Varadkar doesn’t want Trump’s help on North

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has risked provoking the anger of US president Donald Trump after insisting he does not have the capabilities shown by previous US leaders to help resolve the Northern Ireland political stand-off.

Mr Varadkar said the reality is Mr Trump’s “I win and you lose” tactics would not be useful in addressing the year-old Stormont stalemate, despite repeated US presidential involvement in past negotiations and Mr Trump’s steadfast belief in his deal-making skills.

DUP leader Arlene Foster used her New Year’s message to demand London appoint “direct-rule ministers” if talks fail to progress in the coming weeks.