Your political correspondent, Pat Leahy, muses on the challenges facing Leo Varadker in the dying months of his government ["Leo Varadkar's fate is at stake as he faces three great tests", Opinion, 15 June].

Fine Gael performed much better in the Euro elections than they did in the Local elections securing 30% of the vote (+7 compared to 2014 result) compared to 25% (+1)  in the Local elections, which indicates that they do much better when European issues like Brexit are to the fore. So it may well suit Varadker to call an election while Brexit is still a live issue.

He may have little choice, what with a diminishing Dail majority and four bye-elections, which could further puncture his balloon, due before January. Varadker might just as well go the whole hog and call a general in October/November when Brexit may, or may not be resolved.

My guess is the UK will also be having a general election around then. There is no harm in meeting Boris Johnson with a fresh mandate... The question is a mandate for what? How would Ireland respond to a no deal Brexit? Would there be recriminations about "Varadker over-playng his hand" or a resurgence in national determination not to be messed around by the British and a hard line on all relations with them until such time  as the DUP veto on a "border down the Irish sea" is broken?

The hand of history awaits...

Index of Frank's Diaries