:00:09. > :00:12.The official process for the UK to leave
:00:13. > :00:17.After more than four decades as a member of the European Union,
:00:18. > :00:20.the United Kingdom is setting off on its own path.
:00:21. > :00:23.This was the moment - half an hour ago -
:00:24. > :00:26.when the letter triggering Article 50 was handed over in
:00:27. > :00:31.Brussels to the President of the European Council.
:00:32. > :00:44.Today the Government acts on the democratic
:00:45. > :00:47.We are going to take control of the things that
:00:48. > :00:50.matter most to us and we are going to take this opportunity
:00:51. > :00:53.a country that our children and grandchildren
:00:54. > :00:57.Two years of talks now begin, with warnings from Europe's top
:00:58. > :01:02.negotiator that today is "day one of a very difficult road".
:01:03. > :01:07.Westminster Bridge is closed again, exactly a week after Khalid Masood
:01:08. > :01:12.killed four people, as events to remember his victims are held.
:01:13. > :01:17.And in sport - another successful trial of video technology
:01:18. > :01:19.in international football, could see the FA introduce it
:01:20. > :01:47.After 44 years as a member of the European Union,
:01:48. > :01:49.the formal process to take the United Kingdom out
:01:50. > :01:54.In the last hour a letter, signed by Theresa May,
:01:55. > :01:58.has been handed to the President of the European Council,
:01:59. > :02:02.In it she says the referendum was a "vote to restore Britains's
:02:03. > :02:06.She said the UK was "leaving the European Union,
:02:07. > :02:11.Our political correspondent Carole Walker reports.
:02:12. > :02:19.This was the moment S the UK really began its departure from the
:02:20. > :02:23.European Union. The British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim
:02:24. > :02:31.Barrow, handed the President of the European Council, to us to us Turks
:02:32. > :02:34.- Donald Tusk, the letter signed by the Prime Minister, triggering the
:02:35. > :02:38.Brexit negotiations. Minutes later, the Prime Minister confirmed the
:02:39. > :02:42.significance of the moment. The Article 50 process is now under way
:02:43. > :02:44.and in accordance with the wishes of the British people, the United
:02:45. > :02:53.Kingdom is leaving the European Union. This is an disforic moment,
:02:54. > :02:58.from which there can now be no turning back. -- historic moment.
:02:59. > :03:03.Britain is leaving the European Union. We'll make our own decisions
:03:04. > :03:06.and own laws. We'll take control of the things that matter most to us.
:03:07. > :03:09.She spoke of her fierce determination to get a deal that
:03:10. > :03:13.works for everyone, but acknowledged the consequences of Brexit. We know
:03:14. > :03:17.that we'll lose influence over the rules that affect the European
:03:18. > :03:21.economy. We know that UK companies that trade with the EU will have to
:03:22. > :03:26.align with rules agreed by institutions with which we are no
:03:27. > :03:30.longer a part, just as we do in other overseas markets, and we
:03:31. > :03:33.accept that. However, we approach these talks constructively,
:03:34. > :03:37.respectfully, and in a spirit of sincere cooperation. Earlier, she'd
:03:38. > :03:43.summoned the Cabinet to Downing Street to brief them on the
:03:44. > :03:47.document. REPORTER: Is no deal Bert than a bad deal -- better. Key
:03:48. > :03:50.ministers had been working on a strategy for nine months. Now the
:03:51. > :03:55.tough talking begins. Every negotiation is about give and take
:03:56. > :03:57.on both sides. We have to go into this discussion, understanding and
:03:58. > :04:02.accepting that we will have to do some give and take to get the
:04:03. > :04:06.best-possible deal for Britain. Already it's deleer just how hard
:04:07. > :04:10.it's going to be -- it's clear just how hard it is going to be for the
:04:11. > :04:12.Prime Minister to fulfil her ambition of bringing the country
:04:13. > :04:16.together. There are stark divisions in her party, in Parliament and
:04:17. > :04:21.across the country. People have very different views on what they want
:04:22. > :04:26.and expect from a Brexit deal. At Question Type, the SNP said Scotland
:04:27. > :04:29.should be given a say at the end of the negotiations. Given that
:04:30. > :04:37.everybody else will have a choice at that time... Will the people of
:04:38. > :04:43.Scotland have a can choice? Now is not the time to be talking about a
:04:44. > :04:48.second independence referendum. On today of all days, we should be
:04:49. > :04:52.coming together as a United Kingdom, to get the best deal for Britain.
:04:53. > :04:57.And other opponents are delivering their own warnings. If the Prime
:04:58. > :05:00.Minister comes back with no deal she'll have failed. It is the worst
:05:01. > :05:03.of all possible outcomes. We certainly wouldn't support that. But
:05:04. > :05:08.pro-Brexit campaigners are upbeat about the way ahead. There'll be
:05:09. > :05:11.arguments over the next two years about trade deals and fishing rights
:05:12. > :05:14.but actually the big thing is - two years from now we are going to be an
:05:15. > :05:20.independent self-governing nation and I couldn't be happier. So, we
:05:21. > :05:25.have the Prime Minister's objective in writing. Now the work begins - to
:05:26. > :05:29.get an agreement which is acceptable across the EU and across the UK.
:05:30. > :05:31.So two years of formal talks are now under way,
:05:32. > :05:33.negotiations which will shape the future of this country
:05:34. > :05:38.But there's already been a warning from the EU's chief negotiator,
:05:39. > :05:41.that today is day one of a very difficult road.
:05:42. > :05:49.Here's our Europe Correspondent Damian Grammaticas.
:05:50. > :05:55.After a relationship lasting 44 years, this is how it starts to end.
:05:56. > :05:59.Sir Tim Barrow personally delivering Theresa May's letter. The UK's
:06:00. > :06:03.permanent representative to the EU left his office this morning, his
:06:04. > :06:08.mission - to serve notice to Donald Tusk of our intention to leave the
:06:09. > :06:12.EU. Just a couple of minutes later he arrived at the European Council.
:06:13. > :06:18.This is a step that has enormous ramifications. Formerly now the
:06:19. > :06:23.clock is ticking. Two years to negotiate exit. And in his brief
:06:24. > :06:27.case, the outline of the deal that Theresa May wishes to achieve to end
:06:28. > :06:32.our membership of the EU. It all began over four decades ago,
:06:33. > :06:36.the then Prime Minister, Ted Heath, taking the UK into what was an
:06:37. > :06:45.economic community, and pledging to expand it further. The European
:06:46. > :06:49.communities, far from creating barriers, have served to extend
:06:50. > :06:55.East-West trade, Britain, I hope you will agree, has much to contribute
:06:56. > :07:00.to this process and as members of the community, we shall be better
:07:01. > :07:05.able to do so. That's exactly what Margaret Thatcher did, pressing for
:07:06. > :07:10.the creation of a continent-wide single market, shaping the EU in the
:07:11. > :07:14.UK's mould. After her, John Major went further, agreeing to the
:07:15. > :07:19.creation of an even deeper union, a single currency, even more members
:07:20. > :07:27.but opposition in the UK grew and eventually last year's referendum
:07:28. > :07:30.was lost. Geoff Meade, has' covered the EU for three decades say there
:07:31. > :07:34.is still concern at the heart of the EU that other nations could follow
:07:35. > :07:37.the UK out There is still the fear that maybe, somehow, maybe not long
:07:38. > :07:41.down the road, others will get the same idea. Although I have to say
:07:42. > :07:47.I'm not aware of any Member States that thinks leaving this club is a
:07:48. > :07:51.good idea. Yes changing it, yes maybe leaving the single currency
:07:52. > :07:59.but leaving it it is a very, very big step. And the EU's other members
:08:00. > :08:06.have moved to halt the central fewal forces, last year in very marked 50
:08:07. > :08:11.years since the EU's creation by apledging allegiance to the project,
:08:12. > :08:25.determined they say it won't fail, even as the UK heads for the exit.
:08:26. > :08:30.Let's speak to Norman Smith. An historic day, an historic moment for
:08:31. > :08:33.the country. It is and also marks a new stage in the Brexit process. We
:08:34. > :08:38.move from the rhetoric of Brexit to the reality. From the promises
:08:39. > :08:42.phase, to delivery and what we saw from Theresa May today and in her
:08:43. > :08:49.letter to Donald Tusk, is Theresa May wants a deal. This is Theresa
:08:50. > :08:53.May not the Brexiteer warrior, but Theresa May the deal-maker. She
:08:54. > :08:57.again says - if we don't get an agreement, then we will leave the EU
:08:58. > :09:01.and fall back on World Trade Organisation terms, but that is not
:09:02. > :09:05.what she wants. A point underlined, too, by the Chancellor, Philip
:09:06. > :09:09.Hammond, who slapped down Boris Johnson's suggestion a few weeks ago
:09:10. > :09:13.that it would be absolutely OK to leave without a deal. Now, the
:09:14. > :09:17.outlines of what Theresa May wants, we know a lot of it. We know she
:09:18. > :09:20.wants to take back control of immigration. We know we are not
:09:21. > :09:24.going to be part of the single market. We know we want to end
:09:25. > :09:28.jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. But in the letter, I
:09:29. > :09:34.think we get a sense of some areas where Mrs May could be willing to
:09:35. > :09:39.compromise. Above all, on money. She says the UK will be willing to
:09:40. > :09:44.discuss our rights and obligations. In other words, money owing to the
:09:45. > :09:46.EU. She also says that we would be prepared to discuss an
:09:47. > :09:51.implementation period - in other words, there could be time before we
:09:52. > :09:56.finally leave the EU. But any deal that Mrs May does with the EU,
:09:57. > :09:58.remember, she has to come back here to Westminster and to the British
:09:59. > :10:04.public to sell it. Norman, thank you. Let's go to
:10:05. > :10:08.Brussels and Damian Grammaticus. I have a copy of the letter here which
:10:09. > :10:14.I'm sure an awful lot of people were pouring to right now. It was only
:10:15. > :10:17.handed to Donald Tusk an hour ago but has there been reaction? There
:10:18. > :10:22.has. We have a copy of the letter here, too, which has just been
:10:23. > :10:26.released and what has also just happened is Donald Tusk has just
:10:27. > :10:31.appeared, made his first staple. In that he said he would not pretend it
:10:32. > :10:36.was a happy day. -- made his first statement.
:10:37. > :10:41.He said he already "misses you" to the UK and "there would be nothing
:10:42. > :10:45.to win in the coming negotiations", he said it was do damage limitation
:10:46. > :10:48.but he interestingly wept on to say that something positive already has
:10:49. > :10:54.come from Brexit, his view was that the EU 27, the other 27 states, he
:10:55. > :10:58.said, have come much closer together and forged a united position and
:10:59. > :11:01.that will be the position they take into those coming negotiations. Mr
:11:02. > :11:09.Tusk made one other thing very clear, too. He said that EU law will
:11:10. > :11:15.continue to apply in and to the UK up until the point it leaves. So,
:11:16. > :11:22.making very clear some of the UK's basic conditions, nothing changes
:11:23. > :11:27.until the UK formally exists the union. So what happens now? This
:11:28. > :11:30.time next month EU leaders will meet, without Theresa May to discuss
:11:31. > :11:35.the next step. Negotiations could then begin in May or June.
:11:36. > :11:37.But how likely is a deal within two years?
:11:38. > :11:38.Our correspondent Wyre Davies reports.
:11:39. > :11:43.We've had nine months to come to terms with it. The British people
:11:44. > :11:47.have spoken and the answer is - we're out. And today the clock
:11:48. > :11:51.really started ticking. After the shock and rancour that followed the
:11:52. > :11:55.referendum, time for the warring parties in Westminster and Brussels
:11:56. > :11:59.to put their differences aside. If they're to come up with a deal
:12:00. > :12:03.that's in the best interests of Britain and Europe. But it won't be
:12:04. > :12:07.easy. The European Council's President,
:12:08. > :12:13.Donald Tusk, has promised to have a draft document ready within 48
:12:14. > :12:17.hours. But before formal talks can begin, the other 27 EU member
:12:18. > :12:23.nations will have to agree on a common way forward at a special
:12:24. > :12:26.summit at the end of April. With David Davis leading
:12:27. > :12:29.negotiations for the UK and Michel Barnier from the European Commission
:12:30. > :12:36.on the EU side, talks will kick off in late May or early June. But there
:12:37. > :12:39.will be sticking points from the off, in particular, over what to
:12:40. > :12:43.talk about first. Some in Brussels seem determined to make the British
:12:44. > :12:48.Government pay, quite literally, perhaps as much as ?50 billion, to
:12:49. > :12:55.settle its various commitments before a settlement can be reached.
:12:56. > :13:02.For UK negotiators establishing future trade agreements are a
:13:03. > :13:07.priority but it is insisted that any deal cannot be as good as
:13:08. > :13:11.membership. We want a fair deal for the UK but that deal necessarily
:13:12. > :13:16.needs to be inferior to membership. There is concern all around on the
:13:17. > :13:23.status and #2350u tour rights of EU citizens living here. -- future. And
:13:24. > :13:27.others living in Europe but for others, the I aboutest stumbling
:13:28. > :13:30.block will be trade The idea of a fully comprehensive trade deal with
:13:31. > :13:34.the EU at the end of two years I think is a big stretch. Not because
:13:35. > :13:37.we can't negotiate that. It is because the EU seems to be
:13:38. > :13:41.determined to re-erect trade barriers when the rest of the world
:13:42. > :13:44.is trying to bring them down. With the final agreement needing to be
:13:45. > :13:49.ratified by the UK Parliament, the European Parliament, and the
:13:50. > :13:52.European Council, it might leave only 17 months for actual
:13:53. > :13:59.negotiations. It all sounds rather a tall order, in such a short space of
:14:00. > :14:04.The starting gun has been fired - the official process
:14:05. > :14:10.for the UK to leave the European Union has begun.
:14:11. > :14:16.We are going to take control of the things that matter most to us and we
:14:17. > :14:20.are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain,
:14:21. > :14:20.a country that our children and grandchildren are proud to call
:14:21. > :14:23.home. After a controversial cross code
:14:24. > :14:27.switch from Rugby league to Union, New Zealand born winger
:14:28. > :14:28.Denny Solomona pledges his international future to England
:14:29. > :14:30.having qualified under residency Well it's nine months since that
:14:31. > :14:46.historic day last June when the United Kingdom voted
:14:47. > :14:51.to leave the European Union So as the UK starts
:14:52. > :14:55.out on its own road - how are people who voted to leave
:14:56. > :14:58.and to remain now feeling? We report now from two cities
:14:59. > :15:00.who wanted different futures. Our correspondent Fiona Trott
:15:01. > :15:02.has been to Sunderland where they voted Leave -
:15:03. > :15:21.and Jon Kay is in Bristol - The SS Great Britain, built by
:15:22. > :15:27.Brunel but where is Great Britain heading now. Out. Out. But here in
:15:28. > :15:32.Bristol almost two thirds of voters wanted to stay in the EU. On the
:15:33. > :15:36.River taxi many thought it was a bleak day. The government is
:15:37. > :15:41.embarking on a journey and has no idea where it is going, it has no
:15:42. > :15:46.idea what it is doing and is not in control of negotiations are now on.
:15:47. > :15:50.The Brexit journey may now be underweight but among Remainer is we
:15:51. > :15:54.found a sense that all is not lost. So it is going to happen. I do not
:15:55. > :15:59.believe it is, I believe the narrative will change and people
:16:00. > :16:03.will have their voices heard eventually. But they were heard in
:16:04. > :16:09.the referendum. A very mild squeak. It was so close. It was almost
:16:10. > :16:14.50-50. People may change their minds at the end of the day and then
:16:15. > :16:18.Article 50 could be revoked. You're not just clinging on. It is not a
:16:19. > :16:22.case of clinging on but campaigning on the things you believe in.
:16:23. > :16:27.Traders have sailed into Bristol docks for centuries from all over
:16:28. > :16:30.the world. This boat builder has seen orders increased since the
:16:31. > :16:35.referendum due to the fall in the pound. We do not need immigration to
:16:36. > :16:39.come in and take work away from the unskilled. And for John The Boss
:16:40. > :16:45.this is a good day for the UK. The main reason I am pro-Brexit was
:16:46. > :16:50.sovereignty and the second reason, to open up to the rest of the world.
:16:51. > :16:54.Back on the ferry and Mike the skipper says it is time for both
:16:55. > :16:59.sides to back the government as it steers its way through the
:17:00. > :17:03.negotiations. The thing is it is now an accomplished fact and we've got
:17:04. > :17:08.to get on with it. Whether we like it or not. But in this probe remains
:17:09. > :17:09.city many are nervous today. And expect the next couple of years at
:17:10. > :17:24.least to be tough. Welcome to the largest brewery in
:17:25. > :17:28.Leeds. The team here produce 70,000 pints a week. Business began ten
:17:29. > :17:33.years ago and the idea of Brexit make them nervous. But not any more.
:17:34. > :17:39.The Boss believes Article 50 will make things clearer. It is going to
:17:40. > :17:45.be in some ways quite nice for negotiations to begin so that
:17:46. > :17:49.businesses and ordinary people across the country will actually
:17:50. > :17:54.have some idea of what the vote to leave the EU is actually going to
:17:55. > :17:58.look like. High on the hills in Teesdale this family are more
:17:59. > :18:03.concerned for the farmers like them rely on EU subsidies and because of
:18:04. > :18:08.Brexit the government has promised to match the money up until 2020.
:18:09. > :18:12.But what about the following years. If we get support from the
:18:13. > :18:18.government then we will still be fine here but if not, you know, we
:18:19. > :18:23.will not be able to be a farm, the business will not stack up and John
:18:24. > :18:27.will have to go to work elsewhere. Working elsewhere is not an option
:18:28. > :18:31.these men even want to consider. They came to County Durham from
:18:32. > :18:37.Poland and they have made it their home. We are just thinking do not
:18:38. > :18:46.take me home, please. I've been here for five years. The fear in
:18:47. > :18:50.Sunderland is this is the day most voters have been waiting for and the
:18:51. > :18:53.reasons why are clear. -- here in Sunderland. I think it will be good
:18:54. > :18:58.to have our own rules and regulations. We will have control of
:18:59. > :19:03.the borders again and I know a lot of people want that. Outside the
:19:04. > :19:07.Winter Gardens in Sunderland, a protest by remaining voters. The
:19:08. > :19:12.numbers are small. That is because 61% of people here voted to leave.
:19:13. > :19:15.The majority are not demonstrating, they're celebrating.
:19:16. > :19:17.The implications of today are obviously huge for
:19:18. > :19:20.the United Kingdom as a whole but also for the individual nations
:19:21. > :19:23.of Scotland and Wales as well as for Northern Ireland.
:19:24. > :19:25.Lorna Gordon is in Edinburgh, Sian Lloyd is in Cardiff
:19:26. > :19:28.and Chris Buckler is on the border of Northern Ireland
:19:29. > :19:44.Scotland wanted to remain in the EU. That is right for Theresa May bus
:19:45. > :19:48.morning said it was her expectation the devolved government would seek a
:19:49. > :19:52.significant increase in their powers as a result of the Brexit process.
:19:53. > :19:56.But the potentially tricky thing for her is that 62% of people in
:19:57. > :20:01.Scotland voted to remain as part of the EU and just yesterday the First
:20:02. > :20:06.Minister Nicola Sturgeon got a mandate from the parliament here at
:20:07. > :20:09.Holyrood to seek authorisation to hold a second independence
:20:10. > :20:13.referendum. The idea that referendum opposed by the prounion parties here
:20:14. > :20:18.and opposed by the government at Westminster. Their position is
:20:19. > :20:21.hardening not just now is not the time but they do not believe there
:20:22. > :20:25.should be a referendum until some point considerably into the future.
:20:26. > :20:29.Nicola Sturgeon this morning has said her government will continue to
:20:30. > :20:32.do everything that it can to make Scotland an attractive place for
:20:33. > :20:37.investment in the week summer months to come but she argues that Brexit
:20:38. > :20:42.would be a significant and profound change for Scotland and she insists
:20:43. > :20:47.that people here must be given the chance to vote on their future, be
:20:48. > :20:57.it in the UK or as an independent country before the UK leads the EU.
:20:58. > :21:01.Wales voted to leave the EU by 52.5% and there is a recognition of that
:21:02. > :21:06.by the First Minister Carwyn Jones when he said today that he will be
:21:07. > :21:12.working with the UK Government to secure the best future for Wales,
:21:13. > :21:19.that he will be looking to protect Welsh businesses, jobs and the
:21:20. > :21:22.economy here. And he said that if he felt the Welsh Labour leader had
:21:23. > :21:26.voiced his concerns are ready about the future of Welsh agriculture and
:21:27. > :21:31.he told Assembly Members here yesterday that the current economic
:21:32. > :21:37.subsidies that the sector receive may not be replaced by 2024 that the
:21:38. > :21:41.leader of the Welsh Conservatives described that this morning as
:21:42. > :21:45.scaremongering. He said there was no evidence of that. He said people
:21:46. > :21:50.living in the most deprived communities in Wales would be
:21:51. > :21:59.represented by the brightest and best in negotiating the deal. Across
:22:00. > :22:02.the Irish Sea I'm standing at what will be the U:K.'s only land border
:22:03. > :22:06.with another European country. One of about 260 crossings between
:22:07. > :22:09.Northern Ireland and the Republic, the river is a kind of dividing
:22:10. > :22:13.line. There are many connections across that not just for those who
:22:14. > :22:17.visit family and friends but also even for public services, in some
:22:18. > :22:21.cases health treatment and of course there is a huge amount of trade that
:22:22. > :22:26.crosses the border on a regular basis. Some whether they may need to
:22:27. > :22:42.be some physical presence to the border, perhaps
:22:43. > :22:45.customs. Both the British and Irish governments say they want to keep
:22:46. > :22:48.the roads completely open but of course that will be down to
:22:49. > :22:50.negotiations. The other thing to mention is Northern Ireland, their
:22:51. > :22:52.government of course has collapsed, power-sharing currently in a state
:22:53. > :22:54.of a pretty bad state frankly at Stormont. As a result there is
:22:55. > :22:57.concern that Northern Ireland's voice will not be heard at the top
:22:58. > :22:59.table when these talks place. Irish republicans have been listening
:23:00. > :23:01.closely to what has been said in Scotland about an independence
:23:02. > :23:04.referendum there. They point out Northern Ireland also voted to stay
:23:05. > :23:07.inside the EU and as a result there are calling for a border poll and a
:23:08. > :23:11.referendum on Irish unity. Ultimately Brexit has proved
:23:12. > :23:12.divisive at Stormont and will continue to have an impact on life
:23:13. > :23:14.in politics here. Well as we prepare to leave,
:23:15. > :23:17.one of the issues that will have to be resolved is what happens to EU
:23:18. > :23:20.citizens in Britain, and British Our Europe Correspondent Gavin Lee
:23:21. > :23:26.sent this from Spain. Benidorm feels a long
:23:27. > :23:36.way from Brussels. But when Article 50 is triggered
:23:37. > :23:39.there today it will affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of British
:23:40. > :23:45.people in Spain. Whether it is for better
:23:46. > :23:49.or for worse, Brexit is happening. And here on the south coast of Spain
:23:50. > :23:52.where there are more British expats than anywhere else in Europe,
:23:53. > :23:55.it is causing anxiety. What happens to their pensions,
:23:56. > :23:57.their free access to health care and their right to stay
:23:58. > :24:00.here in the years to come? At the Costa Blanca Male Voice
:24:01. > :24:08.Choir, Keith Livesey is considering packing up
:24:09. > :24:10.and returning to Britain Well, I gave up my
:24:11. > :24:17.residency three weeks ago. So I had to go to England
:24:18. > :24:21.in January and I have started But I just cannot personally see
:24:22. > :24:27.the British Government giving half a billion pounds to Spain
:24:28. > :24:32.so I can stay here. I am lucky, but I mean,
:24:33. > :24:39.if I was put in this situation and I had to make a decision,
:24:40. > :24:43.I would not go back to the UK. Along the coast, El Campeo is home
:24:44. > :24:46.to many people who have adjusted Who have mixed feelings
:24:47. > :24:52.on what is going on back home. I don't like being dictated
:24:53. > :25:00.to by bureaucrats in Brussels I'm not very happy
:25:01. > :25:08.with the immigration I'm Babs, I've lived
:25:09. > :25:12.in Spain now for nine years. I worry mainly for my health care
:25:13. > :25:18.and I worry about my pension and I also worry that we will be
:25:19. > :25:21.losing many, many friends Both British and EU negotiators say
:25:22. > :25:30.they want the issues of the future of Europeans in the UK and Brits
:25:31. > :25:33.in Europe to be one A view reflected here too
:25:34. > :25:38.for the Brits on the other Gavin Lee, BBC News,
:25:39. > :25:57.on the Costa Blanca, Spain. Almost exactly a week ago Khalid
:25:58. > :26:00.Masood drove at high speed across the Westminster Bridge behind me
:26:01. > :26:04.before fatally stabbing a police officer. Well at the time of the
:26:05. > :26:06.attack people will gather on the bridge from a minutes silence.
:26:07. > :26:10.Meanwhile inquests have been opened into the deaths of the four people
:26:11. > :26:17.who were killed. Richard Lister is that Westminster coroner 's Court.
:26:18. > :26:19.The coroner Fiona Wilcox began by acknowledging how difficult this
:26:20. > :26:24.must be for the families of those killed last week. There were
:26:25. > :26:27.emotional scenes in court as the causes of death were rather for each
:26:28. > :26:31.of the victims. Aysha Frade who was a mother of two, 75-year-old Leslie
:26:32. > :26:39.Rhodes from south London, an American tourist Kurt Cochran, who
:26:40. > :26:42.was 54 and of course PC Keith Palmer killed by Kalamazoo at the gates of
:26:43. > :26:47.Parliament. The inquest has now been adjourned until the 25th of April,
:26:48. > :26:51.there will be a separate inquest opening tomorrow into Kalamazoo. Now
:26:52. > :26:54.the BBC has spoken to the man who employed Khalid Masood and said he
:26:55. > :26:56.was a popular teacher and he thought he had put his violent past behind
:26:57. > :26:59.him. Khalid Masood, who killed
:27:00. > :27:01.and caused horrific injuries. A man who here in Luton taught
:27:02. > :27:05.English as a foreign language. How his former boss, Farasat,
:27:06. > :27:12.who didn't want to show his It took me about a day
:27:13. > :27:18.before it dawned on me that it was actually him
:27:19. > :27:20.who did the crime. I was bewildered, shocked, angry,
:27:21. > :27:22.in disbelief, really. What did he do, what were his
:27:23. > :27:28.habits, where did he go? I only knew him in
:27:29. > :27:31.the office environment. He would come in, he would teach,
:27:32. > :27:35.pop into my office for a cup He spoke a little
:27:36. > :27:38.bit about his past. Farasat told us Masood prayed
:27:39. > :27:42.during his lunch hour. A practising Muslim,
:27:43. > :27:48.but he wasn't an extremist. His period in Luton and before,
:27:49. > :27:52.he wasn't a radical. In prison, in Saudi Arabia,
:27:53. > :27:55.and in the period he spent in Luton. If he was, I definitely would have
:27:56. > :27:57.identified those signs. Once again a town defending itself
:27:58. > :28:02.against links with terrorism. But if Masood was radicalised,
:28:03. > :28:20.prominent voices within this The inquest was brought forward by
:28:21. > :28:23.one hour to allow the families of those killed to take part in a
:28:24. > :28:29.ceremony on Westminster Bridge this afternoon. You can see the bridge
:28:30. > :28:32.here, it will be closed ( to allow community organisations, religious
:28:33. > :28:36.groups and police officers to join hands right across the length of the
:28:37. > :28:41.bridge in a demonstration of unity. And after that there will be a
:28:42. > :28:45.minute of silence, that will start at 2:40pm, just moments before
:28:46. > :28:48.Khalid Masood began bad drive across the bridge with such terrible
:28:49. > :28:50.consequences. -- that drive. Almost it from us -
:28:51. > :28:53.but let's get a last word from our europe correspondent
:28:54. > :29:03.Damian Grammaticus in Brussles Norman, you have had a look at this
:29:04. > :29:08.letter sent by the Prime Minister to Donald Tusk in Brussels, what stands
:29:09. > :29:13.out for you? Much of it is familiar, no surprises. We will be leaving the
:29:14. > :29:19.single market, Theresa May wants an early deal on EU nationals, but what
:29:20. > :29:24.is really striking is the tone of this letter. This is not a red
:29:25. > :29:29.letter, a final warning letter demanding this, threatening that. It
:29:30. > :29:33.is an emollient, considered chic and even friendly letter. Just to give
:29:34. > :29:37.you a couple of the phrases. Theresa May talks about a deep and special
:29:38. > :29:43.partnership, we hope to enjoy, as your closest friend and neighbour.
:29:44. > :29:48.And then a separate section, she goes on to say, we want to make sure
:29:49. > :29:52.that Europe remain strong and prosperous and is capable of
:29:53. > :29:56.projecting its values. Leading in the world and defending itself from
:29:57. > :30:01.security threats. That is a letter which is much harder for European
:30:02. > :30:04.leaders to reject. Secondly, interesting what is not in the
:30:05. > :30:09.letter. No mention of the customs union. No mention of the European
:30:10. > :30:15.Court, no mention of immigration. Could those be areas where Theresa
:30:16. > :30:19.May is prepared to compromise M and Damon grammatical is in Brussels,
:30:20. > :30:23.tough language already coming from Brussels. Nothing to win here for
:30:24. > :30:29.the UK is the message they're giving today. Exactly. I was telling you
:30:30. > :30:35.earlier that Donald Tusk and made some remarks, we now have heard from
:30:36. > :30:45.him and this is what he had to say. So here it is, six pages. The
:30:46. > :30:52.notification from Prime Minister Theresa May triggering Article 50.
:30:53. > :30:59.And formally starting the negotiations of the United Kingdom's
:31:00. > :31:04.withdrawal from the European Union. There is no reason to pretend that
:31:05. > :31:13.this is a happy day. Neither in Brussels nor in London. And of
:31:14. > :31:17.course the interesting thing I think as Norman was saying, the tone of
:31:18. > :31:20.this letter, very different from the speech Theresa May gave back in
:31:21. > :31:25.January. That will be picked up on by European leaders here, Theresa
:31:26. > :31:29.May saying the referendum was not an attempt to do harm to the European
:31:30. > :31:34.Union, the UK once the European Union to succeed. All of that will
:31:35. > :31:38.be well received. But what Donald Tusk also said in his comments, he
:31:39. > :31:44.feels EU countries are more united than ever in their response to
:31:45. > :31:50.Brexit and that I think is what we will see, United 27 now beginning
:31:51. > :31:56.the process of negotiating the UK. And just to let you know Andrew
:31:57. > :31:59.Neill will be interviewing the Prime Minister on Britain and the EU, the
:32:00. > :32:03.Brexit interviews, that is tonight on BBC One at seven o'clock. And
:32:04. > :32:04.full coverage throughout the afternoon of
:32:05. > :32:13.Here's Phil Avery in the BBC Weather Centre.
:32:14. > :32:18.Not very much of this sort of thing going on across the British Isles
:32:19. > :32:25.nor indeed across the western side of Europe just at the moment. It is
:32:26. > :32:28.fairly cloudy for many of our correspondence, many of you and that
:32:29. > :32:31.has been captured wonderfully yet again by the Weather Watchers. Here
:32:32. > :32:37.again in Rotherham, rather cloudy and the cloud has got enough about
:32:38. > :32:45.it across western areas for some moderate bursts of rain. And indeed
:32:46. > :32:56.later on this afternoon some of the rain will be reaching up into the
:32:57. > :33:01.Isle of Skye. Just clipping into the eastern side of Northern Ireland but
:33:02. > :33:04.some drier weather further west. But the rainfall totals beginning to
:33:05. > :33:11.mount up across the Brecon Beacons and far west of Cornwall. Generally
:33:12. > :33:15.speaking the south east Midlands, a brighter picture for some. Through
:33:16. > :33:19.the evening and overnight, quite a burst of rain up across the greater
:33:20. > :33:22.part of northern England and across Scotland as well. Enough crowd and
:33:23. > :33:27.southerly breeze coming on behind for it to be not a cold night by any
:33:28. > :33:30.means. These are the kind of values we would expect to see by day at
:33:31. > :33:37.this time of year. But on Thursday the same kind of flight path for the
:33:38. > :33:42.heaviest of the rain. Up into the borders of Scotland and beyond. But
:33:43. > :33:46.in the south-eastern quarter is probably the warmest day of the year
:33:47. > :33:51.so far and we could be pushing towards 20, 20 1 degrees. And even
:33:52. > :33:56.underneath the cloud and rain temperature is well above average
:33:57. > :34:01.for the time of year. By Friday, low pressure close by to the western and
:34:02. > :34:05.southern Scotland, gradually drifting further north with time.
:34:06. > :34:09.Brighter skies further south, a fresh appeal but still temperature
:34:10. > :34:14.is above average. Then on into Saturday, a bit of a north-west
:34:15. > :34:18.breeze, plenty of showers on the breeze as well. But then Saturday
:34:19. > :34:21.and into Sunday, the ridge of high pressure really building in,
:34:22. > :34:26.dominating the weather across the British Isles. So no escaping the
:34:27. > :34:30.fact that Saturday will be a day of showers. And if you escape those you
:34:31. > :34:35.will be doing well. But come Sunday, with a high pressure building in, it
:34:36. > :34:38.will be a much drier and brighter affair across many parts of the
:34:39. > :34:41.British Isles and the even extend that into the start of next week.
:34:42. > :34:43.A reminder of our main story this lunchtime.
:34:44. > :34:45.The starting gun has been fired - the official process
:34:46. > :34:56.for the UK to leave the European Union has begun.
:34:57. > :35:02.We're going to take control of the things that matter most to us and
:35:03. > :35:05.take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain, a country
:35:06. > :35:07.that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home.
:35:08. > :35:08.That's all from the BBC News at One - so it's goodbye from me -