Leo Varadkar on the ‘snogging scandal’, Trump and Ireland's anti-immigrant backlash

In a candid interview, Leo Varadkar discusses his memoir, political regrets, personal life, and why he chose to walk away

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a visit to the offices of The Irish Examiner and The Echo at Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork on Friday 31st January 2020. Picture: Larry Cummins

Leo Varadkar suggests we do the ­interview at his house in Dublin. It’s unusual for ­politicians to invite you into their home, but Ireland is famous for its hospitality. The house looks impressively humble – a tiny, ­unprepossessing terrace. A woman answers. “Hi,” I say. “Does the taoiseach live here? “No,” she says.

I start to panic. Our interview is due to start in two minutes.