It Is Concerning to Watch UK Disengage from the World, Says Irish PM

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Leo Varadkar warns that Brexit, aid cuts and talk of abandoning human rights treaty ‘not the Britain I know’

Leo Varadkar in Granada, Spain, where he will hold bilateral talks with Rishi Sunak as part of the European Political Community summit. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters
Ireland’s prime minister has said he is concerned to see the UK “disengaging from the world”, and accused it of turning inwards by leaving the EU, slashing international aid and now considering abandoning a human rights treaty.

Speaking before a bilateral meeting with Rishi Sunak in the Spanish city of Granada, Leo Varakdar said he could barely recognise the country.

Asked if he was concerned over threats made by the UK to walk away from the European convention on human rights, he replied: “I am, to be honest.”

The British home secretary, Suella Braverman, has questioned whether the convention is “fit for purpose”.

“The Britain and United Kingdom that I love and admire, it is the country of the Magna Carta, the country that founded parliamentary democracy and the country that helped to write the European convention on human rights,” Varadkar said.

“It does bother me to see the United Kingdom disengaging from the world – whether it’s reducing its budget for international aid, whether it’s leaving the European Union and now even talking about withdrawing from the European convention on human rights. That’s not the Britain I know,” he said. » | Lisa O’Carroll in Granada | Thursday, October 5, 2023

Leo Varadkar Nightclub Footage Triggers Privacy Debate in Ireland

THE GUARDIAN: Leaked clip of deputy leader also fuels moves to tighten social media regulation

Leo Varadkar has said he does not wish to comment on a personal matter. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho/Rex/Shutterstock
A video of Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s tánaiste, socialising in a nightclub has triggered a debate about the right to privacy and regulation of social media.

The brief clip of the deputy prime minister was clandestinely recorded in a Dublin nightclub earlier this month and has racked up millions of views on multiple platforms.

Varadkar told reporters this week he did not wish to comment on a personal matter but hinted at regret. “Everyone makes errors in judgment. You wouldn’t be a human being if you didn’t.” He defended his record in office, saying he got the big calls – the Covid pandemic, Brexit, the economy – right.

The taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, branded the video a violation of his colleague’s right to a private life. » | Rory Carroll, Ireland correspondent | Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Johnson Risks Breakup of UK over Northern Ireland Protocol, Says Varadkar

THE GUARDIAN: Ireland’s deputy PM accuses No 10 of making ‘shocking’ blunders with protocol bill

Leo Varadkar, pictured with Boris Johnson in 2019: ‘It is not normal for a democratic government in a respected country to sign a treaty and then try to pass domestic legislation to override it.’ Photograph: Getty Images
Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, has accused the British government of risking the break-up of the United Kingdom and making “shocking” blunders over Northern Ireland.

Varadkar said Boris Johnson’s administration had been undemocratic and disrespectful and tacitly accused it of being dishonest and dishonourable.

The tánaiste made the sharp attack in a BBC interview on Thursday night, days after the Northern Ireland protocol bill – which could override the Brexit deal – cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons.

“I think that’s a strategic mistake for people who want to maintain the union because if you continue to impose things on Northern Ireland that a clear majority of people don’t want, that means more people will turn away from the union. It’s a peculiar policy coming from a government that purports to want to defend the union,” he said. » | Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent | Friday, July 1, 2022

Ireland Tells Boris Johnson There Will Be No Backstop Renegotiation

THE GUARDIAN: Irish government says there is no prospect of rethink in Brexit stalemate

The Brexit stalemate looks set to continue after the Irish government said the backstop would not be up for renegotiation at a planned meeting between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar.

The two prime ministers will meet early next month but a spokesman for Varadkar said there was no prospect of a rethink on the most contentious part of the withdrawal agreement.

Johnson has been invited by the taoiseach to Dublin with “no preconditions” but the Irish government is keen to avoid any ambiguity. » | Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Sunday, August 11, 2019

Johnson and Varadkar Clash over Irish Backstop in Phone Call

THE GUARDIAN: Taoiseach tells new PM in first chat that EU will not scrap it as part of reopening Brexit talks

Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar have clashed over the Irish backstop in their first phone call, with the Irish taoiseach saying the EU is united in the view that it cannot be scrapped and the withdrawal agreement will not be reopened.

Johnson finally spoke to Varadkar almost a week after becoming prime minister, telling him the UK would never put physical checks or infrastructure at the border with Northern Ireland after Brexit but demanding the backstop be scrapped.

The British prime minister had been accused of snubbing Varadkar by leaving it so long to speak to him, even though the Irish leader will be central to whether he can agree a new withdrawal deal with the EU.

A spokesman for Varadkar 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. » | Rowena Mason, Deputy political editor | Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Trump Likens Irish Border to Wall between US and Mexico

THE GUARDIAN: Leo Varadkar tells US president Ireland wishes to avoid border or wall after Brexit

Donald Trump has started his visit to Ireland by comparing its post-Brexit border with Northern Ireland to the US border with Mexico, along which he wants to build a permanent wall.

Trump, sitting next to a visibly uncomfortable taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, waded into the Brexit debate minutes after Air Force One touched down at Shannon airport on Wednesday afternoon.

“I think it will all work out very well, and also for you with your wall, your border,” he said at a joint press conference. “I mean, we have a border situation in the United States, and you have one over here. But I hear it’s going to work out very well here.”

Varadkar interjected that Ireland wished to avoid a border or a wall, a keystone of Irish government policy. » | Rory Carroll in Shannon | Wednesday, June 5, 2019


King Klown’s understanding of geopolitics is remarkable – remarkably stupid! Each and every time he opens his mouth, his lack of understanding is a dead giveaway. – @Mark

Irish PM Brings Partner to Meet Mike Pence and Delivers Pointed Remarks on Sexuality

THE GUARDIAN: Leo Varadkar spoke on the changes for Ireland and called out various forms of discrimination

The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, who is gay, brought his partner to a meeting on Thursday with the US vice-president, Mike Pence, a conservative Christian once dubbed “the face of anti-LGBTQ hate in America”.

Varadkar, who is in Washington this week to reaffirm the longstanding shared history between the two countries, brought his partner, Matt Barrett, to a St Patrick’s Day breakfast at the vice-presidential residence at the Naval Observatory.

Varadkar tweeted that he and Barrett had received a “warm reception” at Pence’s home, but in pointed remarks to Pence and gathered media, he also called out various forms of discrimination.

“I lived in a country where if I’d tried to be myself at the time, it would have ended up breaking laws,” he said. “But today, that is all changed. I stand here, leader of my country, flawed and human, but judged by my political actions, and not by my sexual orientation, my skin tone, gender or religious beliefs.” » | Luke O’Neil | Thursday, March 14, 2019