Irish PM Varadkar says Brexit deal near but a ‘clean break’ was unlikely DUP accuses Prime Minister Theresa May of ‘total betrayal’

A Brexit deal on the Northern Irish border could be signed within the “next couple of weeks”, the Irish prime minister has said.

Toaiseach Leo Varadkar told a meeting of British and Irish officials on the Isle of Man that while negotiations were still at a “sensitive point”, he was hopeful an agreement could be struck in the coming weeks.

Mr Varadkar warned, however, that nothing was guaranteed, adding that any Brexit deal was unlikely to ensure a “clean break”.

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“I’m hopeful that it can be done in the next few weeks, I think it is more likely than not that we will be able to conclude an agreement in the next few weeks before the end of the year,” he said.

“But lots of things can go wrong and even if we can agree before the end of the year, bear in mind that what’s agreed will have to be ratified in Westminster, will also have to be ratified by the European Parliament.”

DUP angry at ‘betrayal’

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among the leaders at the Isle of Man summit and urged Tory leaders to consider keeping the whole of the UK in the single market, warning that Brexit has highlighted “real weaknesses” in the UK’s devolution settlement.

Mr Varadkar’s comments came after a leaked letter from Theresa May to the Democratic Unionist Party suggested a border down the Irish Sea could be included in the withdrawal agreement.

It led to the DUP’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson to accuse the Prime Minister of being guilty of a “total betrayal” of her promises that Northern Ireland would not be treated differently from the UK should Downing Street and Brussels fail to secure a future trade deal.

Arlene Foster said her party would “not be able to support this if it came to Parliament in the form that it is in the letter”.

“There are stages to go through before it comes to Parliament,” the DUP leader said. “She still has to have a cabinet meeting in relation to this matter and we believe there is a chance for her to reflect on the fact we will not be able to support it in its current form.”