29/03/2017 BBC News at Ten


29/03/2017

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Transcript


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We're at Westminster, on the day the United Kingdom

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started the process of leaving the European Union.

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Britain's Ambassador in Brussels handed over Theresa May's

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letter to the President of the European Council

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The Prime Minister told MPs that there would be 'consequences'

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in leaving the European Union, but she was aiming for a 'smooth

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Britain is leaving the European Union.

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We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws.

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We are going to take control of the things

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In Brussels, the EU's negotiating team declared itself ready

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for the challenge ahead - amid promises of a united front.

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Brexit has made us - the community of 27 -

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more determined and more united than before.

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We'll be in Dover, which voted strongly to leave the EU,

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asking people for their thoughts on the start of the Brexit process.

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You've got to carry on, it's started now, so it's

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Well, it will take more than two years, more than five years,

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because look how long that they talk about it.

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We've just got to go in and show them that we do mean business.

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And we'll be looking at the Prime Minister's hint

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that cooperation on security is closely linked

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Also tonight, a reminder of the security threat

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A crowd converges on Westminster Bridge, to remember the victims

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of the terror attack which took place here a week ago.

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We'll have more reaction and opinion to today's historic events,

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as the Prime Minister triggers Britain's exit from Europe.

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We'll hear from politicians, business and members of the public.

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The United Kingdom has formally served notice that it's

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A letter signed by Theresa May was handed to the president of the

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European Council today. The Prime Minister told MPs

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she wanted a smooth and orderly Brexit, but she also hinted

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of implications for security cooperation

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if a deal was not reached. And in a potential

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setback for Mrs May... The German chancellor Angela Merkel

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has warned that the terms of Britain's divorce have to be

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settled, before any talks Our political editor Laura

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Kuenssberg reports on the day that Article 50 was triggered.

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The minute in Westminster, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff

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that the United Kingdom formally changed course.

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The Article 50 process is now underway and in accordance

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with the wishes of the British people, the United Kingdom

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This is an historic moment from which there can

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Probably our last ambassador inside the European Union handing

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The document that says we are on our way out.

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Theresa May's signature on our departure.

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A country that goes out into the world to build

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relationships with old friends and new allies alike.

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And that is why I have set out a clear and ambitious plan

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It is a plan for a new, deep and special partnership between

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Her decisions about how, mean we are out of the single market

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As European leaders have said many times, we cannot cherry pick

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and remain members of the single market without accepting the four

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A friendlier tone to the continent, an ambition to bring

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And no cliff edge, no abrupt change for business.

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But Mr Speaker, when I sit around the negotiating table in the months

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ahead I will represent every person in the United Kingdom,

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young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages

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And, yes, those EU nationals that have made this country their home.

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And it is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every

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In perhaps the most important letter that she'll ever pen,

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the Prime Minister wrote of her hope to give reassurance quickly

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to the millions of EU citizens who live here and Brits abroad.

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"We should always put our citizens first, we should aim

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to strike an early agreement about their rights."

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The Prime Minister wants a free trade deal with the EU of greater

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A bold hope, seen as naive by some, to try to protect firms who do

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business around the continent from new rules and barriers.

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No overt threat to walk away but a serious warning -

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a failure to reach agreement would mean our co-operation

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in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.

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We must work hard to avoid that outcome.

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She wants also to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside

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those of our withdrawal from the EU, to work out how we leave at the same

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Labour aren't the only ones sceptical she can deliver.

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If the Prime Minister can deliver a deal that meets our tests,

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More than ever, Britain needs a government that will deliver

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for the whole country, not just the few.

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And that is the ultimate test of the Brexit deal

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that the Prime Minister must now secure.

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Memories of today will be so different.

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Even though that's not actually the Foreign Secretary.

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And celebrations after hours tonight.

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That's the sense in the home of the EU.

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There's no reason to pretend that this is a happy day,

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Some powers coming back from Brussels will bypass this place

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and flow to Holyrood, Cardiff and Stormont.

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But for Remainers here and in the Scottish Government those

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The Prime Minister still can't answer basic questions

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about what Brexit will mean for businesses, the economy

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generally and for the type of society we live in.

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This six simple pages will do much to determine our place

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The letter is less abrasive in tone to the rest of the EU

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than when Theresa May started as Prime Minister, when she still

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had to persuade her party she really was committed to leaving.

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Now the clamour of the referendum is gone, the tone is

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The message of the letter, "Get real.

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Remember, we bring a lot to the table when it comes to policing,

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It wasn't firing a shot but she was just making a reminder,

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I think it is exciting but I don't underestimate the scale

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of the task that lies ahead in the next two years.

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What has happened today is the biggest stimulation

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of British power and sovereignty in my lifetime.

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A letter which is really about kicking off a trade

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negotiation had six mentions of trade and 11

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It struck me as a reckless series of threats.

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Not that he ever needs a reason to be pictured with a pint,

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Today, for me, after 25 years of campaigning,

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the impossible dream came true, I'm very pleased.

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What matters now is that we make sure we have a successful

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negotiation and we try to maintain a close relationship between Britain

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In a rare interview inside Number Ten For The Bbc,

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the Prime Minister promised, despite all the difficulties,

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our relationship with the rest of the continent will be

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What we are both looking for is that comprehensive free trade agreement

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which gives that ability to trade freely into the European

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single market and for them to trade with us.

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It will be a different relationship but I think it can have the same

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benefits in terms of that free access to trade.

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An assertion that will take a lot to prove.

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One her counterparts in Europe struggle to believe.

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Number Ten's time for preparation is up, now time to try to persuade.

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Laura Kuenssberg, BBC News, Westminster.

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Chancellor Merkel of Germany warned today that sorting

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out Britain's future trade deal with the EU would only be possible

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once the terms of Britain's departure had been settled.

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The President of the European Council - Donald Tusk -

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said the remaining member states would pull together

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And he confirmed he would set out his planned negotiating

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guidelines on Friday, ahead of a special

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With her assessment of the view at the heart of the European Union,

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here's our Europe editor Katya Adler.

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The man with the burning letter in his briefcase.

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Sir Tim Barrow arrived without much fanfare at the

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European Council building this morning.

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But this isn't just an historic day for the UK.

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For the EU, it is a momentous, never to be

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Visibly unhappy, this was the recipient of

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Britain's letter starting the Brexit process.

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Donald Tusk, the man who represent all EU member

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There is nothing to win in this process, and I'm talking about

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was

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But beneath that sadness, palpable resentment among

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some EU leaders today that Theresa May appeared in her letter

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to link the likelihood of a good trade deal,

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so hoped for by Britain, with continued cooperation on security,

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I think that irrespective of what an agreement

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can be, what sort of agreement you can do on trade at the end

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of the day, we remain part of the same family

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and we should remain committed to fighting terrorism.

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Well, the European Commission is the lead negotiator

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Frans Timmermans is the commission's vice president.

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But how can negotiations even start, I wondered,

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The UK wants divorce talks and talks of

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The commission says non - divorce comes first.

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That is all part of how we negotiate.

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Everybody starts with his own interest and tries to

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formulate his own interest in the best possible way.

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So what's the problem in having parallel talks, talking about

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trade at the same time as divorce, for example?

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The position of the EU will be determined on the basis of

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careful analysis of Theresa May's letter.

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There can be no future settlement if we are not clear on

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how the divorce settlement is going to be.

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To make two years of complex negotiations even thornier, the UK

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isn't talking just to the European Commission.

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The real power behind the throne lies in the EU capitals,

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They will take any big political decisions for the EU when it comes

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They don't and won't always agree with one another.

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And the Article 50 time frame is very, very tight.

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Divisions there may be, but when it comes to the loaded issue of

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parallel trade and divorce talks, Europe's most powerful leader agrees

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with the European Commission. Much to demonstrate's dismay.

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TRANSLATION: In the negotiations we first have to sort out how we can

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Only when that has been settled, hopefully soon after, we can speak

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Chancellor Merkel also stressed the importance of deciding the fate

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of EU citizens living in the UK, and British citizens

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Thankful for one issue at least to unite around.

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Let's assess the significance of today and what lies ahead.

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In a moment we'll speak to our Europe editor

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Katya Adler in Brussels, but first our political editor

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What have we learned today about what the next two years are going to

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bring? I think the tone of Theresa May's letter which was, we love you,

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but we're very sorry we're leaving, tells us she is worried enough about

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the resistance she will face, she knows she has to butter them up. She

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had to set out a more conservatory tone that show she's aware this is

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going to be very difficult and also plenty of hints in their shoes where

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there will have to be give and take, compromise. That's not what he's

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been the tone in the days and months since the referendum. It is also

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very clear she's not just going to play nice. The fact Theresa May gave

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the issue of security such prominence in the letter to other EU

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leaders today was notable. She's made this point before, privately to

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EU leaders and publicly as well, but the way in which it was given

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such prominence in the letter has certainly been controversial, has

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raised eyebrows somewhere. One Cabinet minister said to me, these

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are our cards, these are our strengths and we shouldn't be

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surprised the Prime Minister is, in what will be a tough negotiation,

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willing to flex that particular muscle. We've also seen today and

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early glimpse of the kind of resistance she knows she's going to

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face. W e will talk later, thank stakes as we know are very high for

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the UK but this is not without straight to Brussels. The stakes as

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we know are very high for the UK but this is not without risk for from.

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Absolutely. You saw the grim face of Donald Tusk, the president of the

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European Council as he received that letter from his heavy heart, the

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fact this is such a huge moment for the EU, that was playing for

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everybody to beginning, there are no upside for the while in the UK there

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are many who see Brexit as a cause of celebration, a chance for a new

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beginning, there are no upsides for the it is losing an influential

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member with a powerful economy, one of the to the EU budget and one two

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military mites in do so what will it is the big concern for the EU. While

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EU leaders defiantly say now through Brexit they will unite even closer,

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the fact is this is an already weakened EU whose members fall out

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over funding, over migration and, without Britain? That is the big

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concern for the EU. While EU leaders defiantly say now through Brexit

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they will unite even closer, the fact is this is an already weakened

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EU whose members fall out over funding, over migration the euro. So

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how can they stay united over something as complicated as Brexit

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when each country has its own more likely to want to Poland for example

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will want to safeguard the rights of its citizens who live in the UK, so

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it may be more likely to want to appease Germany is putting politics

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ensure the integrity of the European Union and single market. It wants to

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ensure the integrity of the European Union and single has the upper there

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is one ray of sunshine for the EU. It believes it has the upper hand

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because unlike the UK it is not under such time pressure to get a

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deal done. The Brexit clock started ticking

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from the moment the letter was delivered to Brussels today,

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and the parties will have two years to conclude negotiations

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on Britain's exit. On Friday, the European Council

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will set out its proposals A month later -

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at a special EU summit - the other 27 member states

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will debate and then be asked The talking will then start,

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but big decisions may have to wait till after the French and German

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elections held in May and September. The negotiations should finish

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by October next year, when the UK and EU parliaments

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would both vote on the final deal. That's the plan, but the path ahead

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is uncertain and there Our diplomatic correspondent

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James Robbins has been looking at the challenges ahead,

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as the negotiations get underway. The Europe which Britain married

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into over 40 years ago looked Just nine states in a predominantly

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economic community. Steadily membership grew,

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the ties that bind reached further The project became more political,

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the union ever deeper, until British voters

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opted for divorce. But that very complexity

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makes cutting the ties and agreeing the divorce

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terms funamentally difficult. The divorce rule, the famous

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Article 50, was written by veteran diplomat Lord Kerr,

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so I asked him to describe the scale This is the biggest event

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in our post-war history. If you're building a transition

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you need to know where If you're building a bridge,

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where is it going to So we have to be clear

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about what kind of country When the Brexit negotiations

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eventually begin, around the table the key players will be led

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on the British side by David Davies, the Cabinet minister in charge

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of exiting the European Union. He will try to ensure the bargaining

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settles both the divorce and the new framework for future

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relations with the EU. Facing him on the EU side,

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Michel Barnier, former French Foreign Minister,

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with his team representing the Commission and the remaining

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27 member states. Time is already very

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short to agree so much. Some think the crunch will come

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in autumn next year. They have a vast agenda

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to work through. Here are just a handful

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of the issues. The rights of EU citizens living

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in the UK and of British nationals The UK's future access, if any,

:18:51.:18:53.

to the single market, with the UK controlling its own

:18:54.:18:58.

borders and immigration. And then the big question

:18:59.:19:03.

of the divorce bill. Some say the UK may be required

:19:04.:19:06.

to pay over ?50 billion. Britain's longest serving official

:19:07.:19:11.

inside the European Commission, Jonathan Faull, says a bargain

:19:12.:19:14.

will have to be struck. The UK can't duck

:19:15.:19:18.

its responsibilities. The fundamental principle

:19:19.:19:21.

is a very simple one. It is that the EU, with the UK

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in it, has made financial And some of those commitments

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stretch well into the future. Investment projects,

:19:27.:19:34.

infrastructure projects and so on. Arguably the most important issue

:19:35.:19:40.

to be resolved will be Britain's post-Brexit trade with the EU,

:19:41.:19:43.

and not just in goods. Securing the City of London

:19:44.:19:49.

and Britain's enormous trade in financial services

:19:50.:19:51.

could be even harder. All this worries some,

:19:52.:19:55.

but not leading pro-Leavers. Now, of course, as we go

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into the negotiations, both sides will try and pretend

:19:59.:20:01.

they're in the strongest position, but the Government's got some

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key cards in its hands. Not least the fact we've got a huge

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trade deficit with the EU. So I think the Government will be

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able to leave the single market, leave the customs union and get

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the free trade deal they want. That's just one confident

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assertion about to be tested In the negotiations,

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cutting many UK/EU ties while trying to hang onto others

:20:20.:20:25.

will be difficult. Both Britain and the EU

:20:26.:20:29.

say they want to remain But the process

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could get very rough. Today's process has major

:20:32.:20:35.

implications for every part of the United Kingdom,

:20:36.:20:42.

and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

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there are specific circumstances In a moment we'll hear from our

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Ireland correspondent Chris Buckler at Stormont and Sian Lloyd

:20:47.:20:53.

at the National Assembly in Cardiff, but first let's hear

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from our Scotland editor In Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola

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Sturgeon is writing a letter of her own, one that will be addressed to

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Theresa May making a formal request for a referendum on Scottish

:21:15.:21:18.

independence. She knows what the answer will be, Theresa May will

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tell her that can be no discussions about another referendum until after

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the Brexit deal is done and Scottish voters have had a chance to see the

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consequences of that. Nicola Sturgeon said today that she wishes

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Theresa May success with the becoming a negotiations because she

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says a good deal for the UK is in Scotland's interests, but she did

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not sound optimistic when she said the Prime Minister was taking a leap

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in the dark. The Scottish Government have not been terribly impressed by

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the promise from Westminster that there will be significantly

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increased powers for the Scottish parliament because they say they

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have had no detail or commitment on which powers will be returned to

:21:58.:22:03.

Holyrood after Brexit, so that is one more major political arguments

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yet to come. There was a protest at Stormont

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involving people living in the towns and villages close to the Irish

:22:12.:22:15.

border. They put in place customs checkpoint at the entry to this

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state. They wanted to raise concerns there could be a physical presence

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at that invisible dividing line wants it becomes the UK's only land

:22:24.:22:28.

border EU country. At the moment people trouble between Northern

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Ireland and the republic for work, to trade and to access services like

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health care. Both governments have said they are committed to keeping

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the roads open and the European Parliament said they were not

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prepared to tolerate a hard border on this island and would do nothing

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but jeopardise the peace process, something Theresa May referred to in

:22:49.:22:53.

her letter today. But Brexit is divisive at Stormont. The

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power-sharing Government has collapsed. Brexit was not

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responsible for that but it can fuel political divisions. Certainly Irish

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republicans have listened to what Sarah talked about, the push for an

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independence referendum in Scotland. They point out that Northern Ireland

:23:11.:23:14.

voted to stay in the EU and Sinn Fein is calling for a border poll, a

:23:15.:23:21.

referendum on Irish unity. Speaking inside the Senedd this

:23:22.:23:25.

afternoon, the tone of the response from the Welsh First Minister Carwyn

:23:26.:23:29.

Jones was really one of frustration. He said it was deeply regrettable

:23:30.:23:33.

that the Welsh Government was not able to contribute to the Article 50

:23:34.:23:38.

letter and also, he said, that the devolved administrations had been

:23:39.:23:42.

sidelined and shown a lack of respect. He said that he had already

:23:43.:23:47.

voiced his concerns over the future of subsidies at the moment, some of

:23:48.:23:53.

Wales' poorest communities share in ?2 billion of aid. The leader of the

:23:54.:23:58.

Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies has accused him of scaremongering

:23:59.:24:02.

over that. Theresa May said that the specific interests of the nations

:24:03.:24:04.

will be taken into account. Our Wales correspondent

:24:05.:24:07.

Sian Lloyd there, and our Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler

:24:08.:24:09.

at Stormont and Scotland Editor The referendum that led

:24:10.:24:11.

to the sending of today's letter and the start of the Brexit process

:24:12.:24:16.

was one of biggest democratic 33.5 million people took part,

:24:17.:24:19.

revealing a nation deeply divided on the future of Britain's

:24:20.:24:24.

relationship with Our home editor Mark Easton

:24:25.:24:26.

is in Dover tonight, I am on top of the white Cliffs of

:24:27.:24:47.

Dover. You might even be able to see the lights of France Tink Daesh

:24:48.:24:53.

twinkling in the different 's... Distance. -- you might even be able

:24:54.:24:58.

to see the lights of France twinkling in the distance.

:24:59.:24:59.

Huw, this is an event that prompts very different emotions in people.

:25:00.:25:02.

With the help of Britain Thinks, experts in public opinion,

:25:03.:25:04.

we have tried to understand how the UK feels on this historic day -

:25:05.:25:08.

The ancient town of Dover reminds us of our closeness to mainland Europe,

:25:09.:25:12.

In the Town Hall, festooned with relics of Britain's complex

:25:13.:25:15.

relationship with the lands across the Channel, we have

:25:16.:25:17.

What's your emotion right now with Article 50?

:25:18.:25:24.

Yes, we're doing a step forward, you know?

:25:25.:25:28.

We're not going to be told what we can and can't do.

:25:29.:25:31.

We've been waiting for this for a long time, and it's like we're

:25:32.:25:34.

You're an EU citizen, so how do you feel about it all?

:25:35.:25:41.

As a European, are we going to be secure enough to stay in this

:25:42.:25:44.

It's up to Europe what they agree to.

:25:45.:25:54.

We briefed our Article 50 jury on what the negotiations

:25:55.:26:02.

What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.

:26:03.:26:10.

How does our panel view the balance between controlling immigration

:26:11.:26:12.

We do need to take back control of our borders.

:26:13.:26:18.

Losing our single trade deal as part of it, it has to happen.

:26:19.:26:23.

We have the rest of the world to negotiate individually

:26:24.:26:26.

What about the trade stuff, are you worried that, economically,

:26:27.:26:32.

I think in the beginning we may well take a nosedive.

:26:33.:26:38.

But it's something we will recover from.

:26:39.:26:42.

If we take a nosedive, who actually suffers?

:26:43.:26:45.

When you actually look back in history, we've always managed.

:26:46.:26:53.

So a bit of pain, if it gains, is worth it?

:26:54.:26:55.

We are going to be, the country is going to stagnate economically.

:26:56.:27:10.

I don't think it will ever come out to be Billy-no-mates because this

:27:11.:27:17.

country is too well loved all over the world.

:27:18.:27:19.

The Article 50 talks need to disentangle

:27:20.:27:25.

the UK from EU systems, structures and institutions.

:27:26.:27:29.

So which is more important - retaining a close relationship

:27:30.:27:31.

with Europe, and rights and privileges, or

:27:32.:27:34.

I just hope that this Brexit thing does not affect many

:27:35.:27:39.

So you're worried we somehow create division when we disentangle

:27:40.:27:45.

My son is 24 and it terrifies me, he and his generation might be

:27:46.:27:55.

in a situation that we end up in a war.

:27:56.:28:02.

I think it's up to us as people that voted out,

:28:03.:28:09.

That everything is going to be all right.

:28:10.:28:13.

Let's imagine we get to the two-year point,

:28:14.:28:15.

John, what do you think should happen?

:28:16.:28:18.

Put our arms out to the rest of the world.

:28:19.:28:28.

I think a lot of people would walk away.

:28:29.:28:31.

It's started now, so there's no good turning back.

:28:32.:28:38.

It will take more than two years, more than five years.

:28:39.:28:41.

We have just got to go in and show them that we do mean business.

:28:42.:28:46.

I think we should have a more diplomatic style.

:28:47.:28:59.

So how does our jury feel about triggering Article 50?

:29:00.:29:02.

Happy, unhappy, or worried and confused.

:29:03.:29:08.

Four happy, three worried, one unhappy.

:29:09.:29:13.

Our jury - and, indeed, Britain - is deeply divided on its reaction

:29:14.:29:17.

to the triggering of Article 50 and similar arguments will be

:29:18.:29:19.

played out in the months of detailed talks ahead.

:29:20.:29:32.

I think British public opinion broadly divided into three. A third

:29:33.:29:39.

of people are really excited and happy about leaving be you, another

:29:40.:29:42.

third, however they voted, want to get on with it, for the Government

:29:43.:29:46.

to get the best deal they can. I think roughly a third of people in

:29:47.:29:50.

Britain think we have made a catastrophic mistake.

:29:51.:29:52.

The port here in Dover handles 17% of the UK's goods trade.

:29:53.:29:55.

Our Business Editor Simon Jack has been looking

:29:56.:29:59.

In two years' time this will be UK's most important

:30:00.:30:04.

17% of all goods traded with and the UK roll

:30:05.:30:08.

on and off through Dover, with no customs checks.

:30:09.:30:13.

Even now, the port often backs up, leading

:30:14.:30:15.

to seems like this - Operation Stack.

:30:16.:30:16.

The man who keeps Dover running says extra border checks

:30:17.:30:21.

We had strike action in France, and migrant activity that impacted

:30:22.:30:29.

both the ferry terminal and Eurotunnel in 2015.

:30:30.:30:32.

That saw Operation Stack in place for an unprecedented 30 plus days.

:30:33.:30:35.

We will see that every day of the year in perpetuity,

:30:36.:30:37.

if we don't get this situation sorted.

:30:38.:30:44.

And getting it sorted will not be straightforward.

:30:45.:30:51.

We've got less than two years to get a system in place.

:30:52.:30:54.

We're looking at an additional 300 million checks on trucks.

:30:55.:30:58.

We haven't done this for over 20 years, so of course

:30:59.:31:01.

there is a lack of expertise, as well as what we've

:31:02.:31:03.

We've got a lot to do in a short space of time.

:31:04.:31:08.

Britain's journey out of the EU is finally underway,

:31:09.:31:10.

but for business, navigating the route is still very difficult.

:31:11.:31:12.

Nearly a fifth of all goods trade in the UK come

:31:13.:31:18.

There are now two years to try and figure out how to keep

:31:19.:31:23.

all of that moving outside the Customs Union.

:31:24.:31:25.

The problem is, the new rules won't be known for months.

:31:26.:31:28.

Questions like what computer upgrades do we need,

:31:29.:31:31.

how many extra personnel, where are the lorries going to park?

:31:32.:31:34.

All of those questions remain unclear.

:31:35.:31:35.

Like so many issues concerning Brexit,

:31:36.:31:37.

although the clock is ticking, the detailed work can't yet start.

:31:38.:31:39.

This level of messy detail shouldn't distract from the great

:31:40.:31:42.

opportunities that await the UK, according to Sir James Dyson.

:31:43.:31:44.

I'm enormously optimistic because I think that looking

:31:45.:31:46.

outwards to the rest of the world is very, very important,

:31:47.:31:49.

I think it's making us much more global in outlook, and we'll come

:31:50.:31:57.

It's in our best interests and Europe's best interests to come

:31:58.:32:05.

He's putting his money where his mouth is, investing

:32:06.:32:09.

?2.5 billion on renovating this 500 acre airfield to house thousands

:32:10.:32:18.

Business and government have precisely two years

:32:19.:32:20.

Two years doesn't sound long enough to sort out

:32:21.:32:24.

I think my facial expression probably gives it away.

:32:25.:32:32.

IT systems take a long time to deliver, certainly will need some

:32:33.:32:36.

form of transitional arrangement to make this work.

:32:37.:32:38.

Today's letter allows for that and it showed a new reluctance

:32:39.:32:41.

to walk away from negotiations than previous government statements.

:32:42.:32:43.

A smooth exit, it seems, is more important than a quick one.

:32:44.:32:46.

If anything, I would say British attitudes are becoming more

:32:47.:33:01.

entrenched. Remain ups are becoming more optimistic. Once we begin to

:33:02.:33:05.

see what the deal looks like and how that might affect people's real

:33:06.:33:09.

lives, then of course public opinion may shift again. From the white

:33:10.:33:14.

Cliffs of Dover, back to you in Westminster.

:33:15.:33:16.

Thank you very much, Mark Easton, in Dover.

:33:17.:33:18.

The likely economic impact of Brexit was one of the key areas of debate

:33:19.:33:21.

And today the Prime Minister, in her Article 50 letter,

:33:22.:33:24.

set out her hopes for effective economic cooperation.

:33:25.:33:27.

She talked of a deep and special partnership.

:33:28.:33:29.

Our economics editor Kamal Ahmed is with me.

:33:30.:33:35.

Let's pick up on the thoughts about a more conciliatory note today. How

:33:36.:33:42.

does that translate into this whole trade and economic area? Often this

:33:43.:33:46.

whole debate, I think, is sort of fashion does a rather titanic

:33:47.:33:49.

struggle between the politics of Brexit, that's about less

:33:50.:33:53.

immigration, about taking back control, about sovereignty, and what

:33:54.:33:57.

might be described as the economic sub Brexit. How does Britain obtain

:33:58.:34:02.

the best deal with the rest of the European Union? I think today, as

:34:03.:34:04.

you suggest, the economics won out, at least slightly. Theresa May

:34:05.:34:25.

talked about prosperity, not just for Britain but the European Union.

:34:26.:34:27.

She talked about that implementation phase, that we wouldn't be crashing

:34:28.:34:30.

out of the European Union. There would be no cliff edge. A little

:34:31.:34:33.

talk today about no deal being better than a bad deal. Who was that

:34:34.:34:35.

sitting next to Theresa May during her statement to Parliament? Philip

:34:36.:34:37.

Hammond, the Chancellor, the man charged with piloting the UK economy

:34:38.:34:40.

through these tough next few years. But I think to reason knows and

:34:41.:34:42.

Philip Hammond knows there are a lot of challenges today. Ford and BMW

:34:43.:34:49.

both warned for the needs that tariff free access to the European

:34:50.:34:54.

Union. BMW said they wanted to see free labour movement across borders.

:34:55.:34:58.

Then there's the public. I think he Theresa May does have a challenge.

:34:59.:35:02.

Brexit and the economy have led to the top of the list of issues that

:35:03.:35:08.

the public are most concerned about. If Theresa May doesn't get a good

:35:09.:35:12.

deal with the European Union, if there is economic damage, that's not

:35:13.:35:17.

just in economic risk to number ten, it's also a pretty major political

:35:18.:35:23.

one. Thank you. Our economics editor with his thoughts tonight at

:35:24.:35:24.

Westminster. You'll find much more

:35:25.:35:26.

analysis from Kamal and our team of specialists

:35:27.:35:28.

on what the Brexit process You can also find the full BBC

:35:29.:35:30.

interview with the Prime Minister. bbc.co.uk/news is

:35:31.:35:37.

the address you need. Go to the front page and the links

:35:38.:35:43.

are all there for you. Commemorations have been held

:35:44.:35:49.

here at Westminster today and at New Scotland Yard

:35:50.:35:52.

for the victims of last Wednesday's attack,

:35:53.:35:54.

when Khalid Massod drove into pedestrians, killing three

:35:55.:35:59.

people, before stabbing a police office to death outside

:36:00.:36:01.

the Houses of Parliament. Our correspondent

:36:02.:36:03.

Daniela Relph reports. They walked onto Westminster

:36:04.:36:05.

Bridge, a calm, quiet show of strength, where last

:36:06.:36:08.

week there was chaos. They were here to

:36:09.:36:12.

remember those who had Leslie Rhodes,

:36:13.:36:14.

a 75-year-old Londoner. Tonight her family described

:36:15.:36:24.

as the coolest of mummies, And Kurt Cochran from

:36:25.:36:29.

America, the first As he was hit, he was

:36:30.:36:35.

thrown from the bridge. Today his family visited

:36:36.:36:44.

the place where he fell. For they had wanted

:36:45.:36:49.

to come here, and to At exactly 2:40pm, the moment

:36:50.:36:52.

the attack began a week ago, the family joined others whose

:36:53.:36:57.

lives had changed forever last They included Andrei Burnaz

:36:58.:37:00.

from Romania, who suffered His girlfriend,

:37:01.:37:04.

Andreea Cristea, plunged into the River Thames

:37:05.:37:17.

when she was hit by the car. She remains in hospital,

:37:18.:37:23.

in a critical but stable condition. Walking with the families,

:37:24.:37:25.

a group of schoolgirls Faith groups speaking

:37:26.:37:28.

out against terrorism. Looking on, medical staff

:37:29.:37:35.

from St Thomas' Hospital, many of whom had rushed to

:37:36.:37:43.

the scene last week. All here to stop in

:37:44.:37:45.

silence and solidarity. The memories will have been

:37:46.:37:59.

particularly raw for the Metropolitan Police officers,

:38:00.:38:02.

who had lost one of their own. PC Keith Palmer was

:38:03.:38:05.

killed in the grounds of Parliament, despite desperate

:38:06.:38:10.

efforts to save him. At New Scotland Yard

:38:11.:38:12.

they reflected on his sacrifice This afternoon is

:38:13.:38:16.

about remembering the Our thoughts, our prayers go out

:38:17.:38:20.

to everyone who was affected by the It was a moment of calm

:38:21.:38:29.

after the chaos of exactly a It was also a united

:38:30.:38:33.

front against the horror Today, inquests opened into

:38:34.:38:39.

the deaths of four of those killed. This afternoon though

:38:40.:38:46.

was about an act of remembrance, a chance for London

:38:47.:38:48.

is to stand together. Daniella Relph, BBC News,

:38:49.:38:50.

Westminster Bridge. Let's take a brief look

:38:51.:38:57.

at some of the day's A man and a woman have been arrested

:38:58.:39:00.

in Birmingham this afternoon Six properties have

:39:01.:39:04.

also been searched. Police are not linking today's

:39:05.:39:08.

arrests to last week's EU competition regulators

:39:09.:39:10.

have blocked the merger of the London Stock Exchange

:39:11.:39:15.

with the owner of the Frankfurt They say the deal would have given

:39:16.:39:18.

the new business too much market power and would have created

:39:19.:39:25.

a virtual monopoly. An American man who was paralysed

:39:26.:39:29.

below the shoulders has regained some movement by using his thoughts

:39:30.:39:32.

to send messages from implants Doctors say it's the first time

:39:33.:39:37.

a system controlled by the brain has helped someone with severe paralysis

:39:38.:39:42.

to reach and hold objects. A private funeral for the singer

:39:43.:39:44.

George Michael has taken His publicist said it was

:39:45.:39:47.

a small ceremony, attended The singer's family thanked his fans

:39:48.:39:52.

across the world "for their many He was found dead at his Oxfordshire

:39:53.:39:56.

home on Christmas Day last year. Let's return to events

:39:57.:40:05.

here at Westminster, on the day the United Kingdom formally

:40:06.:40:08.

served notice that it Our Political Editor Laura

:40:09.:40:11.

Kuenssberg is with me again. For a variety of reasons, what you

:40:12.:40:29.

will emerge from it? Every now and then there are big moments that make

:40:30.:40:34.

us. On the 23rd of June decision became clear, today with 12.25, when

:40:35.:40:39.

the letter was handed across. As you say, people voted for all sorts of

:40:40.:40:43.

reasons, but many of the people who were persuaded to vote out did so on

:40:44.:40:46.

the promise of lots of money coming back from Brussels to go to the NHS

:40:47.:40:52.

and a promise of control, the implication of reducing immigration.

:40:53.:40:55.

What was interesting this afternoon, after her very links free time in

:40:56.:40:58.

the House of Commons, when Theresa May spoke at length about this, she

:40:59.:41:11.

would not promise to make a significant cut on the levels of

:41:12.:41:13.

immigration, nor would she be specific about how many billions she

:41:14.:41:16.

thinks will come back, nor what she would do with it as Prime Minister.

:41:17.:41:18.

And remember, she's not just there for dealing with these complicated

:41:19.:41:20.

negotiations, she also has to cope with expectations at home. The

:41:21.:41:23.

expectations that the many millions of people who will be watching this

:41:24.:41:26.

tonight and feeling thrilled about the fact the process is finally

:41:27.:41:30.

underway. When you think about it, there are huge opportunities here,

:41:31.:41:34.

too. But it's properly the least palatable set of challenges for any

:41:35.:41:42.

modern peace time Prime Minister. Mind-bendingly complicated

:41:43.:41:44.

negotiations, strong expectations at home, the Scottish Government intent

:41:45.:41:49.

on pushing their agenda for a second referendum and of course, plenty of

:41:50.:41:53.

people on her back in her own party, pushing for the kind of Brexit that

:41:54.:41:59.

they want. A very, very complicated and difficult set of challenges.

:42:00.:42:03.

Those close to her say Theresa May is fearless in the political pursuit

:42:04.:42:06.

of what she wants to achieve. Let's hope they are right, not just for

:42:07.:42:10.

her career but for the sake of getting it right for all of us. Once

:42:11.:42:17.

again, Laura, thank you. Laura Kuenssberg with me tonight at

:42:18.:42:19.

Westminster. That is it tonight for BBC News attempt. In a moment, the

:42:20.:42:21.

news where you are. But we'll leave you with some

:42:22.:42:26.

of the defining moments of the past 9 months,

:42:27.:42:28.

from the day the voters of Britain took the momentous decision

:42:29.:42:31.

to leave the European Union. The British people have spoken

:42:32.:42:34.

and the answer is we're out. We're Great Britain,

:42:35.:42:37.

that's what we do. The British people have made

:42:38.:42:40.

a very clear decision And, as such, I think the country

:42:41.:42:46.

requires fresh leadership to take It's a victory for ordinary

:42:47.:42:52.

people, decent people. This does not mean that

:42:53.:42:59.

the United Kingdom will be Nor, indeed, does it mean that it

:43:00.:43:03.

will be any less European. The option of a second referendum

:43:04.:43:11.

must be on the table. Her Majesty the Queen

:43:12.:43:17.

has asked me to form Brexit means Brexit, and we're

:43:18.:43:20.

going to make a success of it. No Prime Minister, no

:43:21.:43:29.

Government can expect to be This was a nationwide referendum

:43:30.:43:35.

of the British people, The British people have been led to

:43:36.:44:10.

think of a future that seems unrealistic.

:44:11.:44:11.

This is an historic moment from which there can

:44:12.:44:13.

Britain is leaving the European Union.

:44:14.:44:16.

We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws.

:44:17.:44:19.

There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day.

:44:20.:44:33.

I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days lie ahead.

:44:34.:44:38.

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