The Irish prime minister said on Friday that Ireland would consider an extension to the Brexit deadline if Boris Johnson were to ask for one, adding 'an extension would be better than a no deal'.

Speaking in Denmark, Leo Varadkar said: 'Brexit doesn't end with the UK leaving, it's just the next phase of negotiations but if the UK were to request an extension, we would consider it.’

Boris Johnson has proposed that Northern Ireland leave the EU’s customs territory with the rest of the UK on 31 October, but remain in the single market for goods