In a speech at Queen’s University Belfast, Leo Varadkar presented a far tougher stance on Brexit than his predecessor

Ireland’s new taoiseach called on Theresa May today to rip up her Brexit blueprint and keep Britain inside the European customs union and the single market.

In a marked shift of tone from Dublin Leo Varadkar used his first visit to Northern Ireland as taoiseach to demand that London drop its plans for a so-called technological solution to the Irish border.

He hinted that unless the UK changed its approach towards the border the EU 27 could block Brexit negotiations from moving onto trade talks this autumn.

Under current EU demands Britain has to convince member states that “sufficient progress” has been made resolving issues of citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Irish border before talks on a future relationship can begin. Under Mr