Theresa May has to rescue ‘clown’ Boris Johnson

British prime minister Theresa May has had to come to the rescue of her foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, who has been branded a “clown” by leaders in Europe.

Her need to defend Mr Johnson comes just after the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier delivered a stinging rebuke of Britain’s lack of progress on three major issues, including Ireland, in relation to its exit from the EU.

There is a growing frustration in Dublin and Europe at the failure of London to deliver sufficient details on its plans for how it will operate once outside the EU.