Varadkar: EU must stay united on Brexit

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned that Ireland “cannot contemplate” a hard Brexit situation which will create a physical border with Northern Ireland amid growing fears Britain could crash out of the EU without a deal.

Speaking as Britain’s new foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and senior EU negotiators indicated the prospect of a hard Brexit is becoming increasingly likely, Mr Varadkar insisted the situation would be the worst possible outcome for Ireland.

On the first day of an official visit to Croatia, Romania, and Italy to shore up support for Ireland’s Brexit position, Mr Varadkar told reporters the EU must continue to have “unity” on the issue.