Davis differs on hard border

Significant divergence has emerged between Ireland and the UK after Britain’s Brexit minister indicated that the agreement committing to no hard border does not have to be kept.

Brexit minister David Davis described the phase one Brexit agreement, signed on Friday, which promised to prevent a hard border with the North, as “a statement of intent” rather than a legally-binding deal.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described the agreement as “politically bulletproof”, claiming it ensures there will be no return to a hard border and last night a spokesman said the EU would be holding the UK to this commitment,