alex salmond, thank you very much indeed. a great pleasure.us days for the uk. they are. tomorrow theresa may serves official notice on brussels that brexit will be underway. the two dear negotiation will start tomorrow. and today i think is a very good illustration of the challenge that she's going to face, not only negotiating with the european union, which will be complex in itself, but also keeping her own party onside this. the staunch brexiteers within her party who want their cake and eat it, but also those constituent parts of the united kingdom. remember, it's the conservative and unionist party, she isa conservative and unionist party, she is a unionist, she wants to keep all the countries together as part of the countries together as part of the united kingdom going forward and that will be a very difficult task. and we haven't even touched on what the other eu members think. like spain, or belgium, who would possibly be opposed to an independent scotland joining the european union because it might giving courage and there successio

we'll speak to alex salmond, scotland's former first minister, about what happens now. also...sweep away obama's climate change policies.

alex salmond,.ouse of rules which are now being considered by the house of commons. we should be getting a vote in the house of commons within the next howl so. and alex salmond is one of those codger but in the last section of the debate. there is more coverage on bbc parliament. you won't miss any of it and coming up is fiona on bbc news at six. weevils to buy showing some scenes in the glorious weather. you can northern ireland did well. a bit of cloud but further east, 16.6 celsius and here is the view from the south—east of england. bathed in sunshine and this area of cloud in northern england and parts of wales and the south—west. certainly a feature for some of us and in northern scotland, some rain moving into northern isles, and we will ta ke into northern isles, and we will take an increasingly weak weather system through northern ireland, scotla nd system through northern ireland, scotland and northern england by the end of the night. quite misty and murky in the west with wales and weste

abington green in a conversation with alex salmond.f independence for his scotland and a dynamic source for his morning needs a reassessment by all of scotland. what me cut right to it. what should miss sturgeon do? what should she do to benefit scotland? starting with the first minister of scotland, she should stick to her mandate from the manifesto of last year, and pursue an independent course for scotland in the european context. scotland as a european nation. supposedly there is a history behind that. if you keep the european connections that is a strong position to appeal to the scottish people on. mathematics on the that have changed for scotland. oil is not $100 a barrel. i showed you the chart of north sea production and it is not so good. can scotland go it alone? sell me on the economy of scotland right now. >> there is much more to scotland than oil. i just noted there is a billion barrel field announced this week. there is a lot of life left in the north sea. it is still a big asset to have. we would cut to the chase, as y

yes, alex salmond was more of a divisive figure, i think it is safe to say.re ofa think it is safe to say. he was more of a marmite figure and nicola sturgeon is not in that vein of politics. i think he could be a little bit limited, because i don't think he is a vote winner. a quick nod to the scottish daily mail, where it is fairly clear where it is pointing. very clear about their editorial line. on any other day, the vote in the british parliament going through the house of lords, brexit bill likely to get royal assent tomorrow would have been the dominant story. and yet it has been completely scuppered. it just shows how monumental that upcoming period is going to be in our politics, is entangling the uk and the european union. the constitutional crisis between scotland and the rest of the uk. who knows what other things are going to be coming down the track? what it seems to me is the level of political uncertainty is at a level unprecedented in our lifetimes, and i think it is really difficult to envision what else might come along. will there be other

we can speak to alex salmond and the current snp euro spokesperson.living in a world of make—believe. apart from having no idea about how to make a conference speech, the reality is to make —— is the english health services in a state of collapse, the prison system in england is in chaos and as we seek to date, the schools are in open revolt while her government are consumed by the exit. her health —— hours health service is performing better. hold on, you have not match the spending increases in the health service? possibly we spend more on health go—ahead then you do in england and our accident and emergency rates are 10% better than they are in england. in education, 55% of scottish kids go to higher education, that is 10% lower than the finger in england. all these characteristics, the scottish public services are performing better. nicola sturgeon has just services are performing better. nicola sturgeon hasjust been triumphantly re—elected after ten yea rs triumphantly re—elected after ten years in office. theresa may has been elected by no one a

yes but it is interesting, it looks like she has been bounced into this position by alex salmond, who spat —— and pleasant. i do not think scotland can win. wherever the vote takes place, she has two resign, in the same way that salmond does. if they vote for independence, it's unlikely, but who knows... we all called brexit differently! she is suddenly in ofa of a country where the charge of a country where the economic arguments in favour of independence were based on an oil price of $130 per barrel, and there was a mythical huge sea of oil in the north sea that everybody was keeping quiet about before the referendum because the british government did not want anyone in scotla nd government did not want anyone in scotland to know this thing that doesn't exist exists... it is bizarre. but this is about timing. and there is clearly a nasa monitor iii-l ; if animosi between the two. the —— animosity between the two. they are both important people. if i was theresa may. i would want scotland to go earlier. if there is any chance of the scottish first minister being a conservative, like

guy johnson discussed that topic this week with former scottish first minister alex salmond . >> thereg economy in the scotland not based on just natural resources. it is based on brains. scotland has more universities in the world, the top 200, than any other country except one. >> are you certain scotland as an independent country could rejoin the european union? >> yes, i am. i think what you'll find is over the next few months a very distinct perspective for scotland and europe will open up. you will exactly how scotland can secure its position. and then, we will ever from the perception across europe. scotland has many, many friends in europe. the u.k. has virtually none left. this is a big transformation from 2014. as the spokesperson for the scottish national party, a long meeting with jean-claude yunker, a total difference in attitude towards scotland, because people are cross. people basically know that scotland is pro-european. they are thoroughly exasperated with the government in london. >> what did he tell you about whether not scotland could join the euro? >> those are pr

. —— alex salmond.he book services but health service is performing incomparably better. the prison service is in a much better state. and in terms of education, 55% of scottish youngsters are going on to higher education. 10% higher than in england. rather than criticise nicola sturgeon, the first minister re—elected by the scottish people with a massive majority over last year after ten yea rs with a massive majority over last year after ten years in government, theresa may should reflect on the fa ct theresa may should reflect on the fact she has been elected by nobody. what theresa may did not see today is whether or not she would be prepared to plan the scottish government the power to hold another independence referendum if that is what the smp come to demand. neither the theresa may give us much more detail about what would happen to devolve powers in the event of brexit. she said that no powers would be taken away from the scottish parliament. the snp say that powers over fishing and farming sho

we've heard from hillary bend, alex salmond. delighted to introduce nick clegg, euro spokesman for the democrats. this is not a good day for you. you are a staunch remainder. what is the best britain can get out of this now? >> the best we can get out of this is if were theresa may were to reverse her decision not only to pull us out of the european union and margaret thatcher's invention, the single market. it was very much a british invention, massively benefited the british economy. i think theresa may made a massive error by choosing to placate her own party by saying she would leave the single market even as we leave the eu. if she were to reverse that decision and say, no, on reflection it's better if we try to keep the best sort of -- the best virtues of economic integration as we leave the rest of the european union, i think that would be the best possible outcome from what i consider to be an undesirable course of action. >> you and tim farron are labeled remoaners. anyone who was a remainor who is now standing up and s

we will talk about that when we are joined by alex salmond later on. the pound has a tough morning. a decent leg lower on the cable rate. our guest joins us out of singapore. mark, walk us through the market thinking when it comes to sterling right now. >> well, i think it's important not to over interpret this move lower. i think it comes down to a lack of liquidity and nervousness in the market -- you get a little move in one direction and then the trading starts kick in and you are going to get cap he moves. that is going to continue. but i think it's unlikely they continue in a straight line lower. we could see it higher in the next couple days now that we know that brexit is going to be triggered. but we should have known that months ago. guy: yes. the imponderable bit has been whether or not we see the scottish: another independence referendum -- that seems to have been the bit that has caught the market a little bit by surprise. how do i price that risk in? >> i think your letter question is more relevant -- i don't think you do. i don't think it's possible to price it in yet

lex speak to alex salmond.they want another referendum and where is your evidence to suggest there is? the arrogance of downing street, because they've been caught out flat—footed. the scottish parliament should have the right to hold a referendum, that was nicola sturgeon's electoral mandate and she w011 sturgeon's electoral mandate and she won with 47%. theresa may's has 0% of the boat because no one has collected her at all. so the arrogance of downing street to question this unimpeachable mandate. it's called political democracy. nicola sturgeon has said you would like to have this second referendum the outcome of brexit talks. she says the scottish need an informed choice. surely that's a contradiction? no it isn't at all. in the following spring, we will know the outcome of the brexit bill. we might not. we will because it has to be ratified across the eu, so we will now own the outline of the brexit talks and that will be a choice for people. we will also know what the scottish government has got to see

but for the former snp leader alex salmond that is not good enough.nderstanding of the scottish political situation and she showed pressure little of that today. today she announced a power grab. she is proposing that it brexit goes ahead, the powers that should come back to scotland will be retained in westminster because she likes the look of the scottish economic zone. that is a fundamental attack on the statute of the scottish parliament in 1999. everything that was not reserved to westminster should be run in scotland. this is a prime minister who is attacking the very foundations of the scottish parliament and she will do it to her cause. what is theresa may's tactic? she was pulling up no punches. is she mounting a second attack moving away from a referendum and instead talking about domestic politics? she offered a critique of the snp's record in the scottish government, but from one end to the added this speech was about the united kingdom and theresa may emphasising her personal commitment to keeping scotla nd personal commitment to keeping

alex salmond also here. the former us president bill clinton was also here.ton will address the mourners in the church. he is expected to speak towards the end of the service in about one hour azpilicueta time. prior to the service beginning, as you say a huge crowd here in derry where martin mcguinness lived for all his life. many thousands lined the streets. his coughing, draped in an irish flag, was carried around the streets. —— coffin. 0ne an irish flag, was carried around the streets. —— coffin. one of the areas of the city which so much violence in the height of the troubles in the early 1970s, run member martin mcguinness was a seniorfigure in the ira here, but there has been plenty of reflections in the last few days and that has been going to be continuing over the next few days. paramilitary commander to politician. now he is making his final journey. commander to politician. now he is making his finaljourney. he has been carried from his home to the church and then he will be buried in the city cemetery here in derry later on this afternoon. thank

if anybody knew that statement was coming it was alex salmond, of course, this is what he had to say a little earlier: the arrogance of downing street. even though they know that they've been caught flat—footed today as norman smith put it... nicola sturgeon was re—elected as first minister with 47 percent of the vote last may on a platform which said if scotland were to be dragged out of europe against the will of the scottish people following the brexit referendum, then the scottish parliament should have the right to hold another referendum. that was her electoral mandate. 0n the contrast david cameron held the brexit referendum on 37 percent of the vote. and theresa may has got zero percent of the vote because nobody‘s elected her at all! so the arrogance of downing street and questioning this unimpeachable mandate that nicola sturgeon has to proceed in exactly the way she has proceeded today is called political leadership and downing street should take note. taking you to westminster abbey, prince william arriving there, for that celebration of the commonwealth service. with him

were said on both sides will now be thrown back at various counts, not least the promise made by alex salmondsturgeon that the decision in 2014 was once ina that the decision in 2014 was once in a generation. the difficulty is the divisions those arguments have barely healed. of course there are varying accounts of this. there are two broad narratives, some people argue it was incredibly unpleasant, spilling over into near violence, very divisive. 0thers paint a picture of happiness and democratic engagement. the truth falls somewhere in between the two. i covered it extensively at the time, it was enormously engaging, but yes, it was enormously engaging, but yes, it points it was also very divisive. it lingers, it has shaped every election since then, not least the general election 2015 when the snp w011 general election 2015 when the snp won all but three seeds. the hollywood election last year, and we have local government elections in may which will doubtless be shaped by this question as well. there was a view nicola sturgeon would only do this if she we re sturgeon would only do this if

turning from a referendum into a never—ending referendum, when nicola sturgeon took over from alex salmond ratherthan, does scotland wa nt moxey, ratherthan, does scotland want to leave the uk? —— denying scotland to have the chance at democracy. spainjsss already said democracy. spain has already said they will try to veto scotland re—entering the eu if we have another independence referendum and it isa another independence referendum and it is a success. very interesting to from both of you, on either hear from both of you, on either side of the referendum debate. side of the referendum debate, a note voter and andrew was natalie, a note voter and andrew was a yes vote up —— no voter. we will see what happens. the duke and duchess of cambridge have arrived in paris, they met the president francois hollande at the start of a two dated in which they will meet survivors of the terror attack —— two—day trip. this will be the first ina two—day trip. this will be the first in a series of visits they will be making in the coming months as the brexit negotiations loom large. time for a look at t

alex salmond seems to have forgotten that promise despite the evidence to the contrary.te in the snp manifesto for a referendum. but in the green ma nifesto, for a referendum. but in the green manifesto, there is what you might call a cast—iron block to a second referendum. at their manifesto launch in april last year, of if press reports are to be believed maggie chapman said it would take 100,000 signatures on a petition to trigger a vote for a second referendum. 100,000? but that wasn't enough because party managers changed that figure to one million. that is the commitment green msps voted on, one million signatures required before they would back an independence referendum. mr harvey will distance himself from his co convener. i'm sure he is capable of reading what is in our manifesto rather than misrepresenting what isn't in our manifesto, but can he answer as several of his colleagues have been given the chance and none of them have yet done it, can he answer where on earth the uk government takes a mandate for leaving the single market on the basis of a manifesto

we heard yesterday alex salmond in the house of commons saying that the government would rue the dayng so. she did not say they cannot have one, she said they cannot have one, she said they cannot have one in the time frame they want. cannot have one in the time frame they- want. and it would be a they would want. and it would be a difficult ask to have another independence referendum in that short two—year window as the brexit negotiations take place, of course. it illustrate the political debate is set for quite some time now to be absolutely dominated by the questions of eu membership and a second independence referendum for scotland. one wonders if any other subjects will get even at this conference. that is exactly right andi conference. that is exactly right and i think there was always expectation the snp, one would assume the government thought that was going to come eminently and when the cat was the bag on monday there was a reaction on and = was a reaction on wednesday and thursday from the government. as you say, that will be the discussion q 3 now on, kee-cin the union f

secretary david davis, the shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer — they‘ll be joined by nick clegg, alex salmondsk this — or text your questions to 61124 — and you can email us as well at askthis@bbc.co.uk . the family of two of the victims, of the westminster attack, had been speaking this morning. kurt cochran died from his injuries and melissa is steadily improving in hospital, melissa‘s brother clint a tribute to the family comedies started by thanking the emergency services for their efforts during the attack. ourfamily is so our family is so grateful for the first responders, the medical personnel, the assistance of government agencies in the united states and great britain, along with the generosity and assistance of delta airlines arranging for our travel to and from london. so many people have been so kind. and we are deeply touched by their goodness and generosity. your notes, prayers, donations, and love, have helped us so donations, and love, have helped us so much. the most difficult part of all of this, is that kurt is no longer with us and we miss terribly. he was an amazing indiv

the most recent poll that i am aware of suggested 49% would vote yes, a big improvement on when alex salmondon hard hats and high—vis jackets. well, that is exactly what these ladies here are packaging up for distribution. safety equipment and protective clothing. this is a company that has beenin clothing. this is a company that has been in the same family for four generations. it is a success story in hull, it employs about a dividend 50 people. we have talked already to the managing director, let's find out what other people in the area think to philip hammond's statement. jo isa think to philip hammond's statement. jo is a cafe owner, darren is the deputy leader of hull city council. one of the big issues that was going to come up in this statement, this budget, was social care and the pressures on it. for a council like yours, were you relieved to hear there will be a cash injection? we we re there will be a cash injection? we were relieved partly, the sector has lost £4.6 billion, so the idea of putting 1 billion back in next year is welcome, but it is not enough, and whilst we welcome

alex salmond said it was a once in a generation vote.nces have changed cars of brexit, - there's no real sign brexit, but there's no real sign that public opinion on independence has changed that much? public opinion on independence is more less where it was in the referendum in 2014. | is a lot of where it was in the referendum in 20111. i is a lot of people who say 20111. it is a lot of people who say they would vote yes, but it's not they would vote yes, but it's not the majority. what it tells you is that scotland is deeply divided, and another referendum won't fix that, whatever the result would be. we're seeing already the shape of what a future referendum might be fought on. are already hearing theresa may saying very strongly to the snp, if you leave, brexit will take look, if you leave, brexit will take scotla nd look, if you leave, brexit will take scotland out of europe whatever happens, scotland will be taken out of the eu. doesn't a lot depend on the sort of brexit deal which theresa may achieves? a great deal does depend on