this is bbc news, i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 10: bell tolls. the uk enacts its most profound strategic change in a generation, leaving the european union, after nearly half a century. to be independent, to be free to make our own trade rules is supremely important to me as a briton. as some celebrated, others commiserated — among them ex pat brits who live in one of the 27 eu countries. if necessary i will take out the spanish nationality because i want to stay here. the death toll from the corona virus

reaches 259 in china — with nearly 12 thousand people infected there. here — the search is on for people who've had close contact with two chinese nationals since they arrived in the uk. dozens of britons have spent theirfirst night in quarantine — after being flown home from china. it isa it is a perfectly nice room, we have got all the essentials that we need. the bbc finds that more than a thousand people with the most serious complaints about the department for work and pensions face a delay of 18 months before their cases are even investigated. and coming up at 10:30 — join the team on theirjourney of discovery as they explore new destinations around the globe in the travel show.

hello and good morning. the uk is out of the european union after 47 years of membership. the historic moment, at 11 o'clock last night, was marked by celebrations — and some commiserations — across the country. thousands of brexit supporters gathered in parliament square where speakers including, nigel farage addressed the crowds. there will now be a transition period until the end of the year, during which the government will try to forge a new relationship with the eu. john maguire reports. they had come to parliament square from far and wide, from the north... from teesside. ..and from the south... i've come from brighton. ..to witness what the rally‘s star attraction called the greatest moment in modern british history. we should celebrate the fact that, freed from the constraints of the european union, we, once again, will be able to find our place in the world. to be independent, to be free to make our own

trade rules, our own laws, our own trade laws, who we trade with is supremely important for me as a briton. big ben's brexit bongs hadn't materialised. instead, clocks both digital and famously analogue were projected onto 10 downing street. while outside the palace of westminster, they partied like it was 2020. well, that is it. brexit, the giant screens declare in red, white, and blue, "we're out." 11 o'clock on 31 january, 2020. one, of course, for the history books but really, it's the future that will determine whether or not this was the right call. of course, not everyone celebrated. some commiserated. this was 0xford. are we proud to be europeans?

crowd: yes! my business was put at risk because of this, my kids' futures and jobs are being put at risk and i just profoundly disagree with it. in edinburgh, capital of a country that had voted to remain in the eu, they used music to soothe their souls at holyrood, and some called for independence to pave the way for a return. the fact of the matter is that the only way back into the european union for scotland is if we regain our statehood and regain our independence. but celtic cousins in wales, where leave had the upper hand, lowered the european flag outside the senedd for the final time. what we really won with this whole thing, it wasn't just a political party, it was democracy. democracy has won and that's what i'm celebrating. and on the irish border, for so long the issue that seemed insurmountable in the pursuit of brexit, remainers expressed concern and

regret. tomorrow morning might not be different but in the coming weeks or months ahead, as we see rights and opportunities taken away from us, we'll certainly feel it then. leave supporters in parliament square were told we would still be friends with the people of europe despite leaving the union. meanwhile, a conciliatory message was emblazoned across the white cliffs of dover. the face we still show to continental europe even if, from now on, so much of our relationship has changed. john maguire, bbc news. simon usherwood is professor of politics at the university of surrey, and joins me now, via webcam. thank you for being with us, good to speak to you. now at stage two, a process of negotiation. how difficult a year is this going to be? i think this is going to be a really difficult year. all the talk

has been about getting brexit done that this year is going to be difficult because we have got a huge range of issues on the table. we have got very little time, especially with the government seemingly inflexible on extending that. we've also got to remember the eu has some differences of opinion on what the future holds. looks like a tough 11 months ahead of us. there was a lot of talk of the most out of the bag is perhaps some of it is a bit naive, —— there was a lot of talk at the start of the brexit process , talk at the start of the brexit process, all the european countries stuck together and stuck to the line. at this stage, because it goes to things likejobs line. at this stage, because it goes to things like jobs and therefore, to things like jobs and therefore, to the voters in the countries rather than being about structures and theories, is there a potentially more room where we see more defence opening up an eu

side, with fisheries? there are differences that will be there and we will see that, there are some countries that are that, there are some countries that a re interested that, there are some countries that are interested in the fisheries industry, others in southern europe are industry, others in southern europe a re less industry, others in southern europe are less motivated. at the same time, we have to remember that whatever agreement comes out, this is going to need the unanimous approval of all 27 member states, so as much as there is difference, they are going to have to find a way. that experience you mentioned in article 50 of working together, is helping to keep them onside and the commission has done a lot of work in recent months to try and make sure everybody is on board with the programme. 0n everybody is on board with the programme. on monday we are going to see the presentation draft mandate for the commission and that is an early test of how much unity there is. on our side, there is talk of borisjohnson doing is. on our side, there is talk of boris johnson doing a is. on our side, there is talk of borisjohnson doing a big government reshuffle, perhaps within a couple of weeks. there is also suggestion it might change the

structure in whitehall. that is going to add to the competitions, isn't it, in terms of our developing negotiations on oui’ of our developing negotiations on our side? exactly. last night, as well as leaving the eu we saw the dissolution of the department leaving negotiations so we've got to change there. even if you end up with a more optimal structure, changing the length of response to will take time and effort so we have got about a month until the negotiations start in earnest. that doesn't leave much going forward for borisjohnson to get his ducks in a row, let alone his strategy which remains at this stage... he has a big parliamentary majority which is predecessor do not have. how useful is that going to be in this process, in terms of him not having to co nsta ntly in terms of him not having to constantly be looking behind him to

know whether or not he can get people to agree with his strategy? there makes his life easier compared to theresa may who, as we remember, had endless difficulties with parliament. at the same time, the danger of the prime minister is going to be taking that for granted. it is clear that is still differences of opinion within his own backbench and... at the moment, depending on the crest of that electoral wave... the reality of what brexit mean... sorry, thanks very much. 83 british people, who were evacuated from the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in china, have begun their 1a day quarantine in merseyside.

the uk nationals were taken by coach to arrowe park hospital, in wirral, and arrived last night. this comes as two people from the same family have tested positive for the virus in the uk. in a moment we'll speak to luxmy gopal who's in newcastle, at the royal victoria infirmary. but first let's speak now to samantha fenwick who's outside arrowe park hospital on the wirralfor us. what did he know about the first night, as it were, in captivity? they had quite a long journey to get here, they had something like a 15 hour flight from wuhan. they touched down yesterday lunchtime about half past one there may be long journey up past one there may be long journey up from 0xfordshire here. they arrived about seven o'clock last night and they were escorted in through this road here which has been cordoned off. you will see there are great barriers there, fairly high, that is cordoning off these two buildings here which is

where they are being housed. these are normally housing for nurses, they have been moved out into local hotels. they arrived feeling fairly tired, as you can imagine. but this morning we have heard from some people inside and spirits to remain fairly high. the hospital are very keen to point out that hospital staff will not come into contact with people who are in the building is behind us, that the hospital remains open as normal, accident and emergency around the corner is open, outpatients is open, and elective surgery outpatients is open, and elective surgery will go ahead as scheduled. thank you. they concern about tracking people who may have had contact with chinese nationals who came to this country on holiday and have subsequently developed the symptoms of this virus. that is

right, the two chinese nationals being treated here at the infectious diseases at ce ntre here at the infectious diseases at centre here at the royal infirmary in newcastle after having tested positive for a coronavirus when they we re positive for a coronavirus when they were staying in that hotel in york. the infectious diseases centre especially designed to deal with the sort of thing, it especially set up to cope. it has a special infiltration system to keep things contained and people in newcastle are being assured they are not at any risk as a result of the pair are staying here, but the issue is to track down people who are at risk as a result of having come into contact with the pair. by that we need people have been within two metres of the pair for 15 minutes or more and they have been told to keep out for symptoms such as minor flu or cold symptoms. if they do present the systems, they have been given an emergency contact number to contact asa emergency contact number to contact as a result. to give you a sense,

the hotel the pair were staying at has remained open. it is only the apartment that has been sealed off and other visitors to the hotel have been told by public health england that they are not at any extra risk. they are at minimal risk as a result. the mission now is to track down people who are at a particular risk, due to sustained wrong or close contact. thank you. let's get more on this from jonathan ball, professor of molecular virology at the university of nottingham. thank you for being with us on bbc news this morning. can i pick up on something our correspondence were talking about, the extent to what it is possible to cover the tracks of people who may have been and potentially are infected, and have the potential to pass on the virus. we have got this

two week period where we don't know whether people could develop the symptoms, that makes it hard to track and to restrict movement to try and protect others. i think the main thing to remember is that is a well tried and tested measures. this happens reasonably frequently without us knowing, for example, we know there are cases of tb in the communities and these are traced in exactly the same way. essentially, a contact is somebody who has prolonged, more than 15 minutes, somebody who has prolonged, more than15 minutes, time, somebody who has prolonged, more than 15 minutes, time, spent within two minutes of the individual. the people looking after people infected, they will be questioning them to find out where they have been, to see what the risks are and to try and track down the individuals who are likely to have spent more than that 15 minutes and close proximity to them. it is fairly standard procedures. we

have 83 people who came back from china under strict conditions, as we saw in terms of theirjourney and control of contact. we have had quite a significantly larger number, 400 people or so, it came back before this period from china to the uk from before this period from china to the ukfrom wuhan before this period from china to the uk from wuhan or the province. the authorities are still trying to track. that presumably means we know some contacts but a lot people we don't know about. yeah, u nfortu nately don't know about. yeah, unfortunately that is the major risk, the people who don't know about. we know there has been flights and travel to wuhan within the last 14 days, although not within the last week or so, and we know there has been extensive travel from china. anybody travelling from especially who hi and the province —— wuhan and the province, anybody could be carrying the virus, it is

important from anybody in that category to be aware of the symptoms. if you are feeling pretty unwell, like you may have a viral infection, that might develop cold and flu symptoms, it is worth checking the nhs and working on how best to proceed. we heard from the health commission, medal of the night ourtime, health commission, medal of the night our time, about the scale of the problem they have there now. 2000 people are known to have developed the symptoms associated with this virus. what do you make of the spread of this disease at this stage? i think a lot of my collea g u es stage? i think a lot of my colleagues at the outset were really predicting that it was going to develop like the sars coronavirus developed in 2002 but what we have seen developed in 2002 but what we have seenin developed in 2002 but what we have seen in the past couple of weeks, is a sharp increase in the number of cases in china. it exceeds the

amount we saw in the total sars outbreak the latter more than a year. this virus does seem to be spreading a lot more rapidly and we need to get an idea of why that is. i think part of the issue and it sounds strange and a bit perverse anyway, is that this virus isn't as deadly as sars coronavirus. we think around 80% of the people infected have very mild or no symptoms at all. if these individuals can spread the virus quite efficiently, then makes infection control quite easy because the whole point of the infection control is to identify individuals who are infected, isolate them and trace their contacts. isolate them and trace their co nta cts. if isolate them and trace their contacts. if you don't know who is infected, it is a bit of a challenge. thank you very much. we ta ke challenge. thank you very much. we take all your questions at quarter past 12, get in touch with your questions. you can do so on twitter or

e—mail us. more than a thousand people with the most serious complaints about the department for work and pensions face a delay of 18 months before their cases are even investigated. radio 4's money box programme has found the indepdenent case examiner is also regularly missing targets about how long investigations should take once a case has been opened. 0ur bbc money box reporter dan whitworthjoins me now. these figures are pretty stark, what lies behind this problem, what do we know about the kind of people being affected ? know about the kind of people being affected? that is the issue, ultimately you can talk about as many figures or numbers as you want. at the heart of the story are people. i want to give you one example, a gentleman who we are speaking to who we are calling allen. he has a dispute with the child maintenance service and regard —— regardless of the rights and wrongs of his case, he initially

complained to the child maintenance service in november 2017, to cure and have to exhaust their complaints process which means in december 2019 he was allowed to apply to the independent case examiner, a little bit like a ominous man for the dwp. they said yes, we would investigate your case. but it is going to take a year and half before even investigate it and i know from later we found out, that investigation will likely take six months. so the beginning of 2022? around about summer beginning of 2022? around about summer 2021. but that is essentially nearly a four year waiting, he has described his life flatlining during this time. he described the delay as obscene. how is the process of poster work? —— out is the process supposed to work? the independent case examiner, you have to exhaust

the complaints process with your individual organisation like the child maintenance service. then you go to the independent case examiner, you have to be accepted by i c e then you have to wait for this investigation to start. that whole process , we investigation to start. that whole process, we found out through a freedom of information request, there was an 18 month gap between there was an 18 month gap between the independent case examiner accepting your case and starting to investigate it, and one is investigated, there should be a 20 week target. most of the cases are missing that and taking about six months. we have got big numbers of cases, what is a department for work and pensions itself saying?m cases, what is a department for work and pensions itself saying? it is held it's hands up. we asked for a ministerial interview, they said no but they give us a statement. we understand the impact they're waiting for investigation can have on people on their families. waiting for investigation can have on people on theirfamilies. we waiting for investigation can have on people on their families. we are hiring and training new staff as quickly as we can and it does say, we cleared more complex last year than the year before, adding the

vast majority of complainants are satisfied with the service they have received. what time are you on? 12 o'clock, radio four. you can get it on the bbc sounds. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's jane. it is the opening weekend of rugby is six nations, four of the sides have new coaches. so it's a new year, a fresh start, new faces at the helm, but all that's gone before won't be forgotten — the same old rivalries, the same prize on offer. a chance for those at the top to prove themselves all over again. it's actually great to inherit a side that's full of confidence and are winning close games and know how to get across the finish line, if you like. so for us it's really about looking at and saying, "how can we add value?"

how can we improve an organisation that's been winning more than they've been losing, if you like. but with a fresh start comes an opportunity, an opportunity for others to rise. ireland have been at the very top. this time last year they were the best side in the world. but the six nations and then japan didn't go to plan. it's not too long ago everyone was talking to us about what a great side we are as well, you know, so we take the rough with the smooth and we harness what's good about our squad and we make sure we still stand for that as well and every season, every competition, really, you try and evolve your game and try to push forward. so this year will be no different for us. the rebuilding continues further north. scotland's stronghold has been battered and broken in recent seasons, but fresh hopes surrounds murrayfield once again. a new captain and renewed belief. and we harness what's good about our squad and we make sure we still stand for that as well and every season, every competition, really, you try and evolve your game and try to push forward. so this year will be no different for us. the rebuilding continues further north. scotland's stronghold has been battered and broken in recent seasons, but fresh hopes surrounds murrayfield once again. a new captain and renewed belief.

we are looking to go out there and play our game and hopefully they can show what it means to play for scotland. we going to go out there and we're going to attack their attack and we're going to attack when there've got the ball. so here's hoping for some wide, expansive rugby. further south, no—one knows quite what to expect. japan ended in disaster, throw in the biggest scandal the sport has ever seen, and english rugby is at a crossroads. but an opening win in paris would certainly get them back on the right path. it's rugby's oldest championship, but it's all about to begin. you can watch the first match on bbc 0ne you can watch the first match on bbc one from 1:40pm. now defending champions st helens look like they could be the team to beat in super league. they began the defence of their title thrashing salford

red devils 48—8. a repeat of the grand final, saints won eight tries on their way to a convincing opener. england's woman beat australia to register the first one of the series. captain heather knight... hit two boundaries to win. for paul and wayne rooney scored from a phenomenalfree kick for and wayne rooney scored from a phenomenal free kick for county in the championship last night to help them to a four win over stoke. he found the top corner from 20 yards out. beating the keeperfor found the top corner from 20 yards out. beating the keeper for derby's third goal and renee's first at the park. stoke are 20th in the table. kobe bryant's first team has played the first game

since his death. a minute silence was held for the basketball legend who died in a helicopter crash in california on sunday along with his 13—year—old daughter and seven other people. the national hand and was sung ahead of the game —— the national anthem was sung. the lakers lost to the portland team. there is more on the sports website, including updates on the open final. 0ne sports website, including updates on the open final. one set each at the moment and into a third. more now on our top story. we're officially out of the eu, but we are now in a transition period until december 31st. it means a lot of things are the same as they were yesterday but what

does it mean for consumers who got used to eu legislation covering products and services? let's talk to sue davies, head of consumer protection. you have probably be asking this question for a while. should start by saying the sorts of areas that are potentially going to be upfor areas that are potentially going to be up for negotiation. areas that are potentially going to be up for negotiationlj areas that are potentially going to be up for negotiation. i think it is important to say in the transition period everything should stay the same as it is at the moment. we're not going to see any immediate impact but after that, depending on the nature of the deal we get the eu and whether we get a deal, as well as what type of approach we take to trade deals with other countries, that could potentially affect a consumer rights, the ease with which we travel, things like product safety sta nda rds. we travel, things like product safety standards. it is really important the government prioritises consumer protection and make sure thatis consumer protection and make sure that is a key part of negotiations. the government says it wants to diverge, there are a few things it

will not want to diverge from, it won't want to use a different legislative system or change the shape of our plugs. but there are presumably things, if you wanted a trade deal with another country, you will save perhaps will relax some of our standards, not on food safety but the kind of products that we buy and how the kind of products that we buy and how they are produced. food standards is an important area where we have had very high standards in the uk. we have had a horse it is of food scares, so we have adapted in relation to that. other countries have different standards and allow different types of food production methods, hormones, chlorine treated chicken for example. it is important that when we are approaching this trade deals, we make sure we get real consumer benefits and look at how we can improve things like consumer rights, cross—border shopping rights, but absolutely not compromise on the standards. how much are things like the rules that govern where we get our money back,

that sort of thing, if we are not happy with the product of the service, how much are they influenced, or have they been influenced, or have they been influenced by the eu? we do still have that in uk law, at the moment we have a mix of law developed in the uk impact of the eu. if you are buying things in the uk, that is unlikely to change. when they could be changes, to get some deal in place, as when you are buying from the eu. if you have got a faulty good, you can get that sorted out here. it will depend on what sort of relationship we have with the official bodies, like car hire, if you are booking a holiday, or something goes wrong with a good. you are booking a holiday, or something goes wrong with a goodm the government and the eu cannot agree this trade deal, one option is the extended transition period so nothing will change for a bit longer. the government says it does not want to do that. if 31st of december comes under has not been a deal, how significant could the effect be asked consumers? we could potentially be affected in a whole

range of different ways. it could affect price of food, the ease with which we get goods and services because we have not got free trade. it could be fairly disruptive initially and some of the rights we have got used to, even things like free roaming when you are using your mobile phone abroad, unless we have gotan mobile phone abroad, unless we have got an agreement in place, we cannot be sure that is going to continue. thank you very much for coming in to talk to us. american senators have voted against calling witnesses in president trump's impeachment trial — it's a development that will probably bring a much faster end to a political process which has gripped the us capital for months. the democrats failed to persuade enough republicans in the senate that more witness testimony was necessary. mr trump is now expected to be acquitted in a final vote on wednesday. chris buckler reports from washington.

president trump left the white house to spend the weekend at his mar—a—lago resort in florida and he can afford to relax now after a vote that will cut short his impeachment trial. are there any senators in the chamber wishing to change his or her vote? if not, the yeas are 49. the nays are 51. by the narrowest of margins, a request to call witnesses was rejected. two republican senators did vote with the democrats, to hear potentially damaging testimony and demand documents, but that was half the number they needed. if the president is acquitted, with no witnesses, no documents, the acquittal will have no value because americans will know this trial was not a real trial. among the people the democrats wanted to call to give evidence wasjohn bolton, the white house's former national security adviser. in a forthcoming book, it's claimed he says mr trump told him of a plan to put pressure on the ukrainian president,

volodymyr zelensky, with the specific aim of forcing him to launch investigations into president trump's political opponents, but the president's lawyers insist that transcripts of phone calls show he did nothing wrong. let me read you what our ukrainian allies said. "it was normal. "we spoke about many things. "i think, when you read it, that nobody pushed me. "they think you can read minds. "i think you look at the words." senators will convene again on monday for closing arguments and then on wednesday for a final vote. it would take two—thirds of the senate to convict mr trump and remove him from office and across america, everyone knows there is no chance of that happening. chris buckler, bbc news, washington. now, the