentum heading into election day.</p>
<h2>Tory/DUP agreement</h2>
<p>Party leaders across the political spectrum had outlined their vision and headline policies on issues including Brexit, the NHS and social care and attempted to woo workers with their plans on tax, pensions and childcare.</p>
<p>Depleted - and in some people's minds defeated - the prime minister will join forces with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Norther Ireland to get her legislative agenda through parliament in a 'confidence and supply' arrangement rather than a full coalition. </p>
<p>A main challenge of any alliance is the difficulty of reaching agreements in particular on the subject such as pensions and taxes which affect all UK workers and businesses. On tax, the DUP are similar to the Conservatives in their support for an increase to the personal allowance – the Conservatives planning on moving the income tax allowance to £12,500. </p>
<p>What are the differences and similarities when it comes to workers rights from the Conservatives and DUP? </p>
<h3>Conservatives policies</h3>
<p>- Raise personal allowance (amount you do not pay tax on) to £12,500 by 2020<br>
- Annual increases in the state pension through a new “Double Lock”<br>
- Continue to increase the National Living Wage to 60% of median earnings by 2020<br>
- Childcare for working families and thousands of new nursery places a year<br>
- Confront the “burning injustices” of the gender pay gap</p>
<h3>DUP policies</h3>
<p>- Increase to personal allowance <br>
- Reduce corporation tax in Northern Ireland (to at least 12.5%) in 2018<br>
- Increase the National Living Wage <br>
- Take action against companies who fail to pay their staff the NLW<br>
- Support a soft Brexit <br>
- Embark on a digital skills revolution in schools, colleges and universities<br>
- Add 50,000 new jobs by 2021 in Northern Ireland and invest in its skills base and infrastructure</p>