British Prime Minister Theresa May will meet Northern Ireland’s Democratic Union Party (DUP) today to hammer out a deal to prop up her government after last week’s disastrous election campaign, which saw her Conservative party lose its parliamentary majority.

Her move to form a loose alliance with the ultra-conservative party, however, has stoked outrage over the DUP’s opposition to gay marriage, abortion and policies combating climate change. Here is a snapshot of the DUP:

•Founded in 1971 by Mr Ian Paisley, a hardline unionist and firebrand Protestant minister.

•Now led by Ms Arlene Foster, a former First Minister of Northern Ireland.

•Biggest party in Northern Ireland, with 26 seats in the national assembly, and fifth-largest party in the House of Commons, with 10 Members of Parliament.

•The proposed deal has also caused consternation in Dublin, with Irish premier Enda Kenny warning that it could upset Northern Ireland’s fragile peace. London’s neutrality is key to the delicate balance of power in Northern Ireland, which was once plagued by violence over Britain’s control.

•The DUP and Irish nationalists Sinn Fein restarted talks to form a new power-sharing government in Northern Ireland yesterday and to avoid devolved power reverting to the British Parliament in London for the first time in a decade. The sides have until June 29 to secure a deal.

•It supported Britain’s referendum to exit the European Union last year, but amid opposition from business leaders in Northern Ireland and its voting base, it has spoken against a “hard Brexit” advocated by Mrs May, which will see total separation from European markets and Customs unions.

•The DUP is against same-sex marriages and abortion, and has opposed socially liberal reforms in the UK mainland.

•It previously appointed a climate-change denier as an environment minister.