Johnson and Varadkar at loggerheads over backstop

Nearly a week after he became Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has finally spoken on the phone to the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

The two leaders clashed over the proposed backstop to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.

Mr Johnson said he could not agree any Brexit deal that included the backstop.

Mr Varadkar said it was necessary because of decisions that the UK had already made itself.