Bertie Ahern: UK is ‘putting the EU 27’s backs up’ over Brexit

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said there is “nothing complicated or Machiavellian” about the UK’s stumbling Brexit negotiations and that all London is achieving is “putting peoples’ backs up” over talks.

Mr Ahern made the comment as he also said any possible coalition between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin depends on how Gerry Adams’s party resolves the Northern Ireland political stalemate and not who becomes its next leader.

Speaking at the Kennedy summer school in New Ross, Co Wexford, Mr Ahern said he has grown increasingly disappointed at the lack of progress in the Brexit talks between the UK and the EU.