Mr Johnson's Conversation with Mr Varadkar

The Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland

Author Srieffler

Reproduced with kind permission of the author

Jane Lambert

Our new Prime Minister called the Taoiseach of the Irish Republic today.  Both heads of government's issued press releases.  The PM's is here and the Taoiseach's is here,

Both agree that The Taoiseach congratulated the PM on his appointment but that is where the resemblance between the two communuqués ends.

On brexit, the British press release states that that the PM made clear that the UK will be leaving the EU on 31 Oct, no matter what. The Irish one says:

"the Taoiseach emphasised to the Prime Minister that the backstop was necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the UK and by the UK Government. Noting that the Brexit negotiations take place between the UK and the EU, the Taoiseach explained that the EU was united in its view that the Withdrawal Agreement could not be reopened. Alternative arrangements could replace the backstop in the future, as envisaged in the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration on the future relationship, but thus far satisfactory options have yet to be identified and demonstrated."

Nothing like that in No. 10's.

On the other hand, there is nothing much about Johnson's visit to Northern Ireland or his attempts to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland in the Irish press release.   Instead

"The Taoiseach restated the need for both Governments to be fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement, the protection of the Peace Process and the restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions. He recalled that the Agreement requires the sovereign government to exercise power with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in full respect for their rights, equality, parity of esteem and just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities."

He also invited Mr Johnon to Dublin which is not recorded in the British publication.

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