29/03/2017 London News

We get reaction from Lambeth, where support to remain

And go back to Havering, which had the highest

So, is going to be, you know, it's going to be hard work.

And we don't know exactly what's going to happen, we don't

As the formal process to leave the EU begins,

we look at what impact it could have on jobs here.

The City of London employs hundreds of thousands and generates wealth

how will if fare now we're leaving the EU?

And the Mayor travels back to London after his European tour -

As indeed are many members of the EU that I spoke to.

Good evening, welcome to the programme.

Tonight, a turning point in our history,

as the formal process of leaving the EU begins,

as does the search for answers on how it will affect our lives

The next few years will reshape our city.

The question is - to what extent and how?

We start tonight by going back to the two boroughs with the highest

proportion of leave and remain voters.

Our reporters who were there back in June on the day of the referendum

result have returned to gauge reaction.

In a moment, we'll hear from Alice Bhandhukravi

First, let's go to Marc Ashdown in Havering.

If I cast my mind back to June last year,

the day after the referendum, I was here.

It was a boiling hot day , with a temperature in favour

70% of those who voted, wanted to leave.

Today, the weather has cooled down a bit, but have opinions too?

The people of Romford market got their wish, but nine months on,

In June, Graham was a staunch Leaver, since

then, he's seen the price of his imports rise due to a weak pound.

40 years it's taken us to get where we are now.

It's not going to be sorted out overnight.

I've done it, you know, for their future.

Up the market, sole trader Chanel, she awoke last year

surprised at the referendum outcome and unsure if she had done

Obviously, everyone wanted to do the the re-vote and

everything, but, no, I think change is good again.

So, if they did have another vote, would you still vote

That was what I choose to do and I will stick to it.

What could be more traditionally east

end, but in recent years, business here has been struggling.

As you can see, it's absolutely deserted.

Everything has gone downhill so badly since the

And now, everyone is, like, I voted out just because I thought

There is still much, then, riding on the Prime Minister's

On television last night, she was saying she was

looking for the best deal for everybody and I think she will.

There's been a market here for nearly 800 years,

the people still believe this is the best outcome to

Marc Ashdown, BBC London News, Romford.

Here in Lambeth, is quite a different story. I too have been

retracing my steps. Last June, people here felt shell-shocked. It's

not surprisingly because Lambeth voted 79% in favour of remaining in

the EU. That's a greater percentage than anywhere else in the country.

So, today, with the triggering of Article 50, do people here feel any

differently? Last June, I met this man who sells

granite and marble worktops here He is originally from Greece,

but after 40 years, calls Back in June, he was feeling

emotional about the vote to leave, so how

have things changed? In the beginning,

after you get stung with the news, you are

automatically reacting. As time goes by, then you look back

and you say, "Well, all the years I worked and I

paid for my house. Last year, Maria who

works in the local bar, told us she got Brexit

would be bad for business. Today, she says some

of her worst fears have been I believe now that

it's become more real. I think people just become

more and more frustrated with the fact that

it's going to happen. We don't know exactly how

it's going to happen, we don't know how it's

going to move forward. At the Estrella Bar,

they are just as cautious as they were

nine months ago. We are still sad and we still don't

know where we are going. Basically, the sentiment

is like that. The people don't know what's

going to happen in the future. So, here in Lambeth,

where so many people voted to stay in the EU,

Brexit remains a worry. The differing views there

from two areas in London. Well, as the UK enters

unchartered territory with the Brexit negotiatons,

the one thing we do know is that businesses don't

like uncertaintly. So, what impact could that have

on companies here in the capital? Let's cross to Asad,

who's got a great view of the city. Back on the 24th of June last year,

I was there in the City of London gauging opinion and reaction to the

result of the EU referendum. Overwhelmingly, people were

concerned and there was some fear about what was heading that way in

the coming years. Nine months on, well, so the predictions on that way

that there would be a mass exodus of businesses and jobs hasn't quite

materialised. Does that mean the City of London is warming to the

idea of Brexit or is it still anxious and concerned about the UK

going it alone? The ancient body that run the City of London has a

motto. It translates as Lord guide us. There is at least a little

comfort for those worrying about Brexit. These were the headlines

today after last June's referendum, Winnie vote seem to catch the city

on the hop. This is the aftermath of the June Brexit full. Since then,

the pound has stabilised, but concerns with some in the city

haven't. Worries about London losing businesses and jobs to other cities

persist. This market watcher believes the city will be able to

cope. The skill of the changes implemented over the next few years

are going to be gradual, as opposed to be systemic shock we got into the

minute. Some city firms have already said they may move some stuff out of

London to other European cities. HSBC have confirmed it 1000 jobs,

company-mac have confirmed for theirs and jobs and UBS up to 1500

jobs. Morgan Stanley up to 1000. He admits further jobs could go, but

how many? 2000, if we kept the existing level of access to the EU.

Up to 75,000 if we didn't and that's a pretty hefty range. It further

indicates that the nature of Brexit is rather more important jobs than

Brexit itself. It may mean that the UK have to look to other markets in

the future, but London has faced plenty of challenges in the past. It

has eight global reputation and pool and has proved resilient in the

past. The rest of Europe has been eyeing our financial services

enviously. They are going to try and tidy at ways in which they may take

advantage of that. In my judgment, I think there will be a friendly small

slice. I think London will be quite resilient, but that is going to be

an important feature of these negotiations. The truth is that

those working in the city, like the rest of us, don't know the sure what

will happen. The full impact of Brexit won't be known for years.

That's the view from the city, but what about small and medium-sized

businesses? There are around 1 million in London and the employee

around about a half of all working Londoners. It's really important for

them to have access to an EU market. It's very important for them to have

access to foreign workers and they don't have the cushion of millions

even billions of pounds of some of the businesses and banks have over

there to get them through a turbulent but difficult few years.

How are they feeling today? The day that Article 50 has been triggered.

Sarah Harris has been finding out. Three men, all born in different

European countries, who set up businesses on the same industrial

estate in south-east London. When it comes to their

views on Article 50 being triggered, they are going

very different ways. He may have been born

in Cyprus, but John considers He sells his products

all over the world and says he was offended when leave

voters like him were told they The people that don't understand

the people that footed They are the people that don't

understand what it is to be independent, free, world markets

that are there waiting for you, you, to get out off your backside

and get out and find it. John is actively looking

to sell his inventions all I was very, very alarmed

when they actually kicked out, when he joined the EU,

your Commonwealth, the English The New Zealanders,

we bought butter. So all these friendly,

Common Wealth countries were now In the unit opposite

John's is Stefano, an Italian businessman

who came here in 2006. His company employs staff from

the EU using expertise to develop control panels to be used

in schools and hospitals. I am more worried

for the short-term. I am positive about the long-term,

surely there will the trade agreements that I'm hoping

the Government will establish. They will eventually

benefit the economy and the domino effect will

benefit our business. Next door on Forest Gate industrial

estate is Ingo, born in Germany, years been in London for 20

years with his specialist company Worse case scenario, I won't be able

to keep my European employees. I can't really see that

happening, but that And our product, our main product,

which is made in France. You know, becoming

more expensive and our There is a question over

whether a community of European For now, though,

they will go forward It varied views there, but one issue

uniting most Londoners that don't currently have a British passport is

what's going to happen to them once the EU negotiations come to an end.

Is London, Britain, going to throw them out will they be allowed to

stay your? Let's see. The thing is, it's an issue which has got many

people worried. It's an issue which has got many people talking. It's an

issue which many be bubble to Dominic came to the referendum. We

have been speaking to a family he recently made London their home.

This family are one of thousands of EU nationals who live in London.

The dad moved here from Poland 11 years ago.

His wife Monica joined him a few years later.

They have two children, including two and a half

For the family, London is home and the

triggering of Article 50 has brought some concerns.

We are worried about the possibility of staying here,

about our rights, about being treated equally

to other people with British passports.

I worry about the future of my children.

They will be treated equal in the UK after Brexit.

He wants a soft Brexit, with Britain remaining

in the single market and

But with no guarantees, using the process of seeking permanent

He says the British Government must consider the rights

of EU nationals who have made the UK home when they negotiate

The Government should just consider us as people which are

living here and working for this country, love this country,

So I don't want to feel like a bargaining

I believe that my Prime Minister is the

She needs to represent our interests as well.

He says some of his friends no longer feel

He hopes the terms negotiated by the Government over the coming

months won't force this family from their home.

Tonight, of course, I'm at City Hall, the home of the Mayor of

London. He spent this week travelling around Europe, speaking

to EU leaders from countries that think Britain is about to break away

from them, convincing them that London is the place to do business

with, both now and in the future. Our political editor has been

travelling with him. At the moment, they're coming back from Paris to

London and Tim Donovan asked him how he felt about Article 50 being

delivered and Sadiq Khan said he was heartbroken.

The British public have voted to leave the EU.

My job as the mayor is to work closely with the Government where I

can, constructively, to make sure we get a good Brexit deal.

But if it's the case, I think they are not

acting in London's best interests, then I will try to speak out.

But how confident can Londoners be that you are going to do the best

by them, given that everybody knows you're

not very keen on this and you

Well, I've spent the last few months working closely with

the Government, meeting regularly with David Davis, who is the Brexit

secretary, but also other senior members

constructive way to make sure they understand

what London's needs are

and to give the Government credit, they recognise the Government's and

the country's success is contingent on London's success.

We start with good-faith in relation to my

Just like we hope the Government and the EU

negotiators are acting in

This key issue of immigration, what does a good deal

now look like in terms of immigration from London?

One of the things I've been stressing to be

Government is, look, London is not the same as the country.

I accept certain parts of the country voted

to leave the EU because of anxieties around immigration.

Whether or not they needed is different.

I understand certain parts of the country don't want it.

You say you want it, we've been getting 30,000 odd

east Europeans in every year over the last ten years, do you want to

I want to make sure we can meet the needs of London.

That means, obviously, skilling up Londoners to

have the skills for the jobs that we treat

in construction or tech or

finance or services, but also recognising that one

of the reasons that we are one of the greatest cities in the

world is our ability to attract talent.

But those industries are all saying they want more people, so are

you happy for that number to go up above 30,000 a year that are coming

I will give you one simple example...

We have roughly speaking 300,000 construction workers in London.

Of those half, between ten and 20% are

Even if we were to skill up our youngsters to have the skills in

construction, we can't fill those vacancies.

So you are happy, you are happy for the immigration level in

London to go up each year from now on?

We've got to have a flexible immigration system that

Not just in construction, but in tech,

culture, finance and other sectors as well.

Do you understand that people will have less confidence on

whether you're going to, you know, provide a decent deal if you want

whether you're going to, you know, provide a decent deal if you won't

say whether you won't more or less immigration?

The voted to remain in the EU, because

they recognise the contribution talent makes to our city.

We have 1 million Londoners, for example,

who are EU citizens, contributing hugely to our economy.

What's important is business leaders have

the certainty for their businesses but I'm talking about.

In the last 48 hours, you had a chance to talk

to various people, Brussels and Paris, what is your best hope,

what's your worst fear, in a nutshell about the future?

Well, my concern about the European Union was

their desire to punish us, to deter others from seeking to leave the EU.

It is quite clear to me, having spoken to and

met with presidents in

the EU commission, their negotiators, members

of the European Parliament, there is no desire to

The point they, make which is not unreasonable is, how can you

expect us to have better terms with you outside the European Union

That is a reality we have to recognise is coming.

I am hoping, that just like the EU is negotiating in good faith,

the UK Government will negotiate in good faith

Sadiq Khan speaking to Tim Donovan there. The formal process of

breaking from the EU has now begun. We still see it is still very much

dividing Londoners as to whether it is the right or wrong thing to do. I

spoke to a senior city banker who said, we know today was coming, just

be to make the most of it. He said, if anyone can make the most of it,

London can. From City Hall, many thanks.

And a man has died after being attacked by his own dog.

A TV crew making a documentary was present and called an ambulance.

It happened in Wood Green in North London.

They are the UK's third favourite dog, according to BBC News research.

But last Monday, in one of the flats behind me,

attacked and killed by his Staffordshire bull terrier major

Neighbours reported hearing screams as the attack took place.

The Met police say the dog was contained by

It remains in secure kennels, but the dog is a

Staffordshire bull terrier, a breed not prohibited under the Dangerous

It subsequently emerged that a BBC documentary team was with

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: A crew making a BBC

documentary were present, but not filming at the time of the incident

Given the ongoing enquiries, it would not be

On the day that hundreds of people gathered on Westminster Bridge

to remember the victims of last week's attack, the Met's acting

commissioner cautioned against rushing to change

He said more security checks could create more queues

at Parliament and could increase the risk to the public.

Here's our Home Affairs Correspondent, Nick Beake.

A show of solidarity for the victims of the Westminster attack.

Solidarity with the grieving families.

Solidarity with the police, who lost one of their own.

I am sure PC Palmer's family would be

overwhelmed by this, as they have been through the support that has

A family whose members are on the front line, protecting high

The attack here a week ago has raised questions about

just how Parliament should be protected.

But today, the acting commissioner warned against rushing

If you stack people outside behind a line of

security, sadly, you would literally make another line of people

Or do you create a crowd by doing that.

So, all of those things have to be thought

Two reviews of security at Parliament are now underway.

Scotland Yard also revealed today that after Halid Massoud's attack,

there was a slight rise in Islamophobic incidents.

But in much smaller rise than some feared.

I was very worried that there may be a backlash.

So we put a number of plans in place and idols

want to pay tribute to loss of communities, community leaders,

Today was another demonstration of London standing tall.

A symbolic gesture, bridging not just the Thames, but

different backgrounds, ages and faiths.

You were in Westminster as a minute's silence

was held on the bridge to remember the victims.

Yes, it was pretty authentic and quite a reflective mood there.

Exactly one week on from the moment that that dreadful attack took

place. There were no speeches. You could just look at people's faces

did all the talking you needed. Talking of words, we had a statement

released in the last half an hour of the families. Let me read it to you.

Our beloveds., caring, loving sister, amazing wife, irreplaceable

and, thoughtful and supportive friend and the best and coolest of

mummies, you were ripped away from my life in the cruellest and most

cowardly of ways. We now pray that you guide and detect not only us,

but all of London from further evil. You will always be remembered as a

guardian angel, he never shied away from facing up to police. There are

no words to begin to describe the clashing pain and eternal void left

in our hearts. That is from her family this evening. Today, what we

saw at Westminster Bridge, it was all about bringing people together.

As we found, there were a lot of people from different backgrounds,

Obviously, we felt aggrieved as well.

And particularly because people misuse the name of our

The Koran's message is of peace and tolerance.

The Koran is categorical in stating that

if you kill one innocent person, it's like killing

We are all here together representing different ethnicities,

And it is really important, because this is

Violence has no place in religion and I just

want to give a message to

him - this is not in the name of God.

I will support all the people staying together.

Touching words there, as were the tribute from Aisha's family. It has

been a tough and poignant week in the capital. Absolutely. Today, the

Met police said 3500 people were witnesses last week. That gives you

an indication of the scale of what happened. Many people chose to

return to Westminster Bridge today and of course, it struck the earlier

letter is a place where we saw the worst of humanity with that awful

rampage, but also the best of humanity. You had police officers

running across to help out, medics from the nearby hospital,

people desperately trying to save lives. We have seen a week since

then were London Schiphol and are trying to stand together. Our

thoughts are with the families affected. Thank you, Nick. Turning

to something different now. Now, a little bird tells me

the weather is improving tomorrow. OK, it was Phil Avery and he's

got all the details. That makes it sound like you

shouldn't believe he worked out so. That's not the case. I'm glad

somebody is listening, because I felt strange this morning as I made

the journey here. The skies were leading. I was the only person in

shirt sleeves. Everyone was dressed as though it was winter. Most people

seem to have two or three layers on. That's about as bright as I could

fine it in our weather Watchers pictures. We are better placed than

some, because out towards the north and west, there was an awful lot

more in the way of cloud. It's a piece of rain. I am not saying were

going to avoid any of that through the rest of the evening and

overnight, in fact, it may well be that we will see a little bit of

thickening cloud just bring in bits and pieces of rain across us. Not

amounting to much at all, but with all that cloud around and the

continuation of this southerly breeze, it will not be a cold night,

by any means at all. We're looking at around about ten or 11. That is

is a figure we should be seeing as the daytime maximum. Wet a moment,

because once we get rid of the cloud, maybe the last of the

overnight rain. Yes, things to improve quite markedly. Look at

that. I haven't got the figure is the wrong way round, yes, it could

well be 21, possibly even 22 degrees in the heart of London tomorrow.

Definitely shirtsleeves, maybe even shirtsleeves. I've gone completely

mad. That could well be the case. If he had plans for tomorrow evening,

it would be a good one for a barbecue. A bit of rain for a time

as a weak weather front flips its way across us for Friday. The air is

coming in from the side. At this time of year, that should be much

closer to around 17 or 18 degrees or so. He we go, for the weekend. A

showery day on Saturday, but if he had plans for the weekend and you

want some dry weather, then Sunday is the day for you. Thanks very

much, Phil. That's all from us. And that's all from us

on an historic day, when the formal process for the UK's

departure from the The Prime Minister is being

interviewed by Andrew Neil From me and the team here,

thanks for watching, I expect you'll want to become

a schoolmaster? That's what most of the gentlemen

does that get sent down for indecent behaviour.

Evelyn Waugh's classic novel. Have you ever been in love,

Mr Pennyfeather? No, not yet. The fire escape is very dangerous

and never to be used, MasterChef is back, to find the

country's best home chef. The MasterChef kitchen is alive once

more. Come on, let's go!