Britain's 'kamikaze' threat to break international law has backfired, says Ireland's Leo Varadkar

A "kamikaze" threat by a British minister to break international law in the implementation of its EU divorce treaty has backfired, but a trade deal is still possible, Ireland's deputy prime minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday.

"These were really extraordinary comments, and certainly set off alarm bells in Dublin. I think they have backfired," Varadkar told RTE radio. "I think they want a deal," he added, saying the remaining issues "would not seem insurmountable".

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The British government's Northern Ireland minister Brandon Lewis on Tuesday said Britain could break international law - but only in a "limited way" - after reports it may undercut its Withdrawal Agreement divorce treaty signed with the EU in January.