The Government has insisted Ireland is not backing down on the backstop, despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitting he is willing to consider workable alternatives to the plan. With just four days to go before either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt replace Theresa May as British prime minister, Mr Varadkar yesterday said he will listen to the next British leader’s views. Obviously I can’t be here negotiating over the airwaves and I have yet to hear from the British prime minister what they have in mind. The comments have led to fresh backstop fears, with Mr Johnson, the favourite to succeed Ms May, claiming in recent days the backstop is “dead”. MPs yesterday voted to block the next British prime minister from being able to suspend parliament in order to ensure a no-deal Brexit.

Source: Irish Examiner July 19, 2019 05:03 UTC