Theresa May’s speech did not go far enough, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said UK prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit speech did not go far enough to allow talks with the EU to progress next month.

After Mrs May proposed a two-year transition period for the UK after it quits the EU in a speech in Florence, Mr Varadkar said he gave her comments a “guarded welcome”.

“I don’t think it is a game- changer,” he said. “I give it a guarded welcome. I don’t think it is enough to say to allow us to move on to the next phase of negotiations, we will need more clarity and more progress.”