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The UK cannot continue to be granted rolling Brexit extensions unless there is a general election or a second referendum in the pipeline, the Taoiseach has warned the UK Labour leader.<\/p>\nThe UK cannot continue to be granted rolling Brexit extensions unless there is a general election or a second referendum in the pipeline, the Taoiseach has warned the UK Labour leader.<\/p>\n
Leo Varadkar told Jeremy Corbyn that the Withdrawal Agreement was \u201cclosed\u201d and could only be altered if there was a fundamental change to UK red lines.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach and Mr Corbyn met at Government Buildings in Dublin this morning.<\/p>\n
Mr Corbyn also held a meeting with president Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain during his visit.<\/p>\n
It comes as pressure mounts on Mr Corbyn to back a second referendum on Brexit.<\/p>\n
The Labour leader said on Wednesday that an election or referendum would be the \u201conly way out\u201d of the Brexit crisis.<\/p>\n
He also said that he would seek to renegotiate Brexit to get a better deal for the UK that avoided a no-deal outcome.<\/p>\n
After the meeting the Taoiseach told the Dail: \u201cI very much imparted that message as politely that I could that the chances of a further extension are pretty slim and the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Irish protocol and the backstop, is closed from our point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said the \u201conly way\u201d that the Withdrawal Agreement could change would be if there was a \u201cfundamental change in red lines from the next UK prime minister or the next UK government\u201d such as a decision to stay in the customs union or the single market.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a hardening view across the European Union that we cannot continue to have rolling extensions,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile there could potentially be a further extension if there was an election, in order to allow that election to happen, or if there was a second referendum, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s viable to believe that there would be sufficient support or unanimous support\u2026 for a further extension while the UK continues to figure it out or for another set of indicative votes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The meeting lasted an hour and a half and a spokesman for Mr Varadkar said the pair shared their \u201cserious concerns\u201d about a no-deal scenario and its \u201cinherent dangers, including the possibility that the UK may end up in a no-deal situation by default unless alternatives are pursued\u201d.<\/p>\n
They also focused mainly on the need to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland and the importance of ongoing engagement with all political parties in the region.<\/p>\n
The importance of avoiding any return of a hard border on the island of Ireland was also discussed.<\/p>\n
Mr Corbyn was shielded from the media on his way into Government Buildings and there were no media opportunities afterwards.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for President Higgins said he and the Labour leader had known each other for decades, adding: \u201cThe president and Mr Corbyn had a lengthy and comprehensive meeting at which they discussed a range of current issues including Irish-UK relations, Brexit, the future of the European Union and Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
On his arrival in Dublin on Wednesday, Mr Corbyn met the Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary Patricia King to discuss issues facing workers north and south of the border in light of Brexit.<\/p>\n
He told reporters he would seek to renegotiate Brexit to get a better deal for the UK that avoided a no-deal outcome, despite the EU being clear that the Withdrawal Agreement was not open for renegotiation.<\/p>\n
Asked if a second referendum is the only option for the UK, the Labour leader said: \u201cThe referendum would be on a negotiated deal or alternatives to that. It\u2019s not a rerun of 2016.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Corbyn also met Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
The Labour Party tweeted: \u201cThey discussed Brexit, the impact of the upcoming Tory leadership election on both of our countries and how we can avoid a hard border on our island.\u201d<\/p>\n
Afterwards Mr Howlin said he was confident the UK Labour Party would \u201cresist a no-deal scenario no matter who becomes Conservative leader.\u201d<\/p>\n