law in the uk.tion act, like other currently non—eu nationals have to seek permission to remain here. whether or not the government may seek to carve out something more favourable within the immigration rules for eu nationals remains to be seen. rules for eu nationals remains to be seen. and i think much of that shall depend on the negotiations with the other member states. because, let's not forget, we have over 3 million european nationals in the uk, but we have nearly over! million british citizens who are living in europe. so it is important for us to secure their position. so any reciprocal favourable agreement that we can reach, the government would no doubt seek to get that. will any of it depend on your marital status or for example the length of time you have been here? msas, my husband is italian, he has lived here for 11 yea rs, italian, he has lived here for 11 years, what is his status, living and working here, paying taxes and owning property and married to a british woman? —— emma say

the uk voted to leave so the uk will leave as the uk.er, she too is playing with very high stakes here because it is not at all clear that she will win by any means. certainly the view amongst many folk in westminster is that she is in a very tight corner in large part because of the economic questions which many people feel that the scottish government has not been able to answer. in other words, what happens of levels of debt and the deficit in scotland. who is going to pick up the tab of that is if the uk is no longer around. what happens regarding their plummeting oil price and currency. these are very hard economic questions which many folk in westminster feel that nicola sturgeon doesn't have answers for. that is why they lost the last independence referendum. there is also the view that many people in scotla nd also the view that many people in scotland will just think also the view that many people in scotland willjust think not also the view that many people in scotland will just think not another referendum and will perhaps rea

that is 44% of all uk exports. so thatis that is 44% of all uk exports.sizeable chunk. it represents 13% of the entire british economy. if we look the other way, the eu exported by more to the uk in money terms than vice—versa. this figure here, $360 billion in the same year. so it runs a large trade surplus, over $80 billion, with the uk. so you can argue, from that point of view, it has more to lose in these negotiations. but the eu as a whole is far less reliant on britain than the other way around. it is actuallyjust16% of all eu exports that come to the uk. and they account for barely more than 3% of the bloc‘s economy. of course, different countries and industries armed more reliant on the relationship of uk. the german car industry has a huge amount to lose, as does the uk's financial industry. we speak to the director of the german association for foreign policy for more on this. good morning and welcome to world business report. good morning. it is interesting, it yesterday we all sides in this debate, the uk prime minister, and of course angela

so if during this two yea rs, by the uk. so if during this two yea rs , we by the uk. our argument for there to bea years, we win our argument for there to be a referendum on the deal at the end which surely there should be and if the british people reject that, we can remain in the european union. i think history is still there to be made and i'm determined not to give up on that. tim farron, thank you very much. there is a news conference getting under way in fact in brussels, i believe. let's just head under way in fact in brussels, i believe. let'sjust head over and hear some of that. the condition for any european union, united kingdom partnership. this is not negotiable. as the uk will continue to enjoy its rights as a member state, it will also have to fully respect its treaty obligation until the very last day of membership. and they want to thank mrs may for committing to this principle. but let's be clear, any changes before two yea rs' but let's be clear, any changes before two years' time will be illegal. the european parliament must defend citizens rights.

also want to talk a bit more about some of the uk data, more importantly about the outlook for the uk economy give than we are facing now two years, even more than that, two years of negotiations with the eu. want to talk to colin pickering. how long do you believe these negotiations will last? >> we'llistical i realistically seven years. >> when would uk businesses have clarity about what the future looks like for them? after two years? after five years? what does it mean for the uk economy. in the short-term, yes, we dodged a recession. could that look differently in the longer run? >> how it matters for businesses is how quickly the eu and uk get going with the meat of the negotiations. which is the post-brexit trade deal. in my best case, the uk remains fairly well integrated on the good side of the market but loses the financial services passport. if firms can know that with certainty in two years, things may not be too bad. but brexit is a supply side shock. i see growth falling from 2.2 % to 1.8%. less growth in trade, in investment from the eu, and then a major hit from lower

they want the uk because the brexit. they want the uk because the brexit.want the uk government to grant the legal right for a second ballot — a section 30 order. if the scottish parliament vote next week to request a section 30 order, then the prime minister of the whole of the united kingdom should absolutely grab that. in previous discussions with the first minister and as the secretary of state has said, there would be no sense or reason of blocking the will of the scottish parliament stop by and ——. politically be very difficult to refuse outright, but the timing will be crucial, whether it happens before the uk believes the eu, as the snp wants, or much further down the snp wants, or much further down the line. some in westminster simply don't want to distract from brexit. now the government has parliament's backing to start the official process. yesterday was a historic day. we have now formally agreed notice that we are leaving. we can all concentrate on working with the government to come up with a regime post brexit, which will be a massive benefi

this week the uk triggered article 50, starting the process of the uk leaving the eu. they keep calling it, talk about the divorce. negotiate the divorce. yesterday the british government outlined how it plans to transfer thousands of pieces of european union legislation into british law. the great repeal bill will give parliament — or the devolved assemblies — the power to scrap, amend or improve eu laws. let's get more with our economics correspondent andrew walker. you are all over this? you are all over this? you will be in a minute! we have the questions we have been asking you all this week. let's get straight into these, and thank you for those. let's start with david who says what happens if there is no agreement two yea rs happens if there is no agreement two years after article 50 is triggered? 0ne years after article 50 is triggered? one of two things, there is an option in article 50 for this two year period to be expanded, it has to be agreed unanimously by the departing country, britain, and by all the remaining ones. if at the end of that stage they thin

government has taken the result that the uk eu -- uk government has taken the result that the uk eue government has taken the result that the uk eu -- uk wide eu government has taken the result that the uk eu —— uk wide eu referendum fry mandates for something it was never supposed to be. but i scotland as it says the simple fact is the scottish government and the uk government do tonne don't agree on a timetable for a second referendum. the scottish government's stance is that after a brexit deal will be six months ratifying it. that the scottish brewer could make a decision at that point whether or not they want another referendum. the uk government disagree. they say not only will it take two years before it we know what the brexit deal will be, it could take some time after that before trade dales are finalised and they say people in scotla nd are finalised and they say people in scotland should have a chance to see how it is all working before they make a big decision about the constitution or future. you make a big decision about the constitution orfuture. you can't decide bec

your focus is on europe and businesses outside of the uk that are working with the uk.s in favour of brexit, they'll say this is the best opportunity for uk business to draw new trade deals elsewhere outside of europe, with the us, canada, india, china, that sort of thing, but also to redraw our relationship with europe. is there any truth in that, that actually this is a good opportunity to start again? potentially i think in any challenge there is an opportunity and i think if it helps businesses to review the way they do business, then that's a very positive thing. if it also helps reinvigoration or invigorate export behaviour in the uk, that's also excellent but we mustn't forget the uk's always had access to the markets anyway, that hasn't necessarily made a huge impact on the export activity of the uk. if this is going to be an opportunity for that to increase, then fantastic. here begins a lot of hard work. ann—marie, good to see you, chief executive of the council of british chamber of commerce. thank you very much. let's stay with brexit because the world's big

it may set out the approach that the uk wa nts to ta ke may set out the approach that the uk wants to want to negotiate the exit and the new partnership in parallel, they wanted to do it one time after another. how long will it take to sort out the actual order of the negotiation before you axing negotiate anything? this is now out of our hands, the interesting thing is that the moment we trigger article 50 we hand the bat an over to the european union. we can expect a quick reaction with some draft guidelines for negotiations. they have already arranged a summit on april the 29th to look at those guidelines, but it's probably not until late may orjune that we will get the talks about how to form the talks. one of the interesting things is with the elections, the french in may, the german in september, we may not get into the real substance until the autumn. when you not get into the real substance untilthe autumn. when you look not get into the real substance until the autumn. when you look at the kind of work load involved in the kind of work load involved in the single service and

law because they are based on uk institutions or things the uk wouldn't be a part of any more.s because it's only got two years and it was to provide certainty for businesses, consumers and workers, it needs to have the same laws in place today as it will do on the 29th of march, 2019. this is the only way it says it can do that. i want to pull up a tweet from caroline lucas, the co—leader of the green party in the uk. what i'm hoping you can explain is, given that this is a copy and paste job, why are some mps concerned?” think they are nervous on two france. the first is that the government sticks to its promise to really just finesse the government sticks to its promise to reallyjust finesse the bill so it works, and they don't change workers' rights, environmental protections that have been brought into british law because of what the eu has done. the second part of this, and maybe this is a brewing political battle of which caroline lucas and the green party are taking their side, is that all of this will be upforgrabs, their side, is that all of this will be up for grabs,

nitl-lnielchfliller: the next uk forecast is in hello. the next uk forecast is in half an hour.around the world. stories haggening around the world. start in australia. why not. let's start in australia. why not. let's start in australia. why not. let's get some warmth into us. it's coming into autumn in australia. actually for some it's been very wet. take sydney, 30 millimetres of rain on tuesday, 238 for the month so far. that is more than half the autumn average in sydney in the months of march, april and may combined already. clearly very wet. it's also very wet in parts of western australia, as we see a fiftiiiggfi 55: ii e55. 5; §§ £33 5 i §e;§e:e§ 55: ii e55. 5; §e iee 5 i tropical §e;§ee§ g: ;§ e515, 5; §e iii? 5 i tropical cyclone, §e;§ee§ 551 ;§ e5115, 5; §e1 iii? 5 i tropical cyclone, edging developing tropical cyclone, edging closer to parts of the coastline closer to garts of.thecoastllne here. we will still on wednesday see some showers and storms into the south—east of australia, but the attention is shifting further north into queen's land. here too there could be

the uk.lion worth of financial assets are under management here in the uk. that's 37% of the european total. well, one reason it's so high is what's known as passporting . licences that let banks and other financial firms do business elsewhere in the eu. 94% of all the licences to do that are held by uk registered firms. so how will today shape up? theo has the details. run us through the day for what will turn out to be a pretty historic day? also a carfully choreographed day, ben. theresa may is meeting with the cabinet at downing street. later on, 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 subjec

in tact. to keep the uk intact.s a little over two years since the people in scotland last voted on whether they wanted independence. expect a very different campaign this time around. lorna gordon, bbc news, edinburgh. back to our chief political correspondent vicki young at westminster. downing street have issued that there is no evidence to suggest that there is no evidence to suggest that the scottish people want a referendum so soon after the last one. lex speak to alex salmond. do 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

this isn'tjust about what is good forthe uk, it this isn'tjust about what is good for the uk, it isis about what is good for the european union as well. i believe a good free trade arrangement could win the uk on european union is in the interests of both sides of that negotiation. thank you very right, thank you. studio: a few questions there from the gathered crowd who have been waiting patiently for about 1.5 hours to hear theresa may speaking following what is expected to be her last eu summit before britain triggers article 50. she took some questions about the budget, which wasn't what she was there to talk about of course. but finally she said she feels optimistic that they can achieve a free trade deal with the european union in two years. more on that later, but now a look at the weather with sarah. good evening. after a fine, springlike day we have clear skies across many parts of the country at the moment. this evening and overnight the cloud will creep in from the west, low cloud across the south—west with some hill fog. drizzle in parts of northern ireland and the west

for the uk.s a mood that we want to be friendly and fair, but they also have very tough guidelines which are going to emerge now over the coming days. within 48 hours you are going to hear the initial guidelines, at the end of april the 27 european union member countries will meet to issue their red lines as well as the guidelines. the commission has promised this will be a very transparent process, they will let the public know every step of the way but for the smiles and the friendliness and the regret, absolutely, but the eu will fight to protect the integrity of the european single market. and to try and keep the other 27 member states together and that in the end will give its priority. and many here say at least, that dossier period will not be enough to leave the eu and really fix the future trade relationship. and all this week here on the bbc news channel we‘ll be putting your questions to our bbc editors on the triggering of article 50. today, at five thirty, we‘ll be speaking with our

the uk. $6.6 trillion worth of financial assets are under management here in the uk. that's 37% of the european total. with me is dr angus armstrong, senior fellow from the group, the uk in a changing europe. thank you for coming in. we have highlighted the city of london because it is such a huge part of the uk economy. but for the whole, in terms of businesses, services, whatever, this is huge news. you are exactly right. this is a momentous day, perhaps even the most momentous since the second world war economically. we will change our economically. we will change our economic relationship with the biggest economic partner so far. that will change everything in the economy. the city in particular will be affected because of the prime minister's insistence to leave the jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice. jurisdiction of the european court of justice. finances jurisdiction of the european court ofjustice. finances defined by laws. the person who oversees does is the european court

but now it is a matter for the uk determined. but now it is a matter forthe uk and determined.ers said no deal was better than a bad deal, no mention of anything like that today. does that still holds? we want a deal, i very much hope we will get a deal and the prime minister has made it clear that not getting a deal is going to be damaging, notjust for this country but for europe as well. it is in everyone's interests that we now achieve a deal. it is not going to be easy, there's a lot of ha rd going to be easy, there's a lot of hard negotiation ahead. but at the end of the day no one wins if we do not reach an agreement. michel barnier, the chief negotiator, said todayit barnier, the chief negotiator, said today it is the best of what is likely to be a long and difficult road. is he being realistic or overly gloomy. i think there are a lot of questions to settle. i sit on the brexit select committee, we have heard about a lot of issues to be resolved. but because it is in everyone's interest to resolve it i'm confident that it can be done. ayew ha p py i'm confident that it

he says he has trust in the uk's 4,000 workers.s long as we improve performance and become the best, there is no risk. 13 potential uk terror attacks have been preevened in four years, say counter—terrorism police, as the public‘s urged to be vigilant and report suspicious behaviour. a new travel ban from president trump is expected shortly, but this time iraq will not be on the list. and in the next hour, a zoo in cumbria loses its licence after almost 500 animals died there in the last four years. inspectors have chris sized south lakes zoo for a lack of proper welfare and overcrowding. 30 years of the zeal brig disaster, relatives, survivors and rescuers return to pay their respects —— zeebrugge. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. there are concerns about the future of more than 4,000 people who work at vauxhall plants in the uk after the business was bought by the french car giant psa. the company which already owns peugeot and citroen has agreed a deal to buy vauxhall in britain and opel in germany forjust under £2 billio

uk citizens living in the eu, eu citizens living in the uk worried about losing their rights, met theor. they are the top priority in the exit deal. ireland has been pressing its case about the irish border, without damaging the peace process. gibraltar is a surprise inclusion as a result of spanish lobbying. the eu says no future trade deal can apply to gibraltar unless spain agrees. this will require the agreement of 27 members. if that was a shock for the foreign secretary, he didn't show it as he arrived for a meeting at nato hq. he sought to calm fears the uk might thai security into the deal. the security of this region, europe, is unconditional. it is not some bargaining chip in any negotiations that may be taking place elsewhere in this capital. now article 50 has been triggered, it is the eu who can determine what about these negotiations. they want to control not just the sequence, but what the uk can achieve, too. earlier i spoke to our europe correspondent, gavin lee, and i asked him what donald tusk‘s words mean for a potential trade deal with the eu. it isa it is a trick

the uk is part of europe. we cannot turn ourselves into the middle of the atlantic and p pretend we're not. i think the idea that the european union is going to somehow recreate the kind of protective umbrella that nato has been capable of providing over the last 80 years i think is nonsensical. if i look at the enhanced forward presence missions which are all coming into action this year, those are all in members of the ueu. they are all there to be symbols of how nato guarantees european security and safety. if we had left already, three of those missions would be led by non-eu countries. it would be the u.s., canada, the uk. i mean, i think that is a sense in which of course the eu is very important, but the interconnections between our various countries go much, much deeper than that and anybody who imagines that somehow or rather leaving the european community is going to change that i think has really got it profoundly wrong. >> thank you. i see the image of president trump on the screens out there. let

very little brain across the south—east of the uk. more in the south—east of the uk.o halves. saturday has sunshine and showers. they may be —— be showers may be heavy. those showers not too far away. as we had through the evening and overnight, we will find a ridge of high pressure across the uk. it will push away those showers. the second half of the weekend looks like it will be much drier, some brightness, some sunshine. with light mac —— like winds it should feel. it is only in the north—west later in the day we will see some cloud, wind and rain. ideologs this is bbc news. i'm jane hill live at westminster, where, after more than four decades as a member of the european union — the united kingdom is officially setting off on its own path. this was the moment when the letter triggering article 50 was handed over in brussels to the president of the european council. in the letter, the prime minister said the uk was "leaving the european union, but not leaving europe." we are going to take control of the things that matter most to us and we are going to take this o

has been seen as biggest market, and the uk has been seen as a biggest market, and the uk has been seen was inside the single market, but what about when it is outside? the first issue that you raise, the economy looks ok, but critics will say it looks fine because nothing has yet changed. this is the preamble, but triggering article 50 is when it really starts. absolutely. the uncertainty is key, but these two years, and you have to look at how it works, article 50, and for the past eight months the uk has defined the timing so we know that we will be leaving at some point but the prime minister has been able to decide when she triggers article 50 and what she says before and what the objectives are that she sets out and what business leaders she is able to reassure, but when we hand over power to brussels to negotiate we will have less control and i think that will be quite soon, within 48 hours the european institutions will publish a timeline of what will happen and it will be quite clear that we won't be negotiating our economic relationship first. that will come second, and that i

the uk means we can produce cars in the uk rather than abroad including some models that are currentlyhink they would be exported in a post—brexit scenario? this would be clearly for the uk market because of tariffs are up, it is more expensive to move them abroad. it will depend on what kind of trade deals the uk fosters with these countries. if the uk gets a deal better than the deal the european union has, it means that vauxhall is going to produce cars for markets outside the european union in such a situation. thanks for talking to us. let's check in with the markets now. the blue—chip ftse 100 index has edged down as weakness in mining stocks outweighed the positive impact of a potential £11 billion merger between scottish fund managers standard life and aberdeen asset management. the deal would create one of the world's industry powerhouses, overseeing £660 billion worth of global assets. the dax in frankfurt opened lower but has since made up lost ground — shares in deutsche bank subduing the index after it announced it wanted to raise almost £7 billion by issuing new shares to

for the rest of the uk, a quieter day to come.the cloud should break up later in the day. that start off across scotla nd in the day. that start off across scotland and northern ireland, sunshine in the morning. scattered showers will continue in the north of scotland, particularly in the northern and western isles where it will be breezy. heading south, largely dry across england and wales. parts of wales and the south—west have hill fog and possibly the odd spot of drizzle. a murky start. the central and eastern parts, the cloud is thin so the sunshine will break through. slightly cloudy are further north—west across england and wales. sunshine but 70 mph gusts of wind. combined with big waves for the northern island. the wind and waves could cause disruption here. northern ireland, not a bad day. mostly dry with sunshine. temperatures getting up to mainly 13 01’ temperatures getting up to mainly 13 or 15 degrees is still mild for this time of year. as we and the day for tue, most places dry, light patchy rain pushing a bit furt

the uk appears to have voted out, scotland has voted in.d to protect our place in the world's biggest single market and the jobs that depend on it. what i am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. we voted to safeguard freedom to travel, live, work and study in other european countries. brexit must mean control the number of people who come to britain from europe, and that is what we will deliver. i want to take the opportunity this morning to speak directly to citizens of other european countries living here in scotland. you remain welcome here, scotland is your home, and your contribution is valued. last summer's eu referendum left the uk looking like two different countries articulating into mutually hostile visions of the future. a second independence referendum, if and when it comes, will be fought on different terrain. how does brexit change the independence prospectus? it makes it in some ways more likely that scotland will become independent, but also more difficult. it does. this time round, nicola sturgeon is linki

the uk government is representing the uk as a whole. and the welsh and northern ireland assemblies. england doesn't have an assembly so it doesn't have that level of consultation. but there is dispute between the devolved government and the central government in westminster about when powers are returned from brussels. do they all go back to london or should some of them go directly to the devolved governments? that is a big issue, particularly in scotland. the short a nswer particularly in scotland. the short answer is that england is being represented by the westminster government in london. the other nations of the uk have an additional layer of government so that level of consultation as well. this one is from neal in sandwich in kent. that is relevant, because he writes, does somebody explain where our borders are going to be at dover and calais? at the moment they are in the latter, but the french will want them but the backs of the former, and how will this impact of gridlock in kent? this is going to be a really big issue. it is

the uk falls out of the common aviation area.n the minister is going to deliver the certainty that those companies need now rather than a kind of ministerial aspiration that everything is going to be all right on the night? of course, mr speaker, this is not simply about uk companies because the vast majority of haulage—based cabotage that takes place in the united kingdom is international hauliers operating in the uk, so they themselves have a vested interest in ensuring that their politicians work with us to ensure we have the best possible arrangement for the future. that is what we will do and i am confident other european governments will want to do the same. the prime minister flippantly said in her article 50 speech that we will be leaving eu institutions but not europe, as if that was a good thing. the aviation safety agency plays a crucial role in excluding any aircraft or company that have poor safety records from european airspace, safeguarding the security and well—being of people right across the continent. now that

a good deal will leave the uk better off.pe could make it harder to compete. richard wescott, bbc news. 0ur industry correspondent john moylan is at luton. the business secretary says he is cautiously optimistic. what about the people who work there? well it is now a shift change, we are about to talk to them. they will be concerned because since news of the deal broke two weeks ago, frantic telephone calls and meetings between the government and her show and 0pel and trade unions all trying to get guarantees and assurances. we know existing production is safeguarded until 2022. reduction of astra boast two until 2020. but asked me to make a decision on a new carfor two until 2020. but asked me to make a decision on a new car for that plant very soon. today the new boss of this huge group said the futures of this huge group said the futures of the workers were in their own hands. he will set productivity and efficiency targets for all workers across the group at it will be down to workers to meet them. but some a nalysts to w

the uk's future access, if any, to the single market, with the uk controlling its own borders and immigration divorce bill. some say the uk may be required to pay over £50 billion. britain's longest serving official inside the european commission, jonathan faull, says a bargain will have to be struck. the uk can't duck its responsibilities. the fundamental principle is a very simple one. it is that the eu, with the uk in it, has made financial commitments that have to be met. and some of those commitments stretch well into the future. investment projects, infrastructure projects and so on. arguably the most important issue to be resolved will be britain's post—brexit trade with the eu, and notjust in goods. securing the city of london and britain's enormous trade in financial services could be even harder. all this worries some, but not leading pro—leavers. now, of course, as we go into the negotiations, both sides will try and pretend they're in the strongest position, but the government's got some key cards in its hands. not least the fact we've got a huge trade deficit with the eu. so i th

well, i hope the uk will not do it, i hope europe will also stand along with the uk.et into this nitty—gritty fight, we have bigger security threats out there, we have an assertive putin in russia, china rising, instability in the middle east and africa and we should work together and the whole idea of splitting up for using security as a bargaining chip to get a better deal on economics will be detrimental to oui’ on economics will be detrimental to our cooperation. two years, do you think there can be an overall deal on everything, including trade? is that possible? i really hope so, i will buy for a fair deal for the british people and the europeans. i think we have do focus on the citizens of the uk and the citizens of europe, that their rights and safety is safeguarded throughout the process of the next two years and hopefully after when we have a good dealfor hopefully after when we have a good deal for everybody. tom, how'd you see the timetable? by the time the negotiations start, it will be less than two years. is it possible to getan than two years. is it po

the uk as we know it could soon be very different, too.n is whether or not scotland is going to be taken into the abyss with this tory government. we on this side of the house have an alternative. there might not be a real, meaningful vote in this chamber, but there shall be a meaningful vote in scotland training a millennium long history asa training a millennium long history as a european nation. weather on rights for eu citizens to stay in the uk or parliament having the final say, the government has not budged much. but it won the day. over the past five weeks, we have seen over the past five weeks, we have seen parliament at its best. right honourable members and peers have spoken with passion, sincerity and conviction. so, with the uk tonight now firmly on the path to exit, the scottish government wants to give voters a chance to leave the european union. the prime minister was attending a commonwealth service today. can she really denied a chance? technically, it is down to westminster. but politically, is it really possible? nicola

france and germany want to trade with the uk and the uk wants to trade with france and germany.deal. kevin, you wanted to come in. yeah. when i talked about some of the unfortunate rhetoric of some of the ministers responsible for these negotiations, people like liam fox are talking about building another empire. no, he didn't! no — he didn't. and saying that britain has nothing to apologise for in any of its history. no, he didn't. we're talking about 27 member states we have to with. i don't think anything that they have seen the last eight months coming out of westminster, out of britain, instils in them any confidence that they are dealing with somebody who, as you keep saying, is sensible about this. meanwhile, in scotland, scotland has a history with europe which predates its history with england. we were dealing and trading with europe at a time when england and the rest of the uk was wanting to fight them or compete with them in africa and asia. scotland has a longer history of european involvement and multiculturalism than the rest of the union. ok, let's bring in ian.

stressed it was a uk wide referendum and we would leave as the uk.ld not be individual deals. she has one significantly strong card in her hand, nicola sturgeon cannot on her owi'i hand, nicola sturgeon cannot on her own trigger an independence referendum. it must be with the agreement authority of westminster. it is clear that she does not want another referendum ahead of brexit because she does not want to fight oi'i because she does not want to fight on two fronts at one time, fighting a scottish independence referendum at the same time as grappling with this. she also does not want to deliver a slap in the face to the people of scotland by dismissing the option. 0ne people of scotland by dismissing the option. one option is she plays for time. she delays any final decision oi'i time. she delays any final decision ona time. she delays any final decision on a second independence referendum until after brexit and that uncertainty is over. that puts the pressure back on nicola sturgeon because the argument is if you hold it before the uk leaves scotl

this isn'tjust an historic day for the uk.nd never to be forgotten kick in the teeth. visibly unhappy, this was the recipient of britain's letter starting the brexit process. so here it is, six pages. donald tusk, the man who represents all eu member states here in brussels. there is nothing to win in this process, and i'm talking about both sides. this is about damage control. so, the letter has been delivered. what now? well, the european commission is the lead negotiator for the eu when it comes to brexit. frans timmermans is the commission's vice president. but how can negotiations even start, i wondered, with both sides at loggerheads? the uk wants divorce talks and talks of a new trade deal in parallel. the commission says no. divorce comes first. that's all part of how we negotiate. but how do you square the circle? everyone starts with his own interest and tries to formulate his own interest in the best possible way, that's what we all do. so what's the problem in having parallel talks? talking about trade at the same

only increased by 1.5% in the uk. that's one of its wea ker 1.5% in the uk.of its weaker regions. remember, this is a colossal company. where it is doing best is the united states where reve nu es we re best is the united states where revenues were up more than best is the united states where revenues were up more than 12%. and pre—tax profits up around 13%. so good there. the company says the improvement is largely down to a restructuring effort which it launched three years ago which included selling off non performing businesses, trying to win new contracts well, while at the same time retaining existing contracts and that does seem to have reaped rewards. but it is g4s, it is a controversial company and what there doesn't seem to be any sign of in the results is any mention of the birmingham prison riot last december. you might remember the justice secretary liz truss said that 645 justice secretary liz truss said that g4s would have to pay for the cost of introducing special crack squads of officers who are brought in to quell the riot. there has been co

passing showers for the north and west of the uk.ching bbc world news. i'm babita sharma. our top story: theresa may has formally begun the process of leaving the eu. she described it as a historic moment, from which she said they could be no turning back. but there are signs that negotiations with european leaders will be tough. the ousted south korean president, parker and haig, is in court for a south korean president, parker and haig, is in court fora hearing south korean president, parker and haig, is in court for a hearing to prove that an arrest warrant —— to contest a warrant for her arrest for corruption. the price of ivory has fallen sharply in china. the conservation group says an anticorruption conservation group says an anticorru ption drive has conservation group says an anticorruption drive has led to a reduction in the value of gifts come from ivory given to officials. —— the charity save the elephants. and here in bbc news, it is time for all the day's events in westminster.

there are people's jobs at sta ke, uk.onship that needs to work. that is the prevailing mood here. you do not think there is any sense that people want to punish britain for leaving? there are undoubtedly people with that sense, there are people with that sense, there are people who are so wedded to the project that they would actually risk their people's on well—being to prove that you vision point, but i think they are well outnumbered, particularly at governmental level are specially by people who realise this has got to work and that has to bea this has got to work and that has to be a sensible deal for everybody. one of the key things is the divorce bill sorted out first, the £50 billion or whatever it turns out to be, or is it simultaneously? that is already a bone of contention?m will not be 50 billion, it will be less tha n will not be 50 billion, it will be less than that. their obligations we have to meet but they will be of a more reasonable nature. this will be a big point but i think what we want to happen is

the uk's future access, if any, to the single market, with the uk controlling its own borders and immigrationce bill. some say the uk may be required to pay over £50 billion. britain's longest serving official inside the european commission, jonathan faull, says a bargain will have to be struck. the uk can't duck its responsibilities. the fundamental principle is a very simple one. it is that the eu, with the uk in it, has made financial commitments that have to be met. and some of those commitments stretch well into the future. investment projects, infrastructure projects and so on. arguably the most important issue to be resolved will be britain's post—brexit trade with the eu, and notjust in goods. securing the city of london and britain's enormous trade in financial services could be even harder. all this worries some, but not leading pro—leavers. now, of course, as we go into the negotiations, both sides will try and pretend they're in the strongest position, but the government's got some key cards in its hands. not least the fact we've got a huge trade deficit with the eu. so i think th

a good deal will leave the uk better off.e could make it harder to compete. richard wescott, bbc news. at shift changeover a couple of hours ago, i spoke to an employee who said he has been here for 30 yea rs, who said he has been here for 30 years, since he was 19, and he said he has seen this sort of thing before. vauxhall has always survived, in some ways, workers here are quite sanguine and philosophical about prospects for the future. they know they are among the most efficient plants in the new group stopped they also know that they have a deal here to carry on manufacturing plans for at least eight years. nonetheless, there is the great unknown, and that is brexit. what type of deal will the government do with europe, and given that many of the components that make up the vehicles here are produced abroad and brought in, what will any new tariffs do to their efficiency and cost effectiveness? back to you. many thanks, ben. the labour mp iain wright is chair of the business and industry select committee. your reaction,

but labour is worried that the uk. worried that the tories may take the chance to sneak through some changes. all rights and protections derived from eu law must be can converted without limitations. ministers deny that there is any plot but there will be a fight, listen to this... i was sovereign parliament will have the power to amend, repeal or improve all of this ghastly eu legislation. if he panders too much to the secret, not so panders too much to the secret, not so secret, agenda of the barmy army eure skeptas prominent behind him, he will not get the corporation he otherwise would. with the law under the union flag, the government has promised that power will be spread around the uk but with precious little detail... the government has pushed the big red button marked brexit, with fingers crossed and little idea of what comes next. brexit means sorting out thousands of compensated laws and regulations. in the rush of getting that done, there is clear that ministers could grab extra power. as we leave, it is po

uk government is imminent ortwo assuming that the uk government is imminent or two negotiating the termst about the lawfulness of the independence referendum but there were caveats inserted as to when that could take place, and performed that it had to take. —— and the form but it had to take. —— and the form but it had to take. you say that permission has to be sought effectively from the uk government and you mentioned if the uk government is amenable, what happened out of interest if it is not? what happens then? that was one of the earliest oddments in the 2014 referendum campaign. at that time the scottish government maintained the scottish government maintained the scottish government maintained the scottish parliament did have the power unilaterally to legislate for an independence referendum. that was disputed by the uk government. that never came to a head because an agreement was reached. if no agreement was reached. if no agreement was reached this time, the scottish government may take the view that they may press ahead with legislation in the scottish parliament, but if ther

damian across scotland, heavy for a time uk. damian across scotland, heavy fora time and uk.south—east of england and up to the midlands. but a lot of cloud over night, really mild but the time of year. a little bit colder across northern scotland, and during the day it will be warmer in the north—east of scotland than it has been for some time. some rain is not far away from northern ireland, affecting mainly used in part through the day. continue on into cumbria and up into dumfries & galloway. so the rain not far away from western parts of wales, running through the midlands and across lincolnshire. that tends to push away and already brighter skies developing in the south—east. as the main retreats back towards the north west uk, mainly affecting areas along the irish sea, so we have more sunshine coming in across england and wales. we will get some sunshine and wales. we will get some sunshine and some of that warmth in the southerly wind. it could be the warmest day of the year so far. even further north and west temperatures pretty good for the time of year. more rain

some rain and hill snow across more central parts of the uk.the north, with some showers as well. now, the good news is that the winds will ease, eventually, through the course of the morning. it will still stay relatively breezy, and you can see there's a bit of cloud and rain again across parts of the midlands wales and the north—west in the morning. but i think by lunchtime, most of the uk should be enjoying fine weather. so this is a snapshot of thursday at 3pm in the afternoon. predominantly sunny, really a very pleasant day, quite breezy, though, still, especially across that south—eastern portion of the uk. some nice weather through yorkshire, not so bad in the north—west. but then, eventually, into northern ireland and scotland, we run into here, and there's quite a few showers around, and it feels on the chilly side as well. and there is a rain on the way for northern ireland. that won't arrive until thursday evening. clearfor a time in the evening across the rest of the country, before more rain. so these are low pressures here spiral

uk citizens in the eu and eu citizens here in the uk. how will their rights be guaranteed?he same time — the future trading relationship. even though the eu says we have to sort out the divorce first. and that has raised fears about time. will there be time to get everything done? what happens, a lot of people ask, if there is no deal? that is the subject of real concern. but, in a couple of weeks — nine months after the referendum — finally, the negotiations will begin for real. and they won't be easy. now on to the political implications of brexit in scotland. first minister nicola sturgeon has said she will ask the scottish parliament to request a section 30 orderfrom westminster next tuesday. prime minister theresa may, however, has said an independence vote would only create more uncertainty and division. but mrs sturgeon has warned downing street against any blocking mechanisms or diktats, saying scotland's referendum must be made in scotland. the snp‘s fiona hyslop, who is cabinet secretary for the european affairs, echoed that response from nicola sturgeon. we want

nationals' right to stay in the uk after the split. however, it is merely a setback as mp5 will be able remove the lords‘ changes when the bill returns to the house of commons. embattled french presidential candidate francois fillon has suffered another setback to his political campaign as a political ally freezes its support. it follows the revelation that mr fillon is facing a formal investigation over a fake job scandal involving his wife. he denies any wrongdoing. syrian government soldiers have entered the ancient city of palmyra three months after the so—called islamic state re—captured it from them. the city, which has both strategic and cultural importance, has changed hands several times during the conflict. it's understood the army has taken control of a western neighbourhood in the city. now it's time for a look back at the day in parliament. hello and welcome to wednesday in parliament, our look at the best of the day in the commons and the lords. on this programme... drama in the house of lords, as the government suffers i

we see the uk government determined to make the uk are closed and isolated country, and that's not the wa nt that's not the kind of future we want for scotland and i don't think it's the kind of feature that most scots wa nt it's the kind of feature that most scots want now. we need european citizens in our nhs, as doctors and nurses, we need them in our universities and a decision taken in the parliament just today universities and a decision taken in the parliamentjust today means that those eu citizens have no guarantee of their place in scotland, never mind the rest of the uk. we are determined that scotland deserves something much better. we are not going down the road where people are demonised because of where they come from, we are not going down the road where we turn our backs on refugee children. we are not going down the road where we say we will accept posterity cuts. we want to be able to decide the future for scotland in scotla nd to decide the future for scotland in scotland and the scottish people will now have that choice. maggie chapman, co—convenor of the scottish g

it comes after the uk serb village agency said the claims were utterly ridiculous. —— uk surveillanceard. he will start in mid—may and continue as mp for tatton. leaderjeremy corbyn, who's said it "makes a mockery "of the independence of the media" and "is an insult to the electors "he is supposed to serve". george osborne has been speaking about his appointment on the channel london live, which is owned by estv, who also own the evening standard. iama i am a member of parliament and proud to represent my constituency and of course this paper is primarily edited in the morning, parliament votes in the afternoon. crucially, people need to know i will speakfor crucially, people need to know i will speak for london and london crucially, people need to know i wi this eak for london and london crucially, people need to know i wi this paper london and london crucially, people need to know i wi this paper as ndon and london crucially, people need to know i wi this paper as itsyn and london crucially, people need to know i wi this paper as its editor. .ondon crucially, people need to know i w

high—pressure building across the uk, centred more across the southern half of the uk.have got more of this atlantic wind affecting scotland in particular, blowing in cloudy skies. the other side of the mountains, more sunshine and warm. that is what we call the third effect. you can find out more details about that online. goodbye. tonight at 10: we‘re at westminster, on the day the united kingdom started the process of leaving the european union. britain‘s ambassador in brussels handed over theresa may‘s letter to the president of the european council at lunchtime today. the prime minister told mps that there would be ‘consequences‘ in leaving the european union, but she was aiming for a ‘smooth and orderly‘ brexit. britain is leaving the european union. we are going to make our own decisions and our own laws. we are going to take control of the things that matter most to us. in brussels, the eu‘s negotiating team declared itself ready for the challenge ahead — amid promises of a united front. brexit has made us — the community of 27 — more determined and more united

the very far north of the uk there will be some spots of rain, but it is a dry day throughout the uk.udging up to 17. but this is the exception here, around the coasts of cornwall and devon. you are stuck with some missed here. this may hang around into tomorrow as well. not much change for this evening. some clear spells around, a little bit of missed here and there. but later on rain moves into northern ireland and scotland. behind this weather front we have got much colder and windier conditions getting into scotland. a very blustery day, particularly in northern parts of scotland. some gusts may be in excess of 70 miles an hour. to the south of that it is nowhere near as wendy. in the middle pa rt nowhere near as wendy. in the middle part of the week on wednesday and thursday there is high pressure sitting on top of the uk mostly. in summary this is what the end of the week looks like, relatively cloudy with some sunshine around. then it is all change from the end of the week. from thursday night into friday there is a completely different rotation of the weather. this is making a