EU chiefs back Irish threat to veto Brexit trade talks

Ireland’s threats to veto Brexit trade talks unless there is a guarantee of no hard border in the North have been backed by EU chiefs ahead of crunch talks next month.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the demand for a guarantee on a frictionless border to British prime minister Theresa May in Sweden amid concerns of a “deepening rift” over Brexit between EU nations and Britain.

He told reporters that for months Ireland had only been given assurances of no hard border, adding: “And we want that written down in practical terms in the conclusions of phase one.