Dublin and London at loggerheads as Leo Varadkar tells Boris Johnson Irish backstop must stay
3 min read
Leo Varadkar has warned Boris Johnson that the Irish backstop is "necessary" and cannot be scrapped in order to secure a Brexit deal.
The Taoiseach also insisted that the European Union was "united" in its view that the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between Theresa May and Brussels cannot be reopened - a key demand of the new Prime Minister.
But Mr Johnson told his Irish counterpart that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October "come what may" and that a deal is only possible if the backstop - which is designed to ensure an open border between Ireland and Northern Ireland - is "abolished".
The pair laid out their opposing views on Brexit in their first phone conversation since Mr Johnson became Prime Minister six days ago.
Downing Street has insisted that fresh negotiations with Brussels are impossible unless the EU agrees to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement and scrap the backstop.
But in a statement following the pair's conversation, the Irish government said: "The Taoiseach emphasised to the Prime Minister that the backstop was necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the UK and by the UK Government.
"Noting that the Brexit negotiations take place between the UK and the EU, the Taoiseach explained that the EU was united in its view that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be reopened.
"Alternative arrangements could replace the backstop in the future, as envisaged in the Withdrawal Agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship, but thus far satisfactory options have yet to be identified and demonstrated."
Both leaders also discussed their shared determination to see the Northern Ireland Assembly back up and running again.
But in an apparent swipe at the Tories' reliance on the DUP to prop them up in the Commons, the statement added: "The Taoiseach restated the need for both governments to be fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement, the protection of the peace process and the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions.
"He recalled that the Agreement requires the sovereign government to exercise power with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in full respect for their rights, equality, parity of esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities."
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "On Brexit, the Prime Minister made clear that the UK will be leaving the EU on 31 October, no matter what.
"He said that in all scenarios, the Government will be steadfast in its commitment to the Belfast Agreement and will never put physical checks or physical infrastructure on the border.
"The Prime Minister made clear that the Government will approach any negotiations which take place with determination and energy and in a spirit of friendship, and that his clear preference is to leave the EU with a deal, but it must be one that abolishes the backstop."
Number 10 sources described the phone call as "warm", and both men agreed to stay in touch in the weeks ahead.
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