Advertisement
Varadkar and May greet each other in Brussels. Sky News/PA Images
Across the water

A UK newspaper said that Theresa May 'loathes' Leo Varadkar, but Simon Coveney says it's 'nonsense'

Coveney denied that May and Varadkar do not talk directly.

TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has said that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and UK Prime Minister have a “good” and “professional” relationship, after a UK newspaper claimed that May “loathes” Varadkar.

In an article in today’s Mail on Sunday, it is claimed that May and Varadkar do not speak directly about Brexit issues because May does not like her Irish counterpart.

The article stated: “Relations with Mr Varadkar are also cold, with sources claiming Mrs May ‘loathes’ the Irish Taoiseach. The PM is said to have ‘outsourced’ communication with Dublin to her No 2, David Lidington, because the relationship is so chilly.” 

Responding to this claim this afternoon, Coveney told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that it was incorrect to say that the pair do not communicate.

“I think that’s absolute nonsense, everytime that the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are at the same council meeting they meet with each other and they talk. They have a good relationship, it’s a professional relationship. I have a strong relationship with David Lidington who is effectively deputy prime minister, we talk by phone regularly,” Coveney said. 

Asked whether he a Lidington talk regularly because of a chilly relationship between May and Varadkar, Coveney said this was not the case:

No, I don’t think so at all. I think somebody’s given a bum steer there to the newspaper that you quote. The Taoiseach’s relationship with the Prime Minister is a good one, it’s a professional one and it needs to be at the moment. My relationship with David Lidington is a very close one and a very warm one, that’s true. But the senior politicians in both governments are working together to try and find a way forward to test ideas with each other. 

“But let’s be clear, Brexit isn’t a bilateral negotiation between Ireland and the UK, it’s a negotiation between the EU and the UK collectively,” Coveney added.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
59
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel