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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Simon Hattenstone

‘I can speak more freely – and go to the gym’: former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Trump, the ‘snogging scandal’ and his country’s anti-immigrant backlash

Leo Varadkar photographed at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, last month. He is seen in dark sunglasses and a relaxed dark shir and pale trousers
Leo Varadkar photographed at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, last month. Photograph: Linda Brownlee/The Guardian

Leo Varadkar suggests we do the ­interview at his house in Dublin. It’s unusual for ­politicians to invite you into their home, but Ireland is famous for its hospitality. The house looks impressively humble – a tiny, ­unprepossessing terrace. A woman answers. “Hi,” I say. “Does the taoiseach live here? “No,” she says.

I start to panic. Our interview is due to start in two minutes.

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