‘The door is open’ Irish PM calls for BREXIT U-TURN amid escalating border row

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Irish PM Leo Varadkar has called for a Brexit u-turn

The Taoiseach (prime minister) today urged Britain to ignore last June’s historic referendum result and to remain in the bloc. 

Amid an escalating row over the Irish border, he said the entire debate could be avoided if the UK simply abandoned its plans to leave the union. 

Speaking in Waterford today, Mr Varadark said: “Well, I still hope it won’t happen. Brexit is a British policy, not an Irish one. It’s the United Kingdom that’s decided to leave.

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“As far as I’m concerned … it’s part of my remit to keep the door open, not just to the European Union but also to the single market and also to the customs union should they decide to go down that route.

“And that, I think, would be the best outcome for Ireland and Northern Ireland and Britain.”

When asked about the best way to avoid a hard border, Mr Varadkar suggested scrapping Brexit altogether. 

[The best decision] is for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union

Leo Varadkar

He said: “[The best decision] is for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union or, if not, at the very least to stay in the single market and the customs union.

“The door is open for them to do that.”

The row over the Irish border, an issue which was all-but ignored during last year’s referendum campaign, escalated last week when Dublin came out against the UK’s suggestions.

Theresa May’s Brexit team had suggested using technology such as CCTV, as well as pre-registrations for customs, to avoid a hard border. 

However, Brexit ministers were reportedly knocked on their heels when Irish officials came out strongly against the proposals during a meeting of EU ministers.

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Leo Varadkar meeting Theresa May during his first Downing Street visit

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers the proposal “is not going to work”. 

He added: “What we do not want to pretend is that we can solve the problems of the border on the island of Ireland through technological solutions like camera and pre-registration and so on.”

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Leo Varadkar said the ‘best outcome’ is for Brexit to be scrapped

A UK official admitted they were stunned by the refusal to consider such an arrangement. 

They said: ““There is a new taoiseach and a new foreign minister and they’re stamping their authority.

“We’re being as positive as we can but it’s true to ay that their attitude has hardened.”