LONDON — Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkhar said that big gaps remain between Britain and the European Union as they try to secure a Brexit deal by next week. “I think it’s going to be very difficult to secure an agreement by next week, quite frankly,” Varadkhar told Irish broadcaster RTE late Tuesday. And, of course, it isn’t really.”The comments contradict British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office, which said Tuesday that EU intransigence had led to a breakdown in negotiations. Johnson has threatened to leave without a negotiated settlement if a deal can’t be reached by Oct. 31. The Times of London reported Wednesday that five Cabinet ministers are threatening to resign if it comes to a no-deal Brexit.

Source: Washington Post October 09, 2019 07:30 UTC