DUBLIN: Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says he will work with Britain on Brexit, regardless of who is the British prime minister.
Varadkar was speaking on RTE’S Week In Politics on Sunday when he was pressed on rumours that cabinet ministers are allegedly plotting to oust Prime Minister Theresa May.
Varadkar said he believed May could deliver Brexit, but added that his cabinet has ensured the British-Irish working relationship was not dependent on May alone. “I think she can, but one thing I know, is that I should not interfere in internal politics in the UK,” he said.
“Whoever the prime minister is, we will work with that prime minister, we’ve made sure over the last two years we have very good links not just at prime minister-level and taoiseach-level, but also between Phillip Hammond and Pascal Donohoe and so on. Whoever is prime minister we will work with them. “It didn’t have to be this bad, I think what’s happened is the UK is now consumed with Brexit. Even after they leave, assuming they leave with a Withdrawal Agreement, they will spend two or three years consumed about what the future relationship is going to be like. We have to make sure we’re not consumed and defined by it, and my job as Taoiseach is to sure we limit any damage so we can get on with our ambitious plan for the future.”
The Taoiseach also responded to reports that German leader Angela Merkel had pushed for a task force to deal with the border issue, which had put Ireland under pressure. “I’m not under any pressure from Chancellor Merkel or anyone else on this issue,” he said. “What Chancellor Merkel or President Macron would do is ask reasonable questions. I’m not sure what people think happens at European Council meetings. We don’t go to have dinner, we have robust engagements, hard questions are asked and answered and we come to a consensus position and stand by that position.”
Varadkar also took aim at May’s political opponent Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and his Brexit plan. “Our Plan A is getting the Withdrawal Agreement ratified and that is still possible. Plan B could involve UK changing position in the next couple of weeks, on the customs union for example. Corbyn’s customs union is cake and eat it as well. It’s a customs union but still with the ability to have state aids and so on.”