Ireland

Tory hopefuls have hardened their Brexit stances and declared Northern Ireland backstop “dead”. It may be too soon to read the last rites.

Varadkar says there could be checks at ports on whole island of Ireland if UK crashes out. It’s not just Brexiters who believe in fantasy.

Three years in and Brexit has little tangible to offer beyond blue passports. But the drawbacks are already happening and will get worse.

Hardliners will blame EU intransigence for no deal. But it’s their recklessness which threatens chaos for UK and peace in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland secretary says a no-deal Brexit would make a border poll in Northern Ireland more likely. But so would Theresa May’s withdrawal deal.

Government has made a hash of the Irish dimension throughout Brexit talks, and seems determined to keep doing so even as defeat draws near.

Leaked letter has given game away on Irish backstop. But DUP are not fools. How can they trust May’s assurances now?

Irish question is going to require further blurring of red lines. Will the DUP accept this? If there’s no deal, we’ll be even more stuck.

Rees-Mogg’s plan still means border checks and infrastructure, and turns blind eye to smuggling. EU would reject it outright.

May has yet to find any plan that would preserve an invisible and frictionless border in Ireland.

Peers vote tomorrow on stopping border controls in Ireland. They are right to do so. We must not throw Northern Ireland under a bus.

Debate raging around customs union can be baffling. It may be technical, but it’s key to trade, prosperity and peace in Northern Ireland.