New Irish PM promises a ‘republic of opportunity’

Leo Varadkar promised a “republic of opportunity” yesterday after he became Ireland’s youngest prime minister and the first who is openly gay.

His Indian immigrant father and Irish mother were in parliament to watch as the 38-year-old was formally confirmed as taoiseach. Mr Varadkar, who won the leadership of the centre-right Fine Gael party earlier this month, was confirmed by 57 votes to 50, with 47 abstentions.

In his acceptance speech, he said he wanted to move beyond the old divisions of Left and Right.