we're here at white hall street right down the street from ten downing street, the official residence of prime minister theresa may. we can't see the action directly in the house of parliament but we can see flashing lights and ambulances, police cars, other emergency vehicles darting back and forth attending to the situation. as you mentionmentioned, scotla and the metropolitan police say they'll treat this as a terrorist incident until they know more. associated press was quoting mi5 the domestic intelligence agency for the uk said they weren't going to be treating it as a terrorist incident until they know more. this is two separate law enforcement agencies in britain kind of treating this differently, but the fact remains is that this is still a very volatile situation, quite a lot of people who cverged on this. do you remember last year the british police announced in response to terrorist attacks throughout europe that they're going to be deploying some 600 additional police officers to central london, who would be armed, some of them with long weapons, and that's new, of course

you've got downing street just up the road. we've got the cabinet office, where the daily anti-terror briefings run by a group called c.o.b.r.a. take place and the houses of parliament at end of the street and the ministry of defense just behind me here. it also happened just after prime minister's questions when the british prime minister is in the house of commons answering questions about the whole range of things that are happening in britain, and around the world. so this attack was timed, and the place is significant as well. as you were saying earlier we've got plenty of dots, not all those dots have been joined at the minute. what was the person who was attempting to stab the policeman outside parliament the same person who was in the vehicle, its vehicle that mowed down people on people on westminster. what the anti-terror police and scotland yard are telling us they are treating this as a terror incident but who was behind it we don't know. >> it is early and under normal circumstances in scenarios like this, it takes

and when i looked, i saw people down on the streets, on the tarmac, first person, second person, people rushing to help them. i saw in all five people down, mowed down by a car, including one person bleeding heavily from the head, and another person lying unconscious. >> and what was your reaction, minister? >> it happened so quickly that you don't even have time to get frightened. i had been in war situations before, which is why i had my journalistic reaction and started recording. our taxi driver immediately called the emergency services and we started hearing sirens within literally a couple of minutes. >> did you see actual individuals on the ground who had been injured? >> yes, i saw five people, five people i definitely saw. >> and ambulances had already arrived? because we know there are a lot of ambulances on the scene right now. >> well, they hadn't by then because i saw them seconds after impact. but there's also a hospital right there by westminster bridge. so from that point of view, help should be on the way very quickly. but this is clearly a very serious incident. >> and

downing street is saying theresa may will respond in due course.wer is more predictable than even donald tusk‘s answered britain earlier today. no referendum, no negotiations on a referendum until brexit is complete. that will mean month after month of a struggle first scottish public opinion above all else. in that time, of course, the progress of the talks on britain's future outside the european union could turn out to be important in tilting the balance. the eu clearly trying to put itself in the driving seat as far as the negotiations are concerned. what's the response in downing street tonight, to the guidelines issued by the eu? number10, no number 10, no minister, number10, no minister, really expected donald tusk is to be encouraging. he was not encouraging. the government, downing street, government ministers, they are being cool and calm, essentially marking time and hoping somehow to influence the direction of those negotiations later on. as for the points raised by donald tusk, ministers are privately confident that they can secure the

downing street is, i guess, around halfway down there, that road. and then i guess around half a mile away is buckingham palace where the royal officia say the queen is currently. it's a compact area. there are a lot of very important people in that area. for that reason you've been mentioning that british police do not carry arms as per normal, but in that area, there would be large numbers of armed officers. it's also the place that the scotland yard division that is armed, sr-19 is most able to respond to. they rehearse for any kind of a terrorist incident. they prepare for this kind of thing. they would have been able to be there very, very quickly, we assume. as you've been mentioning, and we don't know what we're talking about here, but if it is some kind of an attack with a terrorist motive, it would be very unusual for that to be a firearms attack. in the past back in 2013 as malcolm was talking about there was a knife attack on a british soldier. and you'll remember most famously ten years ago there was a terrorist attack, that involved exp

our political correspondent carol walker is in downing street.hat's where the cabinet will meet this morning. it isa it is a significant day, isn't it? yes, this is a day we can truly call historic because the process which begins really will shape our lives and our laws for decades to come. we saw those pictures last night of the prime minister signing that letter, setting out the uk's negotiating stance. as you said, that will be delivered by hand to the president of the european council at about the same time that theresa may will stand up in the houses of parliament and tell us what it said, setting out the uk's negotiating stance. we know what the priorities are going to be, the broad outlines, we're going to be leaving notjust the eu but the single market, they'll be an end to the free movement of people, we'll almost certainly be leaving the customs union. but what was striking last night in the statement released by downing street was theresa may spoke about her fierce determination to get the right deal for everyone in the country. sheet

there has been reaction from downing street today. has accused the snp of what she called "deeply regrettable tunnel vision" and of playing politics. this report from our political editor laura kuenssberg. we'll brexit break up the britain we know? scotland voted to stay in the eu. brexit is a problem not of scotland's making. the uk vote was to leave. we believe in the union, the precious, precious bond. in the chaotic aftermath she has made her mind up. a second independence referendum is clearly an option now. machine must decide. miz instead of playing politics with the future of oui’ playing politics with the future of our country the scottish government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people of scotland. politics is not a game. but if the scottish government wants to give voters a chance to leave the european union with all its complex history —— the union, with all its complex history, can apply minister, attending a commonwealth service today, really deny that? technically it is down to w

not invited, 27 eu members meet in brussels without britain but downing street says it's on track to begin brexit talks in the next three weeks. the commentator katie hopkins is ordered to pay £24,000 in damages for libelling a food blogger she wrongly accused of supporting the desecration of a war memorial. the racing legend john surtees, who was the only man to win world championships on two wheels as well as four, has died aged 83. and samuel ljackson stars in the latest king kong movie. we'll get mark kerdmode‘s take on that and more in the film review at 5:45. good evening and welcome to bbc news at five. the education secretary justine greening has been heckled by headteachers after she defended government plans for more grammar schools in england. she was addressing the conference of the association of school and college leaders. she insisted that grammar schools help disadvantaged children, but the union's general secretary said there was no evidence that they raise standards or improve social mobility. 0ur education correspondent gillian hargreaves reports. peter woodman at

at the next time you're standing at downing street, you're standing at downing street, you need to lookek at bbc.co.uk/papers. and if you miss the programme any evening, you can watch it later on bbc iplayer. thank you, martin and lynn. goodbye. there were some big contrast across the country earlier. there was lovely sunshine in kent. further north and there was sunshine, but some pretty lively showers. equally, some pretty lively showers. in between, there was cloud. 7 degrees in the north west. a high of i7 degrees in the north west. a high of 17 in the south—east. the fresh air will win over the next few days and coming behind that cloud bringing showers. snow showers over higher ground in scotland. it will be quite cold. colder than recently. cold eneughfor some icy cold. colder than recently. cold enough for some icy patches cold. colder than recently. cold enoughfor some icy patches in enough for some icy patches in northern scotland along with some snow showers. it is quite further snow showers. it is quite wet in the south and west of scotla nd wet in the south and west of scot

the difference was that gordon was almost certain to be back in downing street after that election, somitments like that if he was certain that he could deliver on them. the difference with george osborne was that he probably wasn't ever expecting to be back in downing street to have to implement this tax guarantee, which made him far more reckless than he otherwise would have been. who would have thought that such a steady chancellor would find his budget being buffeted in the wind? perhaps spreadsheet phil is looking back wistfully at his days as a grey man of politics. the man who was at david cameron's shoulder when the conservative manifesto for the 2015 election was written and pledges made, was his director of communications, craig oliver. i spoke to him earlier. you have been literally in the thick of this before. in terms of manifesto pledges and commitments and so forth. looking at this, the chancellor insisted this is not the break of a manifesto but is it or not? the issue is, do people perceive it to be. the reality is that most people perceive this to be the breaking of o

to downing street.g and i wonder what is your sense of the mindset within government now, as we approach this very, very big moment? i think very, very determined but also in all truth apprehensive, not surprisingly, really. ithink also in all truth apprehensive, not surprisingly, really. i think it's worth reflecting, given we've been inside this partnership for more than four decades, it is quite remarkable that even not that long ago in the big picture, miss street, even the idea of a referendum taking place was not taken that seriously, alone if the idea of the country would vote to leave. but theresa may, who started out a remainder now finds herself in this position and tomorrow she will promise fiercely, tomorrow she will promise fiercely, to use her word, to try and get a deal that will be in the best interests of every single person in the country. that's quite a tall order, not least because in recent months the divisions have been profound and the pitfalls of the next two years, the pitfalls,

but the response from downing street is forthright — accusing the scottish government of losing sightf the main issues. instead of playing politics with the future of our country, the scottish government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people of scotland. politics is not a game. we'll have the latest from westminster and holyrood in a moment. the other main stories on bbc news at 5: at westminster, mps are preparing to vote again on the brexit bill and on giving parliament a final vote on the brexit deal. rail services on some of the busiest lines in england are being disrupted because of a 24—hour strike. islamic state fighters in mosul put up tough resistance as iraqi forces advance on their positions in the city's old town. and the queen launches the baton relay for the 2018 commonwealth games in australia. it's 5 o'clock. our main story is the political showdown between theresa may and nicola sturgeon on the question of holding a second referendum on scottish independence. earlier today, scotland's first minister announced she would seek perm

downing street appeared to be wrong—footed.give an interview she was a lot stronger than that. as we negotiate to leave the european union, iwant we negotiate to leave the european union, i want to work closely with those scottish first minister. we have been recognising the common ground we have such as protecting workers' rights and dealing with terrorism. but on the first minister has shown today is deeply reg retta ble. has shown today is deeply regrettable. it set scotland on a course for uncertainty and division, creating huge uncertainty. this is a time when the evidence is the majority of the scottish people do not want a second independence referendum. so instead of playing politics with the future of our country, the scottish government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people of scotland. politics is not a game. and all this of course as we could be on the eve of the prime minister triggering article 50, perhaps tomorrow. westminster, rebecca, is buzzing. indeed it is! talk to you

it was nice to have downing street as a normal london street, but it's not practical. already. there was a counterargument. one of the reports today said that perhaps the police themselves or security services are concerned that having an armed officer may make them a potential target. whereas if you had roving armed police and unarmed officers but officers with protection that might bea but officers with protection that might be a good balance, but clearly you think events have proved that wrong. i think they have to be insistent. they have armed police now, there is a precedent for it. i think the police by the gates should be armed as well stop right let's move on to the observer. this, john, is the report from you are gassed all. they are increasingly confident according to this report, although the police haven't said this openly yet, that khalid masood acted alone and we may never actually no, because he didn't share that information, why he did what he did on wednesday. talk about a fast moving story. 2a hours ago we were reporting the exact opposite. these what

i am squeezed between the cars in downing street. ey are not her cars. —— bbc wages. and we will be chatting to steph about the budget in around 20 minutes' time. she has been looking at what different generations want from the chancellor. today she is at a retirement village in birmingham. lord heseltine has been sacked as a government adviser after rebelling in a vote over brexit. the government suffered a second defeat in the house of lords, as peers backed calls for a meaningful parliamentary vote on the final terms of withdrawal. ministers say they will seek to overturn the move when the bill returns to the commons. here is our political correspondent chris mason. many of your lordships... just like ken clarke in the commons, lord heseltine was determined to remain vociferously pro—european after the referendum, just as before. it ensures that parliament has the critical role in determining the future that we will bequeath to generations of young people, and i urge your lordships to support the amendment. but, hours later, he lea

what about the argument from downing street that this will encourage the eu to give us a worse deal.can say that the ministers do not have the authority, it is parliament that can boot out the day that bag of the deal? that will only hold weight if the prime minister said there would be no vote for parliament but it is in the white paper that this should be a vote and i am struggling to understand why the government have said it and put it in the white paper. why they are so opposed to putting in what they promise to do in the bill. those arguments do not stack up or hold weight. what happens if we fast forward two years and if theresa may gets the best deals she can get and if parliament says, we do not like this and they reject it, what does that mean? does that mean we stay in the eu are relieved about a deal? that is part of the key to this, either the government makes the decision or parliament does, i think it is better in terms of democracy, bringing decisions back to the uk parliament. my point is also, if there is going to be a vote in parliament at the end, there is going t

the prime minister, who was in parliament, has returned to downing street to chair and emergency cobra meeting. hello from westminster. we are at the police cordon around westminster after a day which has seen four people killed, including the attacker who stabbed a police officer at the palace gates, the palace of westminster gates, and who died of stab wounds. the attacker began, it seems, by driving a vehicle across westminster bridge and running into civilians who were pedestrians on that bridge, including a group of french schoolchildren from brittany. three of them were injured, a woman was thrown over the bridge into the river thames and pulled alive from the river thames. 20 people injured in all, according to the london ambulance service, four dead, including the attacker. two people on the bridge and the police officer who was stabbed to death. in the last few minutes we have heard from british prime minister theresa may, who has chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee, cobra. after that meeting she described the attack as sick and depraved but said british

that letter has been a closely guarded secret in downing street, we are told it's commercially sensitiveabinet tomorrow morning, she will make a statement to mps telling them about it but even then we won't have a gun the departure, that doesn't begin until oui’ man departure, that doesn't begin until our man in brussels marches down the coroner and hands over the letter in person to the president of the european council, donald tusk. the moment he takes hold of that letter, thatis moment he takes hold of that letter, that is the moment we begin to leave the eu and that letter is crucial. it's likely to be around 6—7 pages long but it will set out the prime minister's ambitions for brexit, what she wants from the deal, it's likely to reiterate we want to leave the single market, get back control of immigration, leave the european court ofjustice, it is, in short, likely to be one of the most closely scrutinised letters in modern political history. it certainly will be. norman, thank you. the scottish parliament is expected to back nicola sturgeon's call for a second independence referend

probably in them down at street but that is -- in downing street, but that is pure speculation on myhe is a former home secretary. her main experience of government is dealing with the police and a dealing with incidents like this even if we had had -- we have not had an incident like this. she will have a good sense of how these things play out and relationship good with some of the people on at the ground. we want to reiterate. we heard from police commander b.j. harrington a few moments ago, it is important to stress we cannot confirm the precise numbers of casualties and he said a we will not speculate as to whether this incident is over. are we aware, rob, of any other parts of london which have witnessed a heightened security presence? rob rang -- rob: not that i am aware. that heightened security presence here in the heart of asdon will cascade outwards he was saying. people going home this evening can expect to see armed police officers at farewell way stations and on the -- railway stations in and on the tube. that is a common tactic. you will see them in the morning tomorro

the right leaning telegraph compares it to maggie in downing street.hat picture. we do actually have a picture of theresa may signing article 50. we can see the contrasts right here as soon as it comes up. the comparison is very deliberate, the difference between nicola sturgeon and theresa may. but as a communications guy, i am asking myself what is nicola sturgeon actually trying to convey by looking so... actually trying to convey by looking so... is that supposed to be her in her business suit in her actual office. in her slippers. this is supposed to be a serious moment for the uk and scotland. i am supposed to be a serious moment for the uk and scotland. lam missing what they are trying to convey. surely it is informality, but for what reason? they seem to be on a collision course, these two women. they absolutely us. section 30. this section 30 letter is being written to theresa may. there is a stand—off, a scottish stand—off, thatis stand—off, a scottish stand—off, that is set to take place, and run for the next two years. if they gave them the

whitehall is the street that downing is on.telling people to go back inside their offices. station,ad to victoria there is a crowd of people being held back by police tape. parliament is right in the center of london, so this is a major traffic intersection. there is a lot for people trying to go through here on their way to places. it looks like victoria street, all of the cars have been cleared out so they are obviously taking this extremely seriously. they do have plans for these incidents. they prepare for these things. we all know that one of these things might happen. i canst comparable thing recall is in 2005, the second attack on the london underground when i was caught in a locked down in downing street. on that occasion, a tourist approaching the gates was nearly shot because he failed to understand what was going on. so police have studied these things extremely carefully and made serious plans. mark: it is made all the more difficult by this is the center of london, the center of political power here in london. this

everything changed as far as downing street was concerned.ll of a sudden article 50 was not going to be triggered tomorrow, the end of the month has always been the plan. you are fairly convinced that is all connected? i think it is definitely connected? i think it is definitely connected and i think she has thrown numberten, theresa connected and i think she has thrown number ten, theresa may, off— balance. if you number ten, theresa may, off—balance. if you see this as the first shots in the second referendum battle than she has certainly won this particular leg. there may well bea this particular leg. there may well be a couple of things that suit theresa may, but there is definitely fatigue. even though there were was an enthusiastic campaign last time, there is a huge amount of enthusiasm for another referendum —— isn't a huge amount of enthusiasm. the economic argument in favour of independence is more robust now that it was last time. over those things that well for theresa may. the two personalities involved in this one at the top of

it is one thing to say that outside downing street but what are the practical actions, how downing street, how are downing street but what are the practical actions, how are we bridging those divisions and gaps between different communities and individuals? but aside from the practical realities besides this challenge, as a symbol of the leader of the united kingdom she was absolutely right and she had to make that statement as the symbol of britain. of course. she was right to say that but it is to a certain extent rhetoric and it is translating that into actionable outcomes. no one should underestimate how difficult that task is. thank you very much. i appreciate your time. we are live at westminster and the terror attack here yesterday began at around 20 to three yesterday afternoon with a car travelling at high speed north across the bridge towards parliament. this is how the story unfolded, and a warning that you mightfind unfolded, and a warning that you might find some scenes upsetting. this appalling incident began when a single attacker drove his vehicle into pedestrians walking

not as close as 10 downing street where prime minister theresa may resides herself. >> thank you very much. it's just about two minutes away from 12:15 on the east coast. if you're just joining us, we're continuing with breaking news coverage following this incident in london. several people injured by an attacker near parliament. that person apparently running into people with a vehicle. getting out of that car with a knife where he allegedly stabbed a police officer in which he was then shot dead. we get a recap from the scene on exactly what unfolded at 2:40 local time in london. >> you can hear the police helicopters hovering above us here. we're just on the far side of westminster bridge from the palace of westminster, seat of british government. a few minutes ago, maybe a little while ago we got more ambulances coming in here, someone driving a vehicle revved up and ran across this bridge at speed according to eyewitnesses knocking down pedestrians. one being taken over by the car. they rammed that vehicle into a fence that surrounds parliament. you can see some of the emergency

that forceful language was underlined by downing street, which this morning said it too had told thethe gchq claim was ridiculous and said the white house had given assurances that the claim would not be repeated. richard lister, bbc news. i can speak now to brian lord, former deputy director for intelligence and cyber operations at gchq who is now managing director at pgi cyber. hejoins me from bristol. thank you for joining hejoins me from bristol. thank you forjoining us. the fact that gchq has spoken publicly about this at all, does that suggest to you, from your knowledge of working there, that there is a lot of anger about this? i think what it shows is, there is a need in an extraordinary set of circumstances, i think, to almost, this is notjust about assuring the public, this is about getting the message straight to the president how absurd these claims are. and i think the fact that breaking with long—standing tradition to make this statement does emphasise the need to kill this nonsense story off as quickly as it possibly can. and is it a damaging, has it been damaging, the

downing street said the negotiations would take into account the interests of all the nations in the was a dramatic announcement, but there are high sta kes at announcement, but there are high stakes at played for both sides. huge stakes. it is not given that nicola sturgeon, if there is a referendum, would win it. if she did not the cause of scottish independence would be shattered, along with nicola sturgeon‘s political prospects. theresa may faces the challenge of being the prime minister not only who takes britain out of the eu, but who could potentially preside over the break—up of the uk. who knows what the knock—on effects could be with northern ireland as well. there are colossal issues at stake. at the moment downing street is coming out fiercely criticising the idea of a second independence referendum, but not ruling it out completely, not saying no chance. they are not saying no chance. they are not saying that, they are saying you had a vote two years ago and that was meant to be once in a generation. it would be economically damaging, focus on your dayjob. theresa may wi

so the arrogance of downing street to question this unimpeachable mandate.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 following the conversations they will have been having in europe about what the alternative in europe scotla nd about what the alternative in europe scotland is. ithink about what the alternative in europe scotland is. i think there will be a resounding vote in —— for independence, and keeping that thousand year—long relationship with the eu that scotland has had. how confident are you that scotland will be able to join confident are you that scotland will be able tojoin —— confide

with people walking up and down the street now. that is blocked off so you can't get in there with a pass. >> like pennsylvania avenue in front of the white house. >> that's right. here in front of the parliament, that's a security defense you're looking at. the car has clearly pushed past that and has rammed that gate to the point at which it's got past the kind of defenses designed to prevent some kind of an explosive attack on the building. so, i guess what you end up with is a building that is about democracy. it is about members of parliament being able to have access to the people who they represent. and those people being able to get access to them. you can go in, people will have done it, and watch prime minister's questions, watch it taking place. anyone's allowed to do it. that's what democracy is. this was an attack on democracy. you know, sitting here, watching these pictures in my hometown, it's pretty tough to see, honestly. at the same time, you listen to the way people are dealing with it. a calm way they're dealing

downing street have always said it will be by the end of march so i think not this week.re issues because there is a big celebration of the rome treaty going on andi celebration of the rome treaty going on and i don't think it would be wise for the uk government to spoil that party by saying we are leaving the european union and triggering it now, so we are looking towards the end of march before she formally kick—start the process. end of march before she formally kick-start the process. there is an irony, they don't want to start the whole process because the european union is celebrating. in terms of that timing, the choreography, why was tomorrow ever on the agenda in that case? because it does seem very unlikely now. who knows, downing street have said all along and very clearly, privately, that no decision had been made because of the uncertainty of what is going on in parliament. we have had the defeats by the house of lords, going back to the house of commons these things a lwa ys the house of commons these things always add an element of uncertainty andi always a

a meeting was held in downing street earlier this neifi'in'fiownmgétreei eb. [. e. e .. e . s about how to respond and when week about how to respond and when sean spicer continued to repeat his allegations on thursday there very strongly worded statement came out last night. the deputy leader of the scottish national party has insisted there will be a second referendum on scottish independence. opening the party's spring conference in aberdeen, angus robertson said the prime minister was "panicking" when she tried to draw a line under the snp's proposed timetable for another referendum. theresa may has been speaking in the last hour at the conservative spring conference in cardiff and reiterated that independence would be "bad for scotland, bad for the uk and bad for us all". our political correspondent iain watson has the latest. at the g conference it is hardly surprising the focus is on a second referendum on scottish independence. - it is westminster that take legally it is westminster that take the decision. here it feels like the the decision. here it feels liket

i also thank her for her steps from 10 downing street last night which she really did speak for us all. we always know that the police keep us safe. but yesterday in the most shocking of ways we saw how true that really is. my prayers are with keets palmer and his families and all the victim of yesterday's outrage. we are beyond thankful to the police, to the nhs, emergency services, to the staff of this house for keeping us safe and being utterly dedicated to their roles. those who attack us hate our freedom, our peaceful democracy, our love of country, our tolerance, our openness, and our unity. as we work to unravel how this unspeakable attack happened, will she agree with me that we must not either in our laws or by our actions, curtail these values. indeed, we should have more of them. >> i thank the right honorable gentleman for his comments. and he is right of course as others have said that we should ensure that our values, those values of democracy and tolerance, of freedom prevail. it is exactly those values which the terrorists are trying to attack. it is our very way of lif

theresa may is meeting with the cabinet at downing street. she will head to the palace of westminster to the house of commons for prime minister's questions and it is after that that she will stand up in the house of commons to make that long awaited speech saying that she has triggered article 50 of the lisbon treaty which will set off the process of britain leaving the european union. as you would probably know, if you have been to any dinner parties around the uk lately, this is a controversial subject so she will make conciliatory remarks. she will say she promises to represent every person in the whole of the uk during the negotiations. now, whilst she is doing that, our man in brussels, the uk's permanent representative to the european union will travel to the europa building, the headquarters of the european council, he will meet with donald tusk and he will hand over the letter itself. it has been signed. after that, there maybe a short formal acknowledgement that article 50 has been received by the council which will appear on their

downing street has just released this photo of the prime minister finding what is known of article 50rt ticking towards the two—year deadline for the terms to be agreed. no one is expecting it to be straightforward. i spoke to our political correspondent at westminster about reaction to that image. is already dominating the front page of newspapers here. the times has said that the eyes of history are watching as theresa may sits at the table in the cabinet room in downing street, with a portrait of the first prime minister of britain looking down from that painting above her. this is the daily telegraph, it says, unite behind brexit, says theresa may. the daily mirror says the prime minister has triggered brexit today. so, this image is dominating everything at the moment. i think it is the first stage in the choreography of this historic day. the letter that theresa may is signing is being taken to brussels. the formal triggering of those divorced talks will not actually be signed by a statement in the commons, it will be triggered when our man in brussels, the uk's ambassador to th

minister in downing street. praved terrorist attack on the streets of our capital, this afternoon. the full details of exactly what happened are still emerging. having been updated by police and security officials, i can confirm that this appalling incident began when a single attacker drove his vehicle into pedestrians walking across westminster bridge. killing two people, and injuring many more, including three police officers. this attacker, who was armed with a knife, then ran towards parliament where he was confronted by the police officers who keep us and our democratic institutions safe. tragically, one officer was killed. the terrorist was also shot dead. the terrorist was also shot dead. the united kingdom ‘s threat level has been set at severe for some time. this will not change. acting deputy commissioner crowley will give a further operational update later this evening. our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected, to the victims themselves, and their family affected, to the victims t

this morning, downing street said it was promised by the white house that the allegations wouldn't be lister reports. it is an extraordinary claim, that donald trump was bugged by gchq on the orders of barack obama, a claim that has led to strenuous denials from london. it was first tweeted by president trump who said his phone had been tapped before his inauguration. he said president obama was a bad or sick guy. last night there was no evidence. the evidence remains the same, we do not have any evidence that took place. we have cleared that up, we have seen no evidence of that. so where is the president getting the information about being bugged by gchq? sources have told fox news that president obama could have done and probably did use foreign intelligence services to get this information. this morning this was read out in a transcript by sean spicer. these are merely pointing out that i think there is widespread reporting that throughout the election there was surveillance then on a variety of people. if the white house reporters were sceptical, gchq was even less impressed. the

that night, the prime minister made a statement outside downing street condemning what she called theepraved and appalling attack. and theresa may vowed that parliament would meet as normal the next day. and so the commons gathered on thursday morning at 9:33, and held a minute's silence. order. colleagues, and respectful memory of those who lost their lives in yesterday's attack, and of all of the casualties of that attack, we shall now observe a minute's silence. a little later, the prime minister spoke to mps. mr speaker, yesterday an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy. but today we meet as normal. as generations have done before us and as future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message — we are not afraid. she paid tribute to pc keith palmer, who died protecting parliament. pc palmer had devoted his life to the service of his country. he had been a member of the parliamentary and diplomatic protection command for 15 years. and a soldier in the royal artillery before that. he was a husband and a father, killed during a job he loved. he was every inc

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as for possibly to downing street returning possibly to downing street if brexit goes horribly wrong took on brexit. tom, i note you are competitive political journalist, i tom, i note you are competitive politicaljournalist, i guess george osborne has many contacts and will get lots of scoops? here's hoping. i have to say, george osborne's profile with politicaljournalists and those inside the westminster bubble is actually quite high. he was a very good gossip, good lunch, good dinner, not the difficult character. would see on character you would see on the television. there is some respect and interest in him still what i'd agree with george heaton, quite e 5.52; 2.165 m e eeee 2.16.5 m to ef eje'e 2.1 ef.;.e m to his ef e.fee 2.1ef.;e m to his standing different to his standing amongst the conservative party. he is very disliked amongst a lot of tory activists here who really loathe him how activists here who really loathe him [low because of activists here who really loathe him gow because of leading the project now because of leading the project fearcampaign, as it now because

downing street today have taken a fairly calm and cordial tone i've heard borisjohnson there. ing time and hoping somewhere down the line to turn the negotiations in the direction of the british government. as for the points on the table, ministers are confident they can agree to maintain the rights of europeans in this country now, just as they can maintain the rights of brits living on the continent. on the question of the border with ireland, there is a british policy commitment to maintaina british policy commitment to maintain a softer border, which is in the customs union. the practicalities are not so easy. there's no easy way to achieve that. a big political problem and a tough nut to crack will be the eu budget settlement. any large bill will run into a huge wall of resistance among hostile conservative mps here at westminster. some sort of deadlock is easy to imagine and when it comes to the british public, to british public opinion, after all that talk about taking back control, it may not be easy to give british public opinion on the side when the negotiations lead

and the british prime minister theresa may came out into downing street to make a statement shortly afternment emergency meeting. i have just chaired a meeting of the government's emergency committee, cobra, following the sick and depraved terrorist attack on the streets of our capital, this afternoon. welcome from westminster, where it has been a horrifying and bloody day. four people are dead at the end of it. including it seems the assailant. and a police officer who was stabbed at the gates of the palace of westminster. before that, a vehicle driven across westminster bridge careered into a number of people on the bridge and injured at least 20 of them. it killed two. 20 people injured and a number of them still in hospital tonight, at saint thomases in kings college. the prime minister has been sharing a meeting of cobra, the country's emergency committee. after that, she gave a statement on today's events. she described it as a sick and depraved attack, and an appalling incident. if it was aimed at changing people's way of life, she says that attempt was doomed to failure, because p

on that day, but since then i have neverfelt in downing street on that day, but since then i have of incident occurring right in the palace of westminster, and i was there yesterday with a friend, pmqs day, prime minister's questions is a busy day, the houses were packed, parliament was packed, tourists, visitors, parliamentarians walking along new palace yard where the attacker breached security and, tragically, pc keith palmer lost his life protecting us, keeping us out of harms way, but in the line of duty he was stabbed and fell and died there, despite the attempts of the mp tobias ellwood to try and revive him. at that point i didn't know, we had heard the gunshots ring out that shocked the attacker dead, we didn't know two people had been killed, you just mentioned them, as they were walking across the bridge, mown down by the car, but there was a sense of panic at that point because 110 one sense of panic at that point because no one knew what was happening. 0n the police rushed past us, we were told to run away from the danger but at that stage they didn't know if there wa

i also thank her for her steps from 10 downing street last night which she really did speak for us all. we always know that the police keep us safe. but yesterday in the most shocking of ways we saw how true that really is. my prayers are with keets palmer and his families and all the victim of yesterday's outrage. we are beyond thankful to the police, to the nhs, emergency services, to the staff of this house for keeping us safe and being utterly dedicated to their roles. those who attack us hate our freedom, our peaceful democracy, our love of country, our tolerance, our openness, and our unity. as we work to unravel how this unspeakable attack happened, will she agree with me that we must not either in our laws or by our actions, curtail these values. indeed, we should have more of them. >> i thank the right honorable gentleman for his comments. and he is right of course as others have said that we should ensure that our values, those values of democracy and tolerance, of freedom prevail. it is exactly those values which the terrorists are trying to attack. it is our very way of lif

we will have alastair campbell, the downing street press secretary under tony blair. talking brexit, european populism a to the goings on in the sea -- d.c. this is bloomberg. ♪ tracey: the diplomatic row between turkey and the netherlands is escalating. on thursday, president erdogan close to dutch access to a plane waser his grounded. and he stirred up controversy by calling the touch fascists. our foreigntop ministers plane all you want, let's see how your planes will come to turkey from now on. i'm talking about the diplomacy here, not about this and travels . we will a valuate all of these accordingly. citizen's about travels. these nazi remnants are fascists . tracey: it's the second time in over a week since erdogan has th european leaders. we are joined by the former chief of the government of tony blair. we started with that clip of erdogan because it is indicative of the wave of populism that is gathering speed not in europe only but around the world. when you look at that nationalist backlash, especially in your own country, what you think is the reason beh

let us see if anything emerges about social care, thank you so much, straight to downing street because, the first and last time we will see philip hammond making a spring budget, because he is grappling a spring budget, he doesn't believe that we need them any more. but we will see him again in the autumn because he will be doing an autumn budget. a traditional posed by mr hammond, holding the red box. theresa may has already gone to the commons in preparations to pmq ‘s, usually on budget day, pmq ‘s is a rather understated affair, because all eyes are focused and everyone is waiting, for the big moment, for the budget moment. pmq ‘s can be a bit underpowered and there is a lot speculation that this budget may be less of an important political event thatis less of an important political event that is often the case because philip hammond has pretty much already signalled to us, that he hasn't got any spare money to spend, and what their money he has got he wa nts to and what their money he has got he wants to keep back because of the potential difficulties that the economy might face,

downing street saying, to do that, would be to fatally weaken mrs may's negotiating hand.nowledge she'd have to come back to parliament, parliament would reject it and then mrs may would reject it and then mrs may would have to crawl back into the negotiating table on bended knee, begging for a better deal. so mrs may will seek to reverse that likely defeat in the commons. the question is, though, whether rebellious tory mps might feel emboldened to defy her because of the scale of the likely defeat here. and the former conservative leader, william hague, suggested a snap election would help deliver a successful brexit. it doesn't look like that is going to happen, does it? significant, though, sophie because mr hague's a nswer to though, sophie because mr hague's answer to all the difficulties mrs may is having in the house of lords, to the threatened revolt in the commons, is to call that early general election in an effort to ta ke general election in an effort to take advantage of labour's disarray to get a bigger majority. that he said would mean the lords wouldn't da

police chased two people down the street.was barricaded in a small apartment a block away. listen to what he had to say. >> i just heard five gunshots from that direction. i look back and didn't see much. i didn't know what it was. i just kind of looked back and walked past my house. >> the s.w.a.t. team has been busy

much to downing street's dismay.tions we first have to sort out how we can untangle ourselves from one another. we can speak about our future relationship. chancellor merkel also stressed the importance of deciding the fate of eu citizens living in the uk and british citizens in the eu, asap. brussels and london agree. thankfulfor one issue at least to unite around. katya adler, bbc news, brussels. the brexit clock started ticking from the moment the letter of article 50 was delivered today and there will be two years to negotiate. what happens nextnext? on friday, the european council will set out proposals. a month later, at a summit, the other 27 states will debate and then be asked to approve. then they will talk. first, the french and german elections to be held in may and september. negotiations should finish by october next year. the uk and the european parliament will vote on it. that is the plan. but there is no precedent for it. james robbins has been looking at the challenges ahead as the negotiations get