iain watson, bbc news.e minister has confirmed that britain will leave the single market, and wants a different relationship with what's known as the european customs union. but what exactly does that mean? our economics correspondent, andy verity, is here to explain. the reason this is economically important is because we sell more goods and services to the 27 member countries of the european union than to anywhere else. it's our biggest trading partner, not least because it's our closest trading partner, with nearly half our exports going to eu member countries. if you're a british exporter, it's very obvious what the single market means. whatever you make in the uk, you can sell anywhere in the eu, no member country can block you. that's free movement of goods. you can also invest capital anywhere, and any member country can invest in your country, member states promise not to block that either. and in theory at least, you also have free movement of services. and, more controversially, free movement of p

iain watson, bbc news.irmed that the reason may will speak to donald trump on the importance of nato. he had previously said that it was obsolete and then later qualified his mark. number ten has said the prime minister has spoken to the nato secretary—general and they continue to discuss the importance of the alliance and the need for it to continue. and the prime minister will be taking these messages to washington late in the week where she will discuss nato with president trump. the white house and vowed to fight the news media to the nail on the attacks on president trump. he claims more than a million people attended, aerial photos show a different story. the weightiest issues on the planet were discussed at donald trump's inaugural address, but what the president is in a white rage about are suggestions that the crowds for him were not as big as they were for barack obama eight years ago, even though the evidence is incontrovertible, as these two photos, each taken 45 minutes before the inauguration

our political correspondent iain watson reports.g critical warnings of the worst of a winter crisis in the nhs and now labour want to turn this into a political crisis by piling pressure on the government. into a political crisis by piling pressure on the governmentm into a political crisis by piling pressure on the government. is there a crisis in the nhs? he doesn't use the c workjeremy hunt wouldn't talk ofa the c workjeremy hunt wouldn't talk of a crisis but has suggested patients shouldn't make their way to a&e departments unless the case is urgent and todayjeremy corbyn attacked a prime minister accusing her of trying to wriggle out of the target that most patients should be seen within four hours.. she agree with him that the best way to solve the crisis of the four our weight is to fiddle the figures are so weight is to fiddle the figures are so people are not seem to be waiting so so people are not seem to be waiting so long on hospital trolleys in nhs hospitals? over the christmas period we saw the day where more people we

we'll correspondent iain watson. have an opportunity it about we'll have an opportunity it talk aboutle future trading relationship but also some of the world challenges we face. it all sounds positive but the two leaders will have to square this circle. ! i wa nt will have to square this circle. ! i want us to be a global britain. as you can see, as you can see, our as you can see, our business with our eu partners is worth far more than our trade with the united states. no trade agreement can replace or match what we will lose our own doorstep europe. it is well known here that the team around theresa may were not exactly the biggest fans of donald trump when he was a candidate, but as soon as he was a candidate, but as soon as he was elected his officials were dispatched to the states trying to mention —— men now the prime minister insists she still isn't fair to raise really difficult issues with the new leader of the free world. theresa may was a little coy on what she would say face—to—face with donald trump, but... ithink she would say face—to—face with donald trump, but... i t

iain watson, bbc news. to our assistant political editor norman smith in westminster, but first our europe correspondent kevin connolly is in strasbourg. a rather conciliar truth tone struck in the european parliament, though it was made —— conciliar tree tone struck, though it was made clear that negotiations will be difficult. that's right, given that most european politicians, especially in a place like strasbourg here, view brexit with incompetence ability. there was no big well—prepared —— with incomprehensible at it was the we're working with a view snippet from a speech, and we are working with a view clips from a news conference, but the tone from jean—claude juncker, who is conference, but the tone from jean—claudejuncker, who is going to bea jean—claudejuncker, who is going to be a very important figure on the european side sounded pretty conciliatory. he was pleased with what he called clarifications from theresa may, and although the talks we re theresa may, and although the talks were going to

europe correspondent damian grammaticas but first to westminster and our political correspondent iain watsonis is a big shock for number ten? yes, we got a test statement after several hours from number ten, clive, test statement after several hours from numberten, clive, which test statement after several hours from number ten, clive, which said that so you are ivan is going because he is allowing a successor to be put in place ahead of the brexit negotiations in the spring, he is leaving a few months early, they said. but that's masked the fa ct they said. but that's masked the fact that they found it something of a surprise when he announced to his own officials he was going today. it came as a surprise today and it came asa came as a surprise today and it came as a surprise to many other politicians here at else w he hasn't set out his reasons for going, as you were saying. we haven't had a statement certainly directly from him but those who know sir ivan rodgers felt that perhaps his advice wasn't being listened to in government n whitehall, and there maybe another reason for his depart

our political correspondent, iain watson joins us now.now about this man, what can you tell us. first of all the most important thing is he is a career diplomat, something that has beenin career diplomat, something that has been in the foreign office for quite some time, almost 20 years —— someone. some time, almost 20 years —— someone. he worked with junior ministers at the foreign office 20 yea rs ministers at the foreign office 20 years ago. iain, i see your suffering, we will come back to you later. we know that feeling. we've all had moments like that. we will go back to him injust a second. the re st of go back to him injust a second. the rest of the news this morning: immigrants should be expected to learn english before coming to britain or attend language classes when they arrive, that's what a group of mps are calling for. the all party parliamentary group on social integration also wants the government to consider giving the uk's nations and regions the power to control the number of visas issued. here's our home affairs corres

iain watson, bbc news. let's just show you the house of commons.g that statement from the foreign secretary, borisjohnson. statement from the foreign secretary, boris johnson. he statement from the foreign secretary, borisjohnson. he doesn't look like he has taken up his position on the front page. but as soon as he gets up to speak, we will ta ke soon as he gets up to speak, we will take you there. president trump says only 109 people out of more than 300,000 were detained at immigration for questioning over the weekend, and that the problems at airports were caused by computer issues and protestors, not his travel ban. protests have continued across america, and many more are being planned here in the uk this evening in around 30 towns and cities. this report from daniel boettcher. this is how divisive the issue has become — shouted arguments between opponents of donald trump's travel ban and those supporting it. this protest was in portland, but they have continued in many us cities, and at several airports, where there is still confusion about

let's get more from our political correspondent iain watson at westminster. quite a surprise, iain.to many people, he has not got back to many people, he has not got back to us to cast any light on the reasons for his resignation. he has not given by public resignation letter, that is unlikely to happen as he is supposed to remain impartial and behind—the—scenes. he was brought from the shadows if you like into the limelight, and uncomfortable place for a diplomat when he suggested it could take up to ten years to get a trade deal on leaving the european union. he revealed that advice that should have been private advice a few weeks ago and he was roundly denounced by many leave campaigners for being overly pessimistic. those who want britain to stay in the eu or the eu single market are saying his resignation is to be regretted. peter mandelson from the campaign to keep britain with very close ties to the eu talked about the knowledge and experience that ivan rogers built up. nick clegg, the former lib dem leader, said this has dealt a body blow to the government's brexit plans and

iain watson, bbc news, westminster.england to a parliamentary committee this afternoon. simon stevens is the chief executive of nhs england and gave this stark warning to mps. 0ver over the next three years funding will be highly constrained and as i previously said real terms nhs spending per person in england is going to go down ten years after a sturdy began. we understand why that is but let's not pretend that does not place huge pressure on the service. what should the public take away from evidence today in parliament. chris hopson — chief executive of nhs providers — the organisation that represents hospitals in england — has said the nhs is "not sustainable" under current funding. hejoins me now from westminster. we need a rigorous plan about how that gap is going to close. that will be of concern notjust to people who work in the nhs but taxpayers to pay for it. do you detect the political will to deliver the kind of action you seem to be demanding because it seems to be in excess of what the prime minister was

let's get more from our political correspondent iain watson at westminster.n't know, we still haven't heard anything from him? i'm afraid we haven't. what is interesting is the downing street statement, a pretty anodyne couple of lines from number ten, effectively saying the reason he stood down in fact was to give a successof stood down in fact was to give a successor the chance to be in place before the brexit negotiations took place. of course we expect article 50 to be triggered in the spring, probably in april. in a sense he was simply helping the government out and they thanked him for his work. he was due to stand down in november in any case. it seemed to come as quite a surprise to many people in downing street that he had gone quite as quickly as he did. also there had been talk in recent months about extending his stay in brussels as our ambassador to the eu beyond the scheduled date of his departure in november. that seems pretty curious. i think one of the reasons perhaps that he has gone becomes apparent in the reaction to his departure. he has

our political correspondent, iain watson, says the ukip leader will be looking to make his mark in thisg scouser comic he set at this very ambitious aim of replacing the labour party and making ukip the patriotic voice, he said, of working people. in stone, two thirds of people backed exit, he called the city the capital of brexit. if he fails, this could damage his leadership very early on. despite various failed attempts to get into parliament. if he wins the strikes a body blow againstjeremy corbyn, who was out campaigning ahead of another by—election today. people there are saying more and more of their voters soon—to—be underside at this time. the by—elections do resent high—stakes bradleys two opposition leaders. president trump is to visit the headquarters of the cia. the white house says he wants to thank members of the intelligence community for their work. a day of protests is taking place in washington and the the world in support of women's rights and against trump's presidency. nine people have now been rescued from an italian hotel which was buried by an avalanche three da

let‘s talk to our political correspondent iain watson. as correspondent iain watson. go will want the foreign secretary, borisjohnson, to go to the commons today and explain why it took so long for the clarification that british dozens are exempt, those with dual nationality are exempt, although they may face additional checks. they want to know why the prime minister didn‘t take an opportunity at the press conference over the weekend to distance herself, although downing street did later. on the substance of the ban, evenif later. on the substance of the ban, even if uk citizens are exempt, this is still controversial. we‘re likely to see demonstrations against it in london and other uk cities today and 900,000 people have signed an online petition calling for donald trump‘s planned state visit to britain to be put off because it might embarrass the queen. because it‘s got more than 100,000 signatures that means mps have to consider debating the issue, which could be harassing for the prime minister. labour and the lib dems have called for the state visit to be calle

here's our political correspondent iain watson. 0n the surface the special relationship that he is almost as the prime minister the first foreign leader to meet the new president but that relationship with donald trump may have to become extra special after brexit. the special relationship between the uk and us has been strong for many yea rs. we and us has been strong for many years. we will have the opportunity to speak about a trading relationship and some of the challenges we will face. it all sounds positive but the leaders will have to square this circle.|j sounds positive but the leaders will have to square this circle. i want us have to square this circle. i want us to be a truly global britain. america first, america first. the president's critics say that his emphasis of protecting american jobs might makea emphasis of protecting american jobs might make a favourable deal difficult even with the uk. recent figures show we sell more to america than we buy, we sold £88 billion of goods and services butjust brought in £52 billion of imports. the reverse is true with the eu. we sell

here's our political correspondent, iain watson. demonstrations in america against president trump's imposition ofa against president trump's imposition of a temporary travel ban are likely to be repeated here with protests planned outside downing street later today and another uk cities. although the foreign office have clarified that british citizens are exempt from the band, the foreign secretary has been under pressure to say why it took so long to get clarification —— the ban. say why it took so long to get clarification -- the ban. in the house of commons, that's the place. this conservative mp was born in iraq, one of the seven countries that are subject to the travel ban. he is pleased that he has confirmation he will be able to visit the usa but is still opposed to the policy. clearly the foreign secretary had worked throughout sunday and into the night talking directly to the white house, was my understanding, as did the team at number ten and understanding, as did the team at numberten andi understanding, as did the team

here's our political correspondent iain watson. 0n the surface, the special relationship appears almostate. britain's prime minister will be the first foreign leader to meet the new president. but that relationship with donald trump may have to become extra special after brexit, as britain searches for new global trade deals. the special relationship between the uk and the us has been strong for many years. we will have opportunity to talk about our future trading relationship but also some of the world challenges that we all face. he and people around him are also spoken about the importance of a trade arrangement with the united kingdom, and that that is something they are looking to talk to us about at an early stage. it all sounds positive, but the two leaders will have to square this circle. i want this to be a truly global britain. america first! the president's critics say that his emphasis on protecting american drops might make things difficult with the uk —— jobs. recent figures show that we sell more to america than we buy. we sold them £88 billion worth of goods and services

iain watson, bbc news. we can. our assistant political editor norman smith is in westminster.hen the vote. they're getting two days of debate. then the vote. they‘ re getting through two days of debate. then the vote. they're getting through this quickly? they are but david davis seemed to have lost his voice a bit. he'll need it over the next few days. he's facing an almighty parliamentary tussle over the timing and the way this legislation is being fast—tracked through with three days. over 100 amendments have been put down to try to shape mrs may's approach to brexit. anger too this paper the government first promised back in december setting out mrs may's plans for brexit still hasn't been produced. i don't know if you read the pavement eano or dandy, when dennis the menace was involved in a bust uhf, there were fists and grunts and groans and shouts. that's going to happen in the commons. yet theresa may will emerge unscathed. she'll have her bill in the timetable she wants. why? her opponents are divided. tory rebels do not want to fight. now, in the house of lords, they

let's speak to our political correspondent iain watson at westminster.out of the blue was mac it has indeed. financial times seemed to get wind of this first and it surprised some people in downing street when they were as to the comment on the news and it has been confirmed by downing street now and the foreign office that sir ivan rogers has resigned as the british ambassador to the eu. we do not have a resignation letter and he has not set out the reasons for his early departure, he was supposed to stand down in november and is going months before article 50, the process of leaving the european union, is triggered, and he is one of the most experienced negotiators with other member states. it is possible the bbc exclusive story has something to do with this. last month, the bbc reported he was reporting the views of other eu member states over that negotiation and he suggested some felt it could take ten years to get a trade to deal with the rest of the eu and there would be difficulties ratifying it and that eu parliaments in 27 month states would be

let's go to downing street now and our correspondent iain watson. say today could be the biggest test of mrs may's premiership so far — what are we expecting? yes, it is, certainly the most significant speech since stepping into downing street after the referendum in the summer. it is no overstatement to suggest that for the following reasons — we have had the following reasons — we have had the slogans before, brexit means brexit, and now we have the substance. let's be clear about this, there is no question that the prime minister intends to stay in the european single market. the signals are far too strong. she will make it clear that we don't want to be half in, half out. she is not looking for a associate membership of the eu. she says she doesn't want a trade deal like any other country has. that would tend to suggest we are coming out of the customs union, which she thinks is important to strike deals around the world, and by giving that clarity she has also buy the same token given her opponents ammunition with which to attack her. it isn'tj

let's get the latest now from our political correspondent iain watson, in westminster. ces mps for the first time since giving her speech. what is likely to be the reaction? theresa may will be facing mps for the first time. it is prime minister's questions at lunchtime, and she is likely to be challenged on the content of that speech. labour's challenge will be first of all that she should have given that speech to mps rather than those invited audience of ambassadors. they will call for more parliamentary scrutiny, and thirdly they will say that they do not welcome her warning that she will make written into some kind of low tax, low regulation economy if she doesn't get her way. but some of the backbenchers, some of the mps in jeremy corbyn‘s party, are not too pleased with the fact that they think he should be taking a stronger line on the argument that britain should stay inside the single market and effectively the labour leadership was giving an alibi to theresa may for a bad brexit. liberal democrats will call for a second referendum when she has negotiated the d

our political correspondent iain watson joins us from westminster. is this for the government? he is clearly an incredibly experienced man. he is very experienced. some people want britain to leave the eu. they say he is too experienced, he knows brussels too well and they want to replace him with someone who wants brexit. irrespective of your views on the referendum it is a significant departure for the following reasons, part —— in part went the bbc revealed he was suggesting it might take 10 years to get a trade deal. that was based on calls with people from other eu nations. he is therefore saying it is important that people who represent britain challenge muddled thinking by ministers. for me, the most significant thing in this letter is when he says, i quote, we don't know what the government will set as it is negotiating objectives with the eu. this isn't about the detail, it is the broad brush in or out, partially out of the customs you union and the single market. if we are leaving the eu in a few months, the government will have to a nswer

that the uk cant afford to lose full access to the single market. 0ur political correspondent, iain watson iainjeremy corbyn has been under pressure to respond to labour voters concerns over immigration, hasn't he? good morning. today we will hear that. not just from good morning. today we will hear that. notjust from some of his own mps. has a tricky position. he has to talk about the remain voters. but he also has to reach out to those who backed leave in many parts of england outside london. we are hearing a shift in rhetoric from jeremy corbyn, saying that he recognises concerns about immigration in particular. he has indeed set for the first time that they are not wedded to the principle of free movement between european countries which seems to be significant. if you look at the policies, i don't think he has changed much. we have not seen any at all. he says it is important to get a ccess at all. he says it is important to get access to the european single market, rather than having controls on migration. his policy on that is the same as it was before. in addition to that, he is po

our political correspondent iain watson reports.sionals are issuing critical warnings of the worst of a winter crisis in the nhs and now labour want to turn this into a political crisis by piling pressure on the government. jeremy corbyn told the premise that she needs to pay concerned to the professionals ? she needs to pay concerned to the professionals? sian works in the nhs, a 22 month —year—old child was taken to hospital, there were no beds, he was treated on a blanket. they told her it is always this way. they told her it is always this way. the prime minister told mps to put the problems it in proportion. there have been a small number of incidents where unacceptable practices have taken place. what matters, we don't want those things to happen, what happens is how you do with them. earlier this week the prime minister said she wanted to create a shared society. we certainly have that. more people sharing hospital corridors on trolleys. more people sharing waiting areas at a&e departments. more people sharing in anxiety crea

our political correspondent, iain watson, reports.ed the prime minister for not having a plan for brexit. butjeremy corbyn himself has been under pressure to set out his stall. today, he reached out to those labour voters who are worried about eu immigration by saying that his party was not wedded to freedom of movement. but in a bbc interview, he didn't suggest any new restrictions, so how will he tackle the level of unskilled immigration? ending exploitation of migrant workers, ending an undercutting of existing pay and conditions and enforcing what is known as the posting of workers directive which is a slightly bizarre way of describing the way in which people are recruited to come to this country, and indeed other countries, to undercut existing working conditions. but will this cut the number of eu migrants? it probably means they would be fewer. but some people in his own party say he should be flagging up more specific policies. we have to be clear and consistent about what our policy on immigration is and that's why my collea

our political correspondent iain watson reports. had a vote, theresa may would be guaranteed a landslide election victory. they liked her willingness to walk away from a bad deal with the eu. butjust 2a hours later, the foreign secretary controversially used rather more colourful language, comparing the french president to a world war ii prison guard. if mr hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who chooses to escape rather in the manner of some sort of world war ii movie then i don't think that that is the way forward. i think actually it's not in the interests of our friends and our partners. downing street defended the comments as a theatrical comparison and denied mrjohnson had compared the french president to a nazi. the prime minister then faced mps to defend her own words in yesterday's brexit speech. she was attacked first of all, for not what she said, but the fact she hadn't said it in parliament. restoring parliamentary democracy whilst sidelining parliament. mr speaker, it's not so much the iron lady

our political correspondent iain watson is here. how risky is this for a new party leader?ttall, a straight talking scouser, setting out an ambitious aim of replacing the labour party and making ukip the patriotic voice of working people, he says. in stoke, two thirds backed brexit, he called it the capital of brexit. if he fails to beat labour there it could damage his leadership very early. his predecessor nigel farage survived various failed attempt to get into parliament. if he wins, he strikes a body blow atjeremy corbyn, who is campaigning ahead of another by—election in cumbria. a labour seat, but local campaigners there saying that more and more voters seem to be undecided. by—elections represent high—sta kes oi’ by—elections represent high—sta kes or at least two opposition leaders. thank you. 16 people, mostly teenagers, have been killed in verona in northern italy after their bus hit a highway barrier and caught fire. the school students from hungary were returning from a skiing trip with teachers and parents when the accident happened. 23 people are still missin

have political and business reaction — but first, this report from our political correspondent iain watsonwhat is the plan? you have heard her slogan, brexit means brexit. today we saw some of the substance. theresa may voted to remain in the european union, but she consulted leading leave campaigners, borisjohnson and david davies, over the most important speech she has made since becoming prime minister. she did not give a detailed plan for brexit, but she did set out a direction of travel. not partial membership of the european union, associate membership of the european union, or anything that leaves us half in, half out. i want to be clear. what i am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. inside the european single market, there are no trade barriers, no tariffs, between the states, but they have to abide by rules and one of those means a freedom of people and goods, that means it is difficult to limit immigration. the prime minister wants a new free trade deal with the eu and the control of the uk borders was politically important. the message from the public before a

here's our political correspondent, iain watson.strations in america against president trump's imposition of a temporary travel ban are likely to be repeated here with protests planned outside downing street later today and another uk cities. although the foreign office have clarified that british citizens are exempt from the band, the foreign secretary has been under pressure to say why it took so long to get clarification. in the house of commons, that's the place. this conservative mp was born in iraq, one of the seven countries that are subject to the travel ban. he is pleased that he has confirmation he will be able to visit the usa but is still opposed to the policy. clearly the foreign secretary had worked throughout sunday and into the night talking directly to the white house, was my understanding, as did the team at number ten and i applaud them for the work they did, certainly for families like mine. the anguish we have suffered in the last 72 hours has been horrific. there are millions of people in the uk and the rest of

political and business reaction shortly, but first this report from our political correspondent iain watsonod morning, what is the plan. you have heard her slogan, brexit means brexit. today we saw some of the substance. theresa may voted to remain in the european union, but she consulted leading league campaigners, boris johnson and she consulted leading league campaigners, borisjohnson and david davies, over the most important speech she has made since becoming prime minister. she did not give a detailed plan for brexit, but she did set out a direction of travel. not partial membership of the european union, associate membership of the european union, or anything that leaves us half in, half out. i wa nt to that leaves us half in, half out. i want to be clear. what i am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. inside the european single market there are no trade barriers, no tariffs, between the states, but they have to abide by rules and one of those means a freedom of people and goods, that means it is difficult to limit immigration. the prime minister wa nts a immigration

our political correspondent iain watson reports.newspapers are had a vote, theresa may would be guaranteed a landslide election victory. they liked her willingness to walk away from a bad deal with the eu. 2a hours later, the foreign secretary co ntroversially hours later, the foreign secretary controversially used rather more colourful language, comparing the french president to a world war ii prison guard. if mr hollande wants to administer punishment beatings to anybody who chooses to escape rather in the manner of some sort of world war ii movie then i don't think that thatis war ii movie then i don't think that that is the way forward. i think actually it's not in the interests of our friends and our partners. downing street defended the comments asa downing street defended the comments as a theatrical comparison and denied mrjohnson had compared the french president to a nazi. the prime ministerfaced french president to a nazi. the prime minister faced mps to defend her own words in yesterday's brexit speech. she was attacked

let's talk to our political correspondent iain watson.to host african and eastern european dictators. he said she will be able to take a brash billionaire from new york in her stride. it is felt by people at the top of the party that britain's strategic interests are best served by offering a state visit to donald trump. the pressure will grow, because not far from where i am standing, last night demonstrators flooded into parliament square, they lined up to the doors of downing street, protesting against donald trump's offal ban, and in some other major cities around britain as well. whitehall is where lord ricketts inhabited until recently. he has questioned the wisdom of inviting a donald trump for the state visit, but i can tell you all so some conservative mps are wondering whether she was wise to rush into this early invitation to donald trump before he had established his credentials. plenty to say on that subject, lots of you getting involved. we will talk about that in five minutes. mps are to begin two days of debate over the go

let's cross to westminster and to our political correspondent iain watson. ill be the reaction to this resignation e—mail? what will be the reaction to this resignation e-mail? there has been widespread reaction this morning. a number of fronts, believe campaigners, iain duncan smith is saying, it wasn't possible for the government to trust sir ivan rodgers. if you look at the manor of this letter, he doesn't seem to be in sync with the government's views on brexit and perhaps it was better for him to go. but remain campaigners have been regretting his departure. they say there has been a lot of experience, sir ivan rodgers felt he was too close to brussels. but he knew how brussels work. we heard from the former head of the foreign office, the former head of the diplomatic service who said he thinks sir ivan rodgers will be a great loss just several months before theresa may is due to press the button on article 50, the process of leaving the european union. he thinks one of the reasons he left is because his advisor wasn't being listened to in downing stree

eurosceptic conservative, iain duncan smith, said he'd undermined ministers' trust when his private advice that a brexit deal could take ten years was leaked. our political correspondent ian watson in public, outspoken in private. sir ivan rogers has exited his role as britain's eu ambassador. when the bbc revealed his private advice that a trade deal with the eu could take ten years, he was attacked by some leave campaigners for being pessimistic. diplomats are supposed to be, well, diplomatic. but in his resignation e—mail, he is anything but. he tells his staff, "i hope you will continue to challenge ill founded arguments and muddled thinking, and that you will never be afraid to speak the truth to those in power." so until a recently faceless bureaucrat in brussels resigns, why should that matter here in britain? well, the clock is ticking on the uk's departure from the eu. the process has to get underway by the end of march. now, it was sir ivan rogers' job to find out and then report back the thinking of other eu member states before these crucial negotiations begin. it will take time to replace him. the government can't yet tell us a timescale and some former whitehall ma