UK's May says fears about Northern Ireland Brexit backstop 'unwarranted'

LONDON (Reuters) - The fears of some British and European Union politicians about 'backstop' arrangements for Northern Ireland's border with Ireland are unwarranted, Prime Minister Theresa May said in a letter to EU leaders on Tuesday. May said concern that a mutual desire to avoid triggering the backstop would be used as unfair leverage by the EU or by a future British government "is entirely unwarranted". "I strongly believe the fear about the EU's intentions is unfounded too," May added in her letter to Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker. (Reporting by David Milliken; editing by Michael Holden)