LEO WARNS UK: WE WON’T BACK DOWN Don’t be a Vlad loser
Brits ‘in for a shock’ if they think EU will give up on backstop
Glum Vlad & Nat VLADIMIR Putin grapples with judo Olympic medallist Natalia Kuzyutina – before ending up flat on his back.
The Russian president was sent flying during the sparring session at the Yug-sport Training Centre in Sochi.
The stunned 66-year-old black belt sprang to his feet and kissed glam Kuzyutina, 29 – who won bronze at the 2016 Rio Games – on her head.
Pictures of him sprawled on the mat were apparently censored. Shame, would be nice to see him get overthrown. LEO Varadkar has warned British politicians they are in for a “nasty shock” if they think the EU is going to ease up on their backing of the Irish position on Brexit.
The Government and all of the parties in the Dail are united in their insistence that the backstop, the legal guarantee of no return of a hard border, cannot be watered down.
The Taoiseach repeated his strong stance at the All-ireland Civic Dialogue in Dublin Castle yesterday.
All of the country’s key players joined the Taoiseach, including Tanaiste and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Sinn Fein chief Mary Lou Mcdonald.
Mr Varadkar said: “One of the most striking things about what has unfolded since the UK’S decision to leave has been the remarkable solidarity from the EU.
“Despite many attempts to bilateralise issues or to divide the 27, the solidarity has been strong and resolute and those who think it will break at the last moment are in for a nasty surprise.
“Ireland’s concerns have become the European Union’s concerns.”
Mr Varadkar said we will need EU support as we are actively planning for a no-deal Brexit as the day of the UK’S scheduled departure on March 29 draws closer.
He added: “I explained to [European Commission] president [Jean-claude] Juncker the assistance Ireland will require in the event of a no-deal Brexit, for his part he emphasised the EU stands ready to help Ireland in finding and funding the specific solutions to the challenges we might face.”
Mr Coveney told a Dail committee on Thursday that he could not believe the British government has let the issue of no deal get this far.
He said: “I think it is extraordinary and unbelievable really the British parliament and government have let it come to this.
“We are 42 days out until Britain is due to leave, there is still division within a political party that is causing Ireland to spend hundreds of millions of euro to prepare for no deal.” Taoiseach