The head of the global economic forum OECD warned Britain that leaving the European Union would be tantamount to taxing its citizens - another in a growing cavalcade of cautionary advice ahead of a June 23 referendum on membership in the 28-nation bloc.

The warning by Angel Gurria, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, came just days after expressions of concern by US President Barack Obama, the UK Treasury and the International Monetary Fund.

He described the notion that Britain might gain a better trade deal outside the union as somewhat fanciful.

Gurria's assessment follows that made by the UK Treasury last week, which determined that leaving the European Union would cost Britain the equivalent of 6,100 US dollars per household.

The estimate was based on an analysis of the long-term costs and benefits of EU membership and its alternatives.

The ever-more dire OECD judgment came the same day that authorities reported Britain's economy slowed in the first three months of the year amid concerns about the global economy as well as the vote on EU membership.

The UK economy grew by a quarter-on-quarter rate of 0.4 percent in January-March, down from 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.

Services, which comprise 78 percent of the British economy, continued to grow, expanding by 0.6 percent.

But other sectors declined, including construction, mining and manufacturing.

The head of the global economic forum OECD warned Britain that leaving the European Union would be tantamount to taxing its citizens - another in a growing cavalcade of cautionary advice ahead of a June 23 referendum on membership in the 28-nation bloc.

The warning by Angel Gurria, the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, came just days after expressions of concern by US President Barack Obama, the UK Treasury and the International Monetary Fund.

He described the notion that Britain might gain a better trade deal outside the union as somewhat fanciful.

Gurria's assessment follows that made by the UK Treasury last week, which determined that leaving the European Union would cost Britain the equivalent of 6,100 US dollars per household.

The estimate was based on an analysis of the long-term costs and benefits of EU membership and its alternatives.

The ever-more dire OECD judgment came the same day that authorities reported Britain's economy slowed in the first three months of the year amid concerns about the global economy as well as the vote on EU membership.

The UK economy grew by a quarter-on-quarter rate of 0.4 percent in January-March, down from 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday.

Services, which comprise 78 percent of the British economy, continued to grow, expanding by 0.6 percent.

But other sectors declined, including construction, mining and manufacturing.

London - 27 April 2016

1. Wide of Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) speaking on stage at the Old Theatre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

2. Man taking photos

3. Close of audience

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD:

"Brexit would, rather like a tax, hit the wellbeing and the pockets of UK citizens. Unlike most taxes, however, this one will not finance the provision of public services or close the fiscal gap. The 'Brexit tax' would be a pure deadweight loss - a cost incurred with no economic benefit. And this tax would not be a one-off levy. Britons would be paying it for many years."

5. Cutaway of audience

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD:

"We estimate that in a Brexit scenario, GDP per household in 2030 would be lower than the baseline, that means staying, by at least 3,200 pounds and up to 5,000 pounds in the most pessimistic case."

7. Various of audience

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD:

"While no one knows precisely what the costs would be, what is striking about our estimates and those produced by the other institutions, is that all the numbers under a Brexit case are negative. The best outcome under Brexit is still worse than remaining. And the worst outcomes are very bad indeed. Very expensive. The Brexit tax just gets bigger."

9. Wide of stage

10. Cutaway of economist Professor Lord Stern listening on stage

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, OECD:

"Our conclusion is unequivocal. The UK is much stronger as a part of Europe and Europe is much stronger with the UK as a driving force. There is no upside for the UK in Brexit. Only costs that can be avoided and advantages to be seized by remaining in Europe. No one should have to pay the Brexit tax."

12. Close of audience

13. Wide of stage

The European Union's Brexit negotiator says all parties need to prepare for "no deal scenario" on Brexit.

Speaking 48 hours before a crucial EU summit in Brussels on Tuesday, Michel Barnier told reporters that "on the EU side we are prepared."

He said the European Parliament and the Council have approved "nearly all the foreseen contingency measures," adding that they were down adopting the last two measures - short term visas and the EU budget for 2019.

As it stands, UK Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan has been derailed in Parliament.

Now she is at the mercy of an exasperated European Union.

May was preparing Tuesday to ask the EU for a delay of at least several months to Brexit after the speaker of the House of Commons ruled that she can't keep asking lawmakers to vote on the same divorce deal that they have already rejected twice.

However Barnier said the bloc wouldn't automatically grant the request, and that it would be up to the 27 leaders to "assess the reason and the usefulness for an extension."

"What would be the purpose and the outcome of an extension?" Barnier said.

May has warned opponents that a failure to approve her agreement would mean a long, and possibly indefinite, delay to Britain's departure from the EU.

Brussels, Belgium - 19 March 2019

1. Wide of Michel Barnier, EU chief Brexit negotiator

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Barnier, EU chief Brexit negotiator:

"Ladies and gentlemen, last week the House of Commons voted against the withdrawal agreement and against a no deal scenario. But voting against no deal does not prevent it from happening. Everyone should now finalise all preparations for a no deal scenario. On the EU side we are prepared. The European Parliament and the Council have now approved nearly all the foreseen contingency measures and are working at the two last measures that still need to be adopted, namely on short term visas and the EU budget for 2019."

3. Journalists

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Barnier, EU chief Brexit negotiator:

"The House of Commons also voted in favour of an extension of Article 50 period. If Prime Minister (Theresa) May requests such an extension before the European Council on Thursday it will be for the 27 leaders to assess the reason and the usefulness for an extension. EU leaders will need a concrete plan for the UK in order to be able to make an informed decision."

5. Wide of news conference

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michel Barnier, EU chief Brexit negotiator:

"The key questions will be: does an extension increase the chances for the ratification of the withdrawal agreement? Will the UK request an extension because it wants a bit more time to rework the political declaration? Ladies and gentlemen I recall that this political declaration which sets out the framework of our future relation could be made more ambitious in the coming days if a majority in the House of Commons so wishes. If not, what would be the purpose and the outcome of an extension? And how can we ensure that at the end of a possible extension we are not back in the same situation as today? In any case the European Council will need to assess what is in the best interest of the EU: extending uncertainty without a clear plan would add to the economic cost for our businesses but could also incur a political cost for the EU. It is for the British government and parliament to decide very quickly what the UK wants to do next"

7. Barnier leaving

8. Exterior of European Council building

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4045006

LEAD IN:

Scientists controlling EU projects worth millions of dollars say the British exit from Europe risks the future of medical research, and may endanger future treatments for cancer and children.

Research projects at Kings and University Colleges in London rely on the collaboration of hundreds of doctors and multidisciplinary scientists across Europe - which could come under threat because of Brexit.

STORY-LINE:

Precision medicine is changing the future for cancer patients.

This lab at University College London has devised a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques of imaging tumours.

Professor Xavier Golay's team has discovered a way to make a tumour light up with a simple sugar solution.

Because the solution is not radioactive is doesn't carry the same side effects which make patients sick.

It means radiodlogists can see tumours in more detail and check them more frequently.

That in turn allows doctors to personalise drug treatments for the patient.

They can respond more quickly, seeing what works and what doesn't and that speed could save more lives.

The team here is about to begin a trial on the new imaging technique thanks to a six and a half million Euro grant from the European Union.

The whole university has 103-million Euros to fund medical and science projects over the next few years.

All currently funded projects will be allowed to complete - but it's what happens next that's vexing doctors and scientist who argue breakthroughs don't come to order at the end of one trial.

Golay says for the vast majority of scientists in Britain the result of the recent EU referendum - for the UK to exit - was a shock.

Golay says it's not just the money which will risk future projects like this.

His team - like most university and hospital research groups - comes from all over the European Union.

Collaboration on this imaging project is with other specialist scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany as well as other units including France and Italy.

He's already concerned about the future.

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

At preschool age Rens Van Velzen's parents realised he was struggling with dyslexia, but when he went to school it became clear he was autistic.

Van Velzen, now a highly intelligent fifteen year old, is part of Europe's largest study into mental health disorder.

Here researchers like Hannah Haywood combine genetics, neuroimaging, cognitive testing and clinical assessments to try to discover what are the causes.

The research project called EU Aims is carried out here at Kings College London in collaboration with scientists in other centres of Europe.

Costing 32 million Euros it's also the biggest grant given to any one project.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental problem which affects the way people interact with the world around them.

People are affected differently and scientists want to understand why those differences occur.

Haywood says: "One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition. So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

The goal is to identify biomarkers and develop drug treatments.

It's a long term study, but how long can it continue here and what happens to the research after the current funding ends in 2020?

Rens Van Velzen is already preparing for A-levels in maths, chemistry and physics.

But his autism means life outside the classroom is not always straightforward.

He explains: "Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

Haywood, like others on the team, is convinced the project must be protected and fears Britain leaving the EU will end large scale endeavours like this which progress more steadily because of the wide collaboration among doctors and scientists.

She says: "Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

Van Velzen has been part of the study since it started.

Now he's hoping for a career in astrophysics.

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe," says Van Velzen.

After completing puzzles in record time he goes on for tests in the eye tracking unit.

Studies have used eye-tracing technology to see how long autistic children spend looking at the social and non-social features in a series of images on pictures and videos like these.

Ren's mother Jose Van Velzen is a cognitive neuroscientist herself although she does not work on this project.

While she is confident about her son's academic success she worries about how he will cope with work and whether he will find happiness in personal relationships.

She says: "It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

According to scientists here this project is the first of it kind in the world developing the infrastructure which will underpin new treatments for autism.

There are hundreds of scientists involved in British research projects which are funded by the EU.

The lead scientist on the autism project at Kings is Professor Declan Murphy - and he too is concerned about what Brexit will mean.

He says:"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For Example my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

The EU's Horizon 2020 budget is 80-billion Euro which funds medicine and science research across Europe.

Britain's split from the EU will leave a funding gap as well as a brain drain according to Murphy and he argues it will be the children with autism who will lose out.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4045006

LEAD IN:

Scientists controlling EU projects worth millions of dollars say the British exit from Europe risks the future of medical research, and may endanger future treatments for cancer and children.

Research projects at Kings and University Colleges in London rely on the collaboration of hundreds of doctors and multidisciplinary scientists across Europe - which could come under threat because of Brexit.

STORY-LINE:

Precision medicine is changing the future for cancer patients.

This lab at University College London has devised a safer and simpler alternative to standard radioactive techniques of imaging tumours.

Professor Xavier Golay's team has discovered a way to make a tumour light up with a simple sugar solution.

Because the solution is not radioactive is doesn't carry the same side effects which make patients sick.

It means radiodlogists can see tumours in more detail and check them more frequently.

That in turn allows doctors to personalise drug treatments for the patient.

They can respond more quickly, seeing what works and what doesn't and that speed could save more lives.

The team here is about to begin a trial on the new imaging technique thanks to a six and a half million Euro grant from the European Union.

The whole university has 103-million Euros to fund medical and science projects over the next few years.

All currently funded projects will be allowed to complete - but it's what happens next that's vexing doctors and scientist who argue breakthroughs don't come to order at the end of one trial.

Golay says for the vast majority of scientists in Britain the result of the recent EU referendum - for the UK to exit - was a shock.

Golay says it's not just the money which will risk future projects like this.

His team - like most university and hospital research groups - comes from all over the European Union.

Collaboration on this imaging project is with other specialist scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Germany as well as other units including France and Italy.

He's already concerned about the future.

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

At preschool age Rens Van Velzen's parents realised he was struggling with dyslexia, but when he went to school it became clear he was autistic.

Van Velzen, now a highly intelligent fifteen year old, is part of Europe's largest study into mental health disorder.

Here researchers like Hannah Haywood combine genetics, neuroimaging, cognitive testing and clinical assessments to try to discover what are the causes.

The research project called EU Aims is carried out here at Kings College London in collaboration with scientists in other centres of Europe.

Costing 32 million Euros it's also the biggest grant given to any one project.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental problem which affects the way people interact with the world around them.

People are affected differently and scientists want to understand why those differences occur.

Haywood says: "One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition. So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

The goal is to identify biomarkers and develop drug treatments.

It's a long term study, but how long can it continue here and what happens to the research after the current funding ends in 2020?

Rens Van Velzen is already preparing for A-levels in maths, chemistry and physics.

But his autism means life outside the classroom is not always straightforward.

He explains: "Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

Haywood, like others on the team, is convinced the project must be protected and fears Britain leaving the EU will end large scale endeavours like this which progress more steadily because of the wide collaboration among doctors and scientists.

She says: "Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

Van Velzen has been part of the study since it started.

Now he's hoping for a career in astrophysics.

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe," says Van Velzen.

After completing puzzles in record time he goes on for tests in the eye tracking unit.

Studies have used eye-tracing technology to see how long autistic children spend looking at the social and non-social features in a series of images on pictures and videos like these.

Ren's mother Jose Van Velzen is a cognitive neuroscientist herself although she does not work on this project.

While she is confident about her son's academic success she worries about how he will cope with work and whether he will find happiness in personal relationships.

She says: "It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

According to scientists here this project is the first of it kind in the world developing the infrastructure which will underpin new treatments for autism.

There are hundreds of scientists involved in British research projects which are funded by the EU.

The lead scientist on the autism project at Kings is Professor Declan Murphy - and he too is concerned about what Brexit will mean.

He says:"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For Example my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

The EU's Horizon 2020 budget is 80-billion Euro which funds medicine and science research across Europe.

Britain's split from the EU will leave a funding gap as well as a brain drain according to Murphy and he argues it will be the children with autism who will lose out.

London, UK - 7 July 2016

1. Various CT scans showing liver cancer pre and post therapy to illustrate the relationship between tumours and glucose

2. Mid of Professor Xavier Golay looking at scans in his MRI lab at the UCL Institute of Neurology

3. Various of Golay and researcher looking at scans

4. Close of tumour in rat highlighted by non radioactive glucose

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Xavier Golay, professor of neurophysics, UCL Institute of Neurology

"I've heard of at least two, three very senior people who've said okay right, now I'm taking all my grant with me and I'm going back to Germany, Switzerland, France because actually, in that way, they know they'll still have access and it's not only access to funding because the funding is great in this country, it is really good. It's really (about) access to funding and this opportunity to collaborate."

6. Close of autistic teenager Rens Van Velzen answering questions testing his cognitive and executive function at Kings College London

7. Close of psychologist Hannah Hayward asking questions

8. Mid of Velzen ticking off words he understands

9. Various of Velzen watching next task being set up

10. Mid of Velzen touching laptop screen to pick out the emotion displayed on the photo on the monitor

11. Close of Velzen touching the word "Cautious"

12. Close of touch screen

13. Mid of Velzen watching screen observed by Hayward

14. Close of Velzen

15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hannah Hayward psychologist, EU Aims (autism research project) Kings College London

"One can go on to a life where they never speak, they are highly affected and quite disabled. Another person can go on (to be) fully verbal and become a professor at Cambridge (University) and someone else can go on and live a full life with marriage and children, why does that happen? Why does it affect people so differently when it's effectively the same condition? So we're trying to answer those questions, we're trying to understand why it affects different people in different ways and I think the thing that really attracted me to the project is because, we're trying to highlight the great skills and strengths in this group as well as the things that people find difficult."

16. Close of Hayward starting stopwatch

17. Close of cube pattern Velzen has to recreate

18. Close tilt down of Hayward observing

19. Close of Velzen

20. Close pan from pattern and blocks being constructed by Velzen

21. Mid of Velzen completing puzzle watched by Hayward

22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rens Van Velzen, teenager in Kings College autisim research group

"Quite often when talking peer to peer, the other person can get frustrated with how I respond because they're (I'm) not responding the way that they're expecting me to respond as the people usually do. So quite often I don't pick up someone's annoyed, or that sort of thing. It's very hard to explain because I haven't had the experience of not having autism."

23. Various of Van Velzen completing other puzzles with black and yellow blocks

24. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hannah Hayward psychologist, EU Aims (autism research project) Kings College London

"Quite often there can be a lot of negativity around being diagnosed and living with the condition and in my work, I've worked with autism for twelve years, I have met some of the most skilled and highly intelligent people."

25. Various of Hayward attaching EEG wires to Van Velzen before eye tracking tests

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rens Van Velzen, teenager in Kings College autisim research group

"I think I'll work on either discovering more about our universe and our place in it, or working on ways to get to other parts of the universe."

27. Mid of monitor displaying photographs of facial expressions with options to pick the right description

28. Close of Van Velsen tapping keyboard

29. Mid of test continuing on monitor

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jose Van Velzen, Rens' mother (who is also a cognitive neuroscientist)

"It is sometimes challenging for Rens to keep track of what the person he's talking to is feeling and how he's being perceived. He's very much driven by telling things as they are, or how he sees them and of course in normal interaction, in normal relationships, you constantly monitor what the other person is thinking. That's definitely very challenging for him, and he is aware that this is one of his weaknesses he needs to work on he cannot always deal with it at that particular time and I think that is something in general that will make relationships and work environments quite a challenging place for him."

31. Mid rear view of Rens Van Velzen being shown photos in the eye tracking suite

32. Various of monitor

33. Various of Hayward carrying out tracking test

34. Hayward's monitor showing Rens Van Velzen responding to photographs

35. Mid rear view of Van Velzen watching animated patterns appear on screen

36. Various of Professor Declan Murphy lead scientist on the EU Aims study on autism

37. SOUNDBITE: (English) Professor Declan Murphy lead scientist, EU Aims study on autism, Kings College London

"It's virtually impossible for one country alone to recruit the amount of patients that you really need for a large scale, modern day trial, or study that's going to lead to reliable results. We increasingly recognise that big questions need big populations to come up with the right answers, and we simply cannot deliver the amount of patients for the amount of science from one centre from one country. For example, my work needs approximately a thousand individuals who are affected by autism. You couldn't recruit that from one centre, or from one country within a time frame that is meaningful, but we can do that by going to mulitple centres across Europe, working together and learning from eachother."

38. Mid rear view of Rens Van Velzen responding to picture during eyetracking test

39. Close of EEG reading on monitor

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will offer the European Union a proposed Brexit deal on Wednesday that represents a compromise for both sides, as he urged the bloc to meet Britain halfway and allow for the country's orderly departure after years of wrangling.

Johnson's speech to Conservative Party members at their annual conference had been billed by his office as a take-it-or-leave-it "final offer" to the EU.

Yet as delivered, it was more like a plea to the bloc, and to Britons, to end more than three years of acrimonious wrangling over the terms of the UK's exit from the EU.

"Let's get Brexit done," was the repeated refrain to delegates at the conference in Manchester, northwest England.

Johnson, who has had a tumultuous 70 days in office, delivered a speech that was almost Boris-by numbers, peppered with puns, grand claims about Britain's greatness and jokes at the expense of his opponents - chiefly left-wing Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, whom he said would "foul up the economy".

It was also, pointedly, a pre-election speech, with a grab-bag of promises: more money for hospitals and police, unspecified tax cuts, greener buses and faster internet access.

UK POOL

Manchester - 2 October 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister: ++STARTS ON WIDE OF JOHNSON ON STAGE, PARTLY OVERLAID WITH VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE++

"A country that leads the way with clean green technology in reducing the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. A country that is happy and confident about its future, that is the vision for the country we love. And when the opposition finally screw their courage to the sticking point and agree to have an election, when the chlorinated chickens finally waddle from the hen coop where they are hiding, that is the vision for the country that we will put to the British people. And the choice is clear. We put up wages with the biggest expansion of a living wage for a generation. (UK opposition leader, Jeremy) Corbyn would put up taxes for everyone. We back our superb armed forces around the world and look after our veterans. Corbyn has said he wants the armed forces disbanded. We want an Australian-style points-based system for immigration, Corbyn has said he doesn't even believe in immigration controls. If Jeremy Corbyn were allowed into Downing Street he would whack up your taxes, he would foul up the economy, he would rip up the alliance between Britain and the United States and he would break up the United Kingdom. We cannot allow it to happen."

2. Various of audience applauding

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister:

"But it is worse than that because it's become absolutely clear that he's now determined to frustrate Brexit. What do we want and need? Do we want more dither and delay? Do we want to spend another billion pounds a month on EU membership when that could be going on the NHS? No. Let's get Brexit done. Let's finally believe in ourselves and what we can do. This country has long been a pioneer. We inaugurated the steam age here in Manchester, we inaugurated the atomic age, the age of the genome, we led the way in parliamentary democracy, in female emancipation. And when the whole world had succumbed to a different economic fashion, this country and this party under a female prime minister pioneered ideas of free markets and privatization that spread across the planet."

4. Mid of leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg applauding

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister: ++STARTS ON WIDE OF JOHNSON ON STAGE, PARTLY OVERLAID WITH MID OF AUDIENCE APPLAUDING++

"Every one of those ideas, every one of those ideas was controversial, every one of them was difficult. But we always had the courage as a country to be original, to do things differently. And now we are about to take another giant step to do something no one thought we could do to reboot our politics, to relaunch ourselves into the world, and to dedicate ourselves again to the simple proposition that we are here to serve the democratic will of the British people. If we do that with optimism and confidence then we all tell you we will not go wrong. So let's get on with sensible, moderate one-nation but tax-cutting Conservative government and figuratively if not literally, let us send Jeremy Corbyn into orbit where he belongs. Conference, let's get Brexit done and let's bring this country together. Thank you very much."

6. Various of Johnson walking off stage and greeting colleagues

7. Johnson greeting his partner Carrie Symonds and his father Stanley Johnson

8. Various of Johnson and Symonds leaving

Protesters demanded "Brexit now" outside parliament in London on Wednesday, as the Treasury chief announced the first budget update since the referendum, saying Britain will have less money, more debt and a slower economy in coming years.

Philip Hammond delivered the economic statement to a less-boisterous-than-usual House of Commons as the country faces unease over the future and prepares to lock horns with the European Union next year on its exit from the bloc.

Though Hammond could take some solace in the resilience of the British economy in the months following the seismic June 23 referendum, the future is uncertain.

He said his goal was to get the economy "match fit" for the next chapter.

Meanwhile Brexit supporters said they felt that their elected representatives did not act fast enough to leave the European Union in the wake of the referendum.

London - 23 November 2016

1. Pro-Brexit supporters at rally, UPSOUND of chanting (English) "What do we want? Brexit. When do we want it? Now."

2. Various of pro-Brexit demonstrators

3. Various exteriors of UK Parliament

4. Carl Emmerson, deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, outside Parliament

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Emmerson, Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) deputy director:

"A lot of it is attributed to the fact that the UK has decided to vote to leave the European Union. There's increased uncertainty in the economy. That is pushing down growth. There's higher inflation, which is pushing down consumer spending. So that's expected to bear heavily on the economy over the next few years, which in turn will hit on tax revenues and push the government finances further into the red."

6. Cutaway of Emmerson

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl Emmerson, Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) deputy director:

"What the (UK's) Chancellor (Philip Hammond) has chosen to do is to push back his fiscal rules, loosen those fiscal targets, so he's got more headroom. He's chosen not to use that headroom all up with giveaways today. So what that means if things go worse, wrong over the next few years, if things deteriorate further relative to what the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) expects, he's got headroom. Or if he wants to announce some giveaways to try and help the economy for example in the March budget or in next year's Autumn statement he can do that. So he's left himself some headroom by relaxing those fiscal targets."

8. Brexit supporters at rally

9. Demonstrator holding sign (English) reading: "It's time to leave.eu"

10. Brexit supporter holding sign (English) reading: "We want our country back", UPSOUND (English) "What do we want? Brexit. When do we want it? Now."

11. Woman draped in British flag at protest

12. Kim Rose, UKIP candidate for Southampton and organiser of rally, leading chant, UPSOUND (English): "(UK Prime Minister) Theresa May - don't delay"

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Kim Rose, UKIP candidate for Southampton and organiser of rally:

"We've organised this because it's been five months since we had our referendum, five months for people to decide what we want. Parliament feel that the people are stupid and that they know different when quite frankly it was the people that actually died in the Battle of the Somme and it was the people who stood on the beaches of Dunkirk. It was the people who fought the Battle of Britain, and now today it is the people that are saying: 'we want what we voted for'."

14. Brexit supporter Tom Twigger at rally

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Twigger, Brexit supporter:

"Millions of pounds they've robbed from the British people, millions of pounds. And now they're trying to rob the nation of it's nationhood, it's sovereignty and put us into a world populous with no democracy."

16. Various of rally

The head of Gibraltar’s government said on Friday the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union “will forever live in history as a very sad day.”

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabien Picardo said the speck of British territory on Spain's southern tip is departing the EU on Friday night “with a heavy heart, with sadness.”

In the U.K.’s 2016 Brexit referendum, 96% of voters in Gibraltar supported remaining in the EU.

Gibraltar’s economy relies heavily on connections to the EU and Spain.

About 15,000 people live in Spain and work in Gibraltar, most of them EU nationals. They make up about half of Gibraltar’s labor force.

A lot is also at stake for Spain, which exported 1.5 billion euros of goods to Gibraltar in 2018.

Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in 1713 but Spain still claims sovereignty over it.

Madrid considers the 30,000-strong territory a tax haven, where corporation tax is less than half of that of Spain.

More than two dozen international online gambling companies operate out of Gibraltar, lured by its low taxes and unimpeded access to the EU's single market.

The gambling companies account for around 25% of Gibraltar's economy.

Picardo plans to attend a brief midnight ceremony on the border with Spain, when the EU flag will be lowered and the British Commonwealth flag raised.

He said that during the ceremony the EU's anthem -- Beethoven's “Ode to Joy” will be played.

Gibraltar - 31 January 2020

1. Dawn at the Rock of Gibraltar

2. Wide view of Africa from Gibraltar

3. Wide of Gibraltar with Spain in the background

4. Wide of street in Gibraltar as city awakes

5. Border crossing with the Rock behind

6. EU, Gibraltar and UK flags waving in the wind

7. Various of traffic and workers crossing the border

8. Spanish side of the border with workers walking in

9. Spanish flag at customs controlled area

10. EU flag, Union Jack and Gibraltar flag with the Rock in the background

11. Border with the Rock behind

12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Estela Lopez, 36-years-old, working 4 years for a local business in Gibraltar:

"I'm a little bit frightened really, because a lot of people work here every day, because everybody knows than the situation of Gibraltar Bay area is not good."

13. Workers crossing the border

14. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Gabriela (no surname given), 23-year-old Portuguese citizen, working in Gibraltar as a waitress:

"I'm not Spanish, I'm Portuguese. I don't know what kind of agreement will be reached between Portugal and UK, and I don't know if is going to affect me or not, since I'm not Spanish."

15. Close of Maria Gabriela showing her passport

16. Traffic at the border

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Lafferty, 36-year-old structural engineer working in Gibraltar:

"I don't think anything is going to change really in the next year, and then we will see if an agreement can be made over trade in the next year and take it from there."

18. Spanish flag waving with the Rock behind

19. Various of car showroom, cars for sale

20. Various set up shots of Kevin Jones, Chief CEO of Bassadone Automotive Group

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Jones, Chief Executive of Bassadone Automotive Group:

"It is a sad day, but nonetheless in terms of the practicalities of Brexit, Gibraltar has always been outside the customs and tariffs agreement."

22. Cutaway of banner reading (English) "Limited Time Special Offer" at Bassadone Automotive Finance

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Kevin Jones, Chief Executive of Bassadone Automotive Group:

"The best agreement for us is an open border, a free flowing border, where people can come across the border as they have done for the last 30 years freely, at times there will be queues but as long as they are reasonable queues, and the same for customs that you know goods can be cleared into Gibraltar, out of Gibraltar."

24. Jones walking away

25. Various of changing of the Guard

26. Various of Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo at news conference

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"On a day like today, the 31st of January 2020, which for us will forever live in history as a very sad day indeed, it's a pleasure to welcome those who have an interest in the rights of the people in this region and in particular the rights of workers."

28. Picardo with Spanish politician Teresa Rodriguez from Podemos Andalucia

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Fabian Picardo, Chief Minister of Gibraltar:

"We will therefore be lowering the EU flag with a very heavy heart, we will do it with sadness and with respect, and we want to show that we hold out a hand of friendship to the European Union and the people of the European Union by playing loud and clear 'The ode to joy' as the flag of the EU comes down, and then we will raise the flag of the Commonwealth, which is the family in which we will remain."

30. Picardo posing for the photographers

31. Various of Brexit information office

32. Pedestrians on a busy street

33. Various of souvenir shops

34. Pedestrians on a busy street

35. Various of duty free shop

36. Money exchange sign

For many Britons living in towns and villages across Europe, the stroke of midnight Friday will mean losing the right to vote and run for office, with Brexit acting as an electoral guillotine on those privileges.

From being active participants in the communities where they have sunk roots and pay taxes, British expats in France, Germany and elsewhere in the European Union will suddenly find themselves on the outside, with no say.

Andrew Nixey must give up his seat on the elected council in Saint-Martial-sur-Isop, the village in west-central France where he has lived and raised cattle for 20 years.

"The fact that we can't vote is illogical," he said in an interview in the kitchen of his lovingly restored farmhouse. "We pay taxes, why should we not vote?"

Many details of Britain's separation from the EU still must be sorted out, and there won't be a lot of visible changes on Saturday, after the tortuous divorce finally becomes official.

But the loss still will be felt especially hard by Britons who left their island nation long ago to make new lives on the continent.

Already disenfranchised by British electoral law, which prevents expats from voting in the United Kingdom after 15 years overseas, Brexit will for many usher in an uncertain future with no ability to vote anywhere.

The problem could be fixed by becoming citizens of where they've chosen to live - an often drawn-out process.

But some expats don't meet the requirements, some have applied but are still awaiting the paperwork, and some simply don't want to become French, German or whatever.

Others just haven't got around to it, waking up late to the fact that they'll soon have nowhere to vote at all.

The right for all EU nationals to vote and stand in municipal elections where they live, even if they're not citizens of that country, was enshrined in the 1992 Maastricht Treaty that established the EU.  

But rules in Europe are not uniform for non-EU citizens, which is what Britons will become after Friday night.

Some countries allow non-EU citizens to vote in municipal elections.

So even after Brexit, Britons should still have a voice at the local level in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and in two cities of the Slovak Republic.

In Finland, they will need to have been residents for two years, while the residency requirement is five years in the Netherlands.

Britain also has been negotiating directly with other EU nations to extend the ability of British expats to vote and run for office after Brexit.

The British government says it has deals with Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg and is continuing talks with others. It says British expats should also still be able to vote locally in Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta and Slovenia.

But they'll no longer be able to vote or stand locally in France, which has tens of thousands of long-term British residents and many more part-time residents of vacation homes.

The French Interior Ministry says 757 Britons serve on municipal councils, more than any other expat group.

They will keep their seats until municipal elections in March, but they'll not be able to run or vote then if they haven't secured French citizenship.

For Briton Neil Baxter, an elected councilor in the French village of Mortemart, not being able to vote any more is another blow from Brexit.

"We just can't believe it has happened and it's happening and now that you have explained to me that finally we're not going to get a vote anywhere, I'm just gob-smacked," he says.

Nixey, the beef farmer, says his application for French citizenship is stuck somewhere in a Brexit-induced backlog.

He is not optimistic that he'll get it in time to stand again for re-election in Saint-Martial-sur-Isop.

He says that serving on the village council, dealing with the minutiae of local services like trash collection and road repairs, helped integrate him and his wife, Margaret, into the rural community where they raised two children.

He also feels it allowed him to play a bridge-building role between newly arrived Britons and their French neighbours.

About one third of the 140 residents of Saint-Martial and its immediate surroundings are British, many attracted by cheap housing and land.

Nixey worries that communication will suffer if he's not around to translate and help smooth out problems and misunderstandings.  

Saint-Martial Mayor Pierre Bachellerie says excluding the British expats will be "a big loss" for his other and other villages that have been revived by arrivals of British workers and retirees.

"It's sad. For me, it's incoherent and it's stupid, I find, to lose these people from our village electorate.

Because they bring life to our little villages and they pay taxes, like the French," he says.

Mortemart, France - 28 January 2020

1. Neil Baxter, a Briton who is also an elected member of the village council in Mortemart, at front door of his house with his dog

2. Baxter walking to the mayor's office

3. Baxter leaving the mayor's office

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Neil Baxter, British expat and Mortemart village councillor:

"Paperwork has to be done. Madame Gontier, the mayor, didn't speak English at the time, neither did a lot of them. Mortemart is an old village, with an elderly population. Us, we arrive, brighten things up a bit. And she knew that she would need help. So, you know, I gave her a hand with the translation, never thinking she would actually ask me to go on to the local council. And when she did, I thought, 'Oh, bloody hell, yeah. Why not? That will be interesting.' Because I am nosy and you get to learn a lot of things about Mortemart that I would never have known. So I was curious to do it and, at the same time help out the local Brits that are coming to live here."

5. Baxter talking in French about Brexit with the assistant to the mayor

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Neil Baxter, Elected village councillor:

"I think, to be honest, the majority, I have some British patients, we just can't believe it has happened. We just can't believe it has happened, and it's happening, and now that you have explained to me that finally we're not going to get a vote anywhere, I'm just gob-smacked."

Saint-Martial-sur-Isop - 27 January 2020

7. Beef farmer Andrew Nixey, a Briton who is an elected councillor in the village of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop, talking to his wife, Margaret, and leaving his house with their dogs

8. Nixey putting his dogs into the trunk of his car

9. Nixey driving

10. Mid of one of Nixey's dogs in the back of the beef farmer's car

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Nixey, British expat farmer and elected councillor of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop:

"I have a strong love of France. It's my life now. But I remain British. I don't feel French."

12. Nixey speaking French in a phone call outside his farmhouse

13. Nixey having lunch in his farmhouse

14. Close of one of Nixey's dog

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Nixey, British expat farmer and elected councillor of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop:

"It should be a human right, shouldn't it, the right to vote. I don't know. But that's the link for me. It's the loss of voting. We are a big chunk of the population. A third, roughly, of the population in this area is British. The fact that we can't vote is illogical. We pay, we pay taxes, why should we not vote?"

16. Nixey meeting the mayor of the village, Pierre Bachellerie, outside the mayor's office

17. Nixey and Bachellerie entering mayor's office

Saint-Martial-sur-Isop - 28 January 2020

18. Bachellerie doing paperwork in his mayor's office

19. SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre Bachellerie, Mayor of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop:

"All the English people who voted, it was very, very good for us. I don't see why that is being taken from them, because they bring life to the village, with the French. They take part in lots of things. It's fabulous for our little village. It's very much the same story in the 40 villages around here. The loss of the British electorate is a big loss for us."

Saint-Martial-sur-Isop - 27 January 2020

20. Nixey chatting to Bachellerie

Saint-Martial-sur-Isop - 28 January 2020

21. Bachellerie doing paperwork in his mayor's office

22. SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre Bachellerie, Mayor of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop:

"It's sad. For me, it's incoherent and it's stupid, I find, to lose these people from our village electorate. Because they bring life to our little villages and they pay taxes, like the French."

Saint-Martial-sur-Isop - 27 January 2020

23. Bachellerie saying goodbye to Nixey

European Union leaders began arriving for an in-person Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

The leaders are expected to discuss the EU budget, COVID-19, climate change, extremism, relations with Turkey, and Brexit.

After a last-minute dinner between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ended in no agreement, the issue of a Brexit trade deal remains.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said "there shouldn't be any winners or losers" in the negotiations.

"Everybody stands to win if we can get a comprehensive trade deal over the line", he added.

Months of trade talks have failed to bridge the gaps on three issues — fishing rights, fair-competition rules and the governance of future disputes.

While both sides want a deal, they have fundamentally different views of what it entails.

Another item on today's meeting agenda is the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2021-2027 and the recovery fund, totaling €1.8 trillion, which is currently being blocked by Poland and Hungary for its conditionality to the respect for the rule of law.

EU Commissioner for justice Didier Reynders told reporters that the EU should keep "the possibility to use such a mechanism if there are some breaches to the rule of law."

Brussels - 10 December 2020

1. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin arriving

2. Cutaway of camera

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Micheál Martin, Irish Prime Minister:

"Look, the situation is serious, but I think it is in everybody's interest fundamentally that we reach a deal in relation to Brexit. There shouldn't be any winners or losers in these negotiations. Everybody stands to win if we can get a comprehensive trade deal over the line, but it will be very difficult, and as we know from last night's talks, both sides are apart, particularly on the issue of a level-playing field and fisheries. So those are the key situations for us."

4. Cutaway to Renew Europe sign

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner for Justice:

"The main point for the commission is to keep our proposal, adopted by the parliament and the council intact, and to have the possibility to use such a mechanism if there are some breaches to the rule of law."

6. Cutaway exterior of Renew Europe meeting venue

London's mayor said he was "sad" and "heartbroken" as the UK prepared to exit the European Union by the end of the day Friday, but added that Britain's capital would remain an open city even after Brexit becomes official.

"We will carry on as a city being open-minded, out-looking, pluralistic and welcoming to our EU friends," Sadiq Khan said.

Britain's departure is a historic moment, but it only marks the end of the first stage of the Brexit saga.

The UK and the EU have given themselves an 11 month "transition period" in which the UK will continue to follow the bloc's rules, to strike new agreements on trade, security and a host of other areas.

Negotiations are due to start in March. The bloc insists there can be no trade deal unless Britain agrees to a "level playing field" and does not undercut EU regulations.

Khan said he hoped Londoners could persuade the government "to do good deals."

London – 31 January 2020

1. Wide of Tower Bridge

2. Traffic on Tower Bridge

3. London mayor Sadiq Khan being interviewed

4. Mid of bridge

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Khan, London mayor:

"I've got to admit that I'm sad and I'm heartbroken. What I do recognize, though, is that there are Londoners who are EU citizens who make a massive contribution to our city economically, socially, culturally that aren't just our colleagues and our neighbors. They're our friends and members of our family. The key thing, though, is, I'm of the generation who has seen our European neighbors as friends and allies. Previous generations looked upon them with suspicion. And the key thing I'm determined to make sure happens is, going forward, we will carry on as a city being open-minded, out-looking, pluralistic and welcoming to our EU friends."

6. Wide tower of London

7. UK flag

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Khan, London mayor:

"Look, we should be really proud that we as a city voted overwhelmingly to remain. We should be really proud that we are a city that welcomes people who are different. The color of your skin, the color of your flag, the color of your passport has no implication as we welcome you to our city. And the key three words I want to say is 'London is open.' London's open to talent, people, ideas. That isn't going to change as long as I'm the mayor."

9. Various of skyline

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Khan, London mayor:

"The challenge for the government is to make sure we try and do good deals with not just the EU, but other countries around the world as well. And we've got to make sure as Londoners who understand the benefits of internationalism and openness and trade, persuade our government to do good deals. But one of my jobs as the mayor is to continue to make sure that the underlying strengths of our city continue to be there going forward."

11. Various of people around the Tower of London

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sadiq Khan, London mayor, answering question regarding whether London could become a lightly regulated tax haven, a "Singapore on the Thames":

"I can't see that happening. I can't see us being a low regulation, low tax, you know, offshore city or country outside of the EU because frankly speaking, we're a city that welcomes the fact that we've got good employment rights. We welcome the fact that we're a city that regulates properly, and by and large, what's really important is that we realize that our future lies in high-skilled, well-paid jobs. Our future lies in doing trade, not just with the European Union, but other parts of the world as well. It's a fact of life that actually most countries who prosper, prosper by doing trade and forming bonds and allies with their closest neighbors. For us that's the European Union. At the same time, we going to do good trade deals and form friendships with those in the Americas, those in the southern hemisphere, those in the Africas and those in Asia as well."

13. People walking around City Hall

14. Close-up of EU flag

15. Wide of flags

16. Wide exterior of City Hall

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond on Thursday warned that a new OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) report showed that there would be a very significant hit to the UK economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The OBR has said that if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal, the country's economy would suffer a recession and it's national debt would increase, as well as a significant fall of the pound, and a 2 percent fall in DGP by the end of 2020.

Speaking at Chantilly, France, Hammond said that the version that was being discussed by the Brexiteers was a "hard version" which "would cause much more disruption to our economy."

AP via AGENCY POOL

Chantilly - 18 July 2019

1. Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer walking in terrace of Jeu de Paume hotel where G7 meeting is taking place

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer  (reacting to journalist's question on OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) fiscal risk report):

"The report that the OBR have published this morning shows that even in the most benign version of a no-deal exit, there would be a very significant hit to the UK economy, a very significant reduction in tax revenues, and a big increase in our national debt, a recession caused by a no-deal Brexit. But that most benign version is not the version that is being talked about by prominent Brexiteers. They are talking about a much harder version, which would cause much more disruption to our economy. And the OBR is clear that in that less benign version of no-deal, the hit would be much greater, the impact would be much harder, the recession would be bigger. So I greatly fear the impact on our economy and our public finances of the kind of no-deal Brexit that is realistically being discussed now."

3. British flag

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer (reacting to journalist's question):

"I think we've made some good progress. We talked about it extensively yesterday. There's quite a bit more work to do but there is a clear determination to reach international agreement on this issue. We have to show that our tax system can work for a 21-st century economy."

5. G7 sign

6. Hammond walking back to meeting venue

7. Flags of G7 countries

8. G7 sign on arch

The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday that the UK would be the "big loser" after Brexit.

Mogherini was speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa summit being held in Jordan.

Mogherini said the EU-27, the bloc of the remaining 27 EU countries, were clear in their demands for EU citizens' rights in the UK to be secured, the British government's budget agreements with the bloc, as well as the issue of the border with Ireland.

Some 3.3 million EU citizens live in Britain and about 1 million Britons live in the rest of the EU.

Ireland is the only EU country that shares a land border with the UK, which plans to leave the EU single market and customs union once it quits the bloc.

Ireland could face economic turmoil if Brexit brings tariffs and other trade barriers between the UK and the bloc.

The open border is also key to the Northern Ireland peace process.

Britain and the EU are due to start exit negotiations after the UK's June 8 election.

Prime Minister Theresa May has accused some EU officials of trying to influence the election, after details of her reportedly fractious meeting with a top EU official was leaked.

The 27 EU leaders agreed on common guidelines on April 29, exactly one month after May triggered the Brexit process.

Dead Sea, Jordan - 20 May 2017

1. Wide of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy taking part in panel discussion

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:

"I think that down the road we will all see that the big losers of the game that currently is being played will be the UK. And probably this was not part of the considerations back one year ago, and many things were not part of the considerations one year ago if you look at the political positioning inside the UK politics. The position on the European Union side, on the 27 (remaining EU countries) side, is very clear. We've given a mandate, with a three minutes' decision in the European Council, to the negotiator Michel Barnier, to solve first the issues that are vital for the citizens of the 27 that will stay, the rights of the citizens, how the UK will honour its commitments budget-wise and the issue of Ireland, and that is a key issue for I believe all of us, not only our continent but also globally."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus058122

House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to back the vote of Britain to leave the European Union.

Friday he highlighted the Republican values of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government, adding, "these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles."

The comments came as House Republicans unveiled a plan for a simpler tax code, the sixth and last installment of a GOP agenda designed to be a policy counterpoint to the personality-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

Ryan and other Republicans announced the plan at a news conference Friday morning. The proposal would lower tax rates for both families and businesses, although it falls short of the 25 percent top rate for individuals that Ryan promised not long ago.

Instead, the tax reform plan proposes a 33 percent top tax bracket instead of the current top rate of 39.6 percent restored by President Barack Obama in a 2013 victory over Republicans in the wake of his re-election.

The Ryan plan also lacks the detail required to measure whether it maintains the current distribution of the tax burden by income range.

The plan won't face a vote this year but, like other elements of Ryan's agenda, provides a template for potential action next year.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus058122

House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to back the vote of Britain to leave the European Union.

Friday he highlighted the Republican values of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government, adding, "these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles."

The comments came as House Republicans unveiled a plan for a simpler tax code, the sixth and last installment of a GOP agenda designed to be a policy counterpoint to the personality-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

Ryan and other Republicans announced the plan at a news conference Friday morning. The proposal would lower tax rates for both families and businesses, although it falls short of the 25 percent top rate for individuals that Ryan promised not long ago.

Instead, the tax reform plan proposes a 33 percent top tax bracket instead of the current top rate of 39.6 percent restored by President Barack Obama in a 2013 victory over Republicans in the wake of his re-election.

The Ryan plan also lacks the detail required to measure whether it maintains the current distribution of the tax burden by income range.

The plan won't face a vote this year but, like other elements of Ryan's agenda, provides a template for potential action next year.

Washington - 24 June 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House:

"No.Obviously, markets are going to react when new news and information like this occurs. I believe the markets will eventually stabilize. That's point number one. Point number two. All the more reason for America to lead. America needs the lead. The world wants America to lead and with tax reform plan America will clearly be leading and on so many ways by having a code, the Ways and Means committee, they had to make a decision. Stick with the current system and get it so it's in the middle of the pack with the rest of the world or do we have a plan that leapfrogs and leads the rest of the world. This is a plan that leapfrogs and leads the rest of the world. And so for all of these moments of possible uncertainty that are happening around the globe having strong, powerful, confident American economic leadership is in need and this does that."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House:

"Well sure. The question is about the Brexit vote. I do believe. Look. As an American we value the principle of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government. These are very important principles and these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles. Let me just say since you're going off the tax script, I'll go off it with you just for this moment Deirdre, England is our indispensable ally. Our friends in the United Kingdom are our indispensable ally and this is a very special relationship and that's going to continue no matter what. Period. End of story."

House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to back the vote of Britain to leave the European Union.

Friday he highlighted the Republican values of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government, adding, "these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles."

The comments came as House Republicans unveiled a plan for a simpler tax code, the sixth and last installment of a GOP agenda designed to be a policy counterpoint to the personality-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

Ryan and other Republicans announced the plan at a news conference Friday morning. The proposal would lower tax rates for both families and businesses, although it falls short of the 25 percent top rate for individuals that Ryan promised not long ago.

Instead, the tax reform plan proposes a 33 percent top tax bracket instead of the current top rate of 39.6 percent restored by President Barack Obama in a 2013 victory over Republicans in the wake of his re-election.

The Ryan plan also lacks the detail required to measure whether it maintains the current distribution of the tax burden by income range.

The plan won't face a vote this year but, like other elements of Ryan's agenda, provides a template for potential action next year.

House Speaker Paul Ryan appeared to back the vote of Britain to leave the European Union.

Friday he highlighted the Republican values of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government, adding, "these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles."

The comments came as House Republicans unveiled a plan for a simpler tax code, the sixth and last installment of a GOP agenda designed to be a policy counterpoint to the personality-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

Ryan and other Republicans announced the plan at a news conference Friday morning. The proposal would lower tax rates for both families and businesses, although it falls short of the 25 percent top rate for individuals that Ryan promised not long ago.

Instead, the tax reform plan proposes a 33 percent top tax bracket instead of the current top rate of 39.6 percent restored by President Barack Obama in a 2013 victory over Republicans in the wake of his re-election.

The Ryan plan also lacks the detail required to measure whether it maintains the current distribution of the tax burden by income range.

The plan won't face a vote this year but, like other elements of Ryan's agenda, provides a template for potential action next year.

Washington - 24 June 2016

1. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan stands behind Majority Whip Steve Scalise

2. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House:

"No.Obviously, markets are going to react when new news and information like this occurs. I believe the markets will eventually stabilize. That's point number one. Point number two. All the more reason for America to lead. America needs the lead. The world wants America to lead and with tax reform plan America will clearly be leading and on so many ways by having a code, the Ways and Means committee, they had to make a decision. Stick with the current system and get it so it's in the middle of the pack with the rest of the world or do we have a plan that leapfrogs and leads the rest of the world. This is a plan that leapfrogs and leads the rest of the world. And so for all of these moments of possible uncertainty that are happening around the globe having strong, powerful, confident American economic leadership is in need and this does that."

3. Ryan stands behind Scalise.

4. Cutaway of photographers

5. Wide of Ryan at podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Paul Ryan Speaker of the House:

"Well sure. The question is about the Brexit vote. I do believe. Look. As an American we value the principle of sovereignty, self-determination, a government by consent and limited government. These are very important principles and these principles are being expressed here at home and around the world. So we clearly understand the thinking behind these principles. Let me just say since you're going off the tax script, I'll go off it with you just for this moment Deirdre, England is our indispensable ally. Our friends in the United Kingdom are our indispensable ally and this is a very special relationship and that's going to continue no matter what. Period. End of story."

7. Ryan greeting people after event

Global shares were mostly lower on Monday amid worries about Britain's exit from the European Union and a downgrade of Italy's credit rating

It comes as British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to deliver a speech outlining her vision of Britain's post-EU future and market players are worried what she says may indicate a "hard" approach to the nation's exit.

Her office has said she will call for a "truly global Britain" that is more open to the world when she lays out plans for negotiations with the European Union.

That prospect alarms many in Britain's huge financial services sector, which relies on EU access.

Germany's vice chancellor, responding to an interview with President-elect Donald Trump, has rejected threats by Trump to put tariffs of up to 35 percent on German automakers if they set up plants in Mexico instead of the US and try to export cars to the US from there.

Trump had also claimed German automakers don't behave fairly because a lot of German cars are seen in the US, but few American cars in Germany.

Frankfurt - 16 January 2017

1. Various of Frankfurt Stock Exchange trading floor

2. SOUNDBITE (German) Robert Halver Head of Market Research, Baader Bank:

"I think BMW, VW, Daimler, as well as Audi and Porsche will in future make additional investments in America. If they create jobs they will buy out from protectionist measures and import taxes and Mr. Trump will most certainly ask for this."

3. Trader at desk

4. SOUNDBITE (German) Robert Halver Head of Market Research, Baader Bank:

"Thirty-five percent punitive taxes on German cars is a big number that hurts. We do not know whether it will be as bad as that, but what is certain is that the car industry will use appeasement strategies in order to not be affected too negatively by the big Caesar"

5. Traders at desk

6. SOUNDBITE (German) Robert Halver Head of Market Research, Baader Bank:

"Just like America, Mrs. May for Great Britain will try to blackmail us by suggesting hard Brexit. The subject will be let's cut all ties to Europe and if Europe will not back down, Great Britain will turn into a tax haven with low business taxes that will be the strategy. I hope that we will come to some sort of agreement with the British, I have always regretted that the British will leave us. We still need them"

7. Trader at desk

8. SOUNDBITE (German) Robert Halver Head of Market Research, Baader Bank:

"If we indeed had massive tax cuts for cooperation, some German businesses would surely consider to move at least the administration to Great Britain to profit from this. The Irish success their low tax politics shows that taxes are a very important element of competitiveness."

9. Various of trading floor

Germany's finance minister said on Wednesday that he didn't expect a "race to the bottom" on business taxes after Britain announced plans to cut its corporation tax rate.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Wolfgang Schaeuble said Britain's move would have little influence on German policy.

British Treasury chief George Osborne said on Monday that he plans to cut UK corporation tax to below 15 percent to encourage investment and ease business concerns after voters chose to leave the European Union.

Some London-based businesses are considering leaving for other European cities to benefit from the large EU common market.

The British pound hit a new 31-year low against the US dollar on Wednesday, as worries reawakened about the economic repercussions of Britain's decision to leave the EU.

Schaeuble also stressed that it's up to Britain to decide what future relationship it wants with the EU.

Departing British Prime Minister David Cameron has left the decision to formally trigger EU exit talks to his successor, who will be elected by members of the governing Conservative Party in September.

Germany's finance minister said on Wednesday that he didn't expect a "race to the bottom" on business taxes after Britain announced plans to cut its corporation tax rate.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Wolfgang Schaeuble said Britain's move would have little influence on German policy.

British Treasury chief George Osborne said on Monday that he plans to cut UK corporation tax to below 15 percent to encourage investment and ease business concerns after voters chose to leave the European Union.

Some London-based businesses are considering leaving for other European cities to benefit from the large EU common market.

The British pound hit a new 31-year low against the US dollar on Wednesday, as worries reawakened about the economic repercussions of Britain's decision to leave the EU.

Schaeuble also stressed that it's up to Britain to decide what future relationship it wants with the EU.

Departing British Prime Minister David Cameron has left the decision to formally trigger EU exit talks to his successor, who will be elected by members of the governing Conservative Party in September.

Berlin - 6 July 2016

1. Wide of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble at press conference

2. Photographer

3. Journalist looking at press release

4. SOUNDBITE (German) Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Finance Minister:

"So now he (George Osborne) has announced (a cut in corporation tax), and we will meet next week at the ECOFIN. There we will surely hear explanations from him about that (the tax cut), at least I hope. But we have no intention in Europe of starting a race to the bottom, this makes no sense."

5. Journalist taking notes

6. SOUNDBITE (German) Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Finance Minister:

"We are not against tax competition, but we favour public budgets in all member countries being fairly and appropriately financed. That's why the British announcement has no effect on our tax policy considerations."

7. Camera

8. SOUNDBITE (German) Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Finance Minister:

"Honestly, I have to say I don't fully understand what those who conducted this campaign (to leave the European Union at the UK's referendum) imagined, because now they are all running away from what they caused in droves. That wasn't a very diplomatic comment, but one that came from the depth of my soul."

9. Wide of presser

10. SOUNDBITE (German) Wolfgang Schaeuble, German Finance Minister:

"There are other countries which also have a relationship with the European Union, and with the single market - Norway, Switzerland. But one thing is clear. Membership of the single market means of course to accept the basic freedoms of Europe (European Union). That's what Switzerland had to painfully acknowledge with a referendum, but it carried it out. And furthermore you also have to participate in the funding. If now the supporters of Brexit, who lead this campaign, meant that they had wanted Great Britain to take the status of Switzerland in its relationship with the European Union, you need to put this to those who are still around, those who lead this campaign. I cannot answer this."

11. Wide of Schaeuble shaking hand of moderator

12. Schauble leaving press conference

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson addressed a conference of employers' group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Monday.

Johnson promised to cut a tax paid by businesses with bricks-and-mortar premises but announced a proposal to postpone a planned reduction in corporation tax, which had been due to fall from 19 percent to 17 percent next year.

He said putting the cut on hold was the fiscally responsible thing to do and would allow more investment in the National Health Service (NHS).

Corbyn meanwhile said a Labour government would increase corporation tax to no higher than the 2010 levels.

"I think our economy needs that and it is a necessary thing to do," he added.

Swinson, whose party currently holds just 20 of the 650 House of Commons seats, pledged that the Liberal Democrat "would scrap business rates and replace them with a commercial landowner levy."

She said this would help small businesses as this would shift the burden from tenants to the landowner.

Businesses, meanwhile, are wary of all sides.

John Allan, Tesco's chairman and CBI President said "no party has the answers" for Brexit, urging politicians to "have an honest conversation" as negotiations with the EU would continue for years to come.

UK POOL

London - 18 November 2019

1. Various of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Johnson, UK Prime Minister:

"The NHS (National Health Service) is the nation's priority, and our priority because we believe emphatically in fiscal prudence. I hope you won't mind if I also announce today that we are postponing further cuts in corporation tax. And before you storm the stage and protest. Before you storm the stage, let me remind you how this saves six billion pounds that we can put into the priorities of the British people, including the NHS. We've already cut it from 28 to 19 percent."

3. Various of UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn arriving on stage

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Corbyn, UK Labour Leader:

"Yes, taxation is going to change under Labour. We've made no secret of that. We've made that very, very clear that the richest 5 percent, the top 5 percent will pay more and that over a lifetime of the government we will increase corporation tax to no higher than the 2010 levels. I think our economy needs that and it is a necessary thing to do. We cannot go on being the economy that invests least and a country that becomes unequal more. We cannot go on being an economy that wastes the skill levels and opportunities of so many young people by inadequate funding of nursery education, primary education, secondary education or training, as well as the high cost of universities."

5. Various of UK Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson going on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jo Swinson, UK Liberal Democrat leader:

"Liberal Democrats are committed to helping small businesses who are the engine of our economy. That's why Liberal Democrats would scrap business rates and replace them with a commercial landowner levy. It will shift the burden from the tenant to the landlord so that we can breathe new life into our high streets. Frankly, we have seen enough promises of reviews of business rates from the Conservatives. It is time for clear action that will give proper help to our small businesses."

7. Audience applauding

8. SOUNDBITE (English) John Allan, Tesco chairman and Confederation of British Industry President:

"But currently no party has the answers. It's not as simple as 'getting Brexit done' or 'sorting Brexit in six months' or even 'stopping Brexit'. Whatever happens in this election, we'll be negotiating with the EU for years to come. Whether as a close friend or a distant neighbour. So we need to have an honest conversation."

9. Allan leaving the stage

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin Monday said he was looking forward to continuing talks with Chinese government officials over stalled trade negotiations.

He said talks in the middle of September would include delegates from the Chinese vice ministerial level  and that the Chinese Vice Premier Liu He was coming to the U.S. early next month.

"We're looking forward to a lot of work being done in time for when (US Trade Representative Robert) Ambassador Lighthizer and myself meet with the Vice Premier. "

China's trade with the United States is falling as the two sides prepare for negotiations with no signs of progress toward ending a tariff war that threatens global economic growth.

Imports of American goods tumbled 22% in August from a year earlier to $10.3 billion, customs data showed Sunday. Exports to the United States, China's biggest market, sank 16% to $44.4 billion.

Despite the planned October talks, the two governments escalated their fight on Sept. 1, imposing or increasing penalties on billions of dollars of goods. President Donald Trump plans another increase Oct. 15.

Praising the strength of the U.S. economy, Mnuchin also said talks were continuing with the French over a digital tax and pushed for Congress to take up the USMCA trade agreement.

He also said he was in touch with the British Government over the Brexit situation.

"Whoever thinks we have political issues (in the U.S.), they're dealing with their own political issues at the moment."

Washington - 9 September 2019

1. Pan, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin walks to microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I think there's no question the U.S. economy is in very good shape. As we look around the world, there's no question that China is slowing, Europe is slowing. The US is the bright spot of the world and in regards to a middle class tax cut, you know, we'll be looking at tax cuts 2.0. It's something that'll be something we'll consider next year. But right now the economy is in very, very good shape."

3. Pan, reporters to Mnuchin

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"But, I will say we are looking forward to a (Chinese) vice minister level (meeting) here this month. We're also looking forward to the Vice Premier coming early next month. So we're looking forward to a lot of work being done in time for when (US Trade Representative Robert) Ambassador Lighthizer and myself meet with the Vice Premier. They are in the middle of the month.

(Reporter: Can you tell us how the talks are going with the French taxes and whether in the wine tariffs they're still on the table?)

Sure. So, what we agreed to at the G-7 with the French is that we would spend 90 days trying to work to see if the U.S. and France could reach an understanding, a conceptual understanding on an international agreement. And I think that's the first step to us both promoting an international agreement and that's what we're working on. They're complicated issues. We're meeting with lots of companies. We actually have a bunch of the digital companies coming in this week to Treasury. We have multinationals coming in next week. So we're gonna make sure that business supports whatever we do."

5. Pan from reporters to Mnuchin

SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I think we're operating under the belief that it will (USMCA) get to the floor and I know we're we're pleased that Congress is back. Ambassador Lighthizer has been working very closely with the House. I've spoken to Speaker Pelosi several times about this as has the Ambassador and we're hopeful that now that Congress is back they'll focus on it. And if there are a few small changes that he needs to work with Congress, I know he is talking to them but this is a very important deal to the U.S. economy, U.S. workers, agriculture, digital. It's an encompassing deal and something that I think is very important. So I look forward to being .. having it be passed."

6. Cutaway reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"Well, I specifically stopped in London on the way back from the G-7 to meet with my new counterpart the Finance Minister (Sajid) Javid. You know, I would say it is. I met with them before all the changes have gone on. But I have been in direct contact with him several times and they're dealing with their own political issues. So whoever thinks we have political issues, they're dealing with their own political issues at the moment."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I expect the governor of the People's Bank of China to come over for these talks. So part of the conversations we will be having with them is around currency and currency manipulation, but that's never come up. (Chinese dumping of US financial bonds.) Thank you everybody."

10. Pan, Mnuchin walks away

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin Monday said he was looking forward to continuing talks with Chinese government officials over stalled trade negotiations.

He said talks in the middle of September would include delegates from the Chinese vice ministerial level  and that the Chinese Vice Premier Liu He was coming to the U.S. early next month.

"We're looking forward to a lot of work being done in time for when (US Trade Representative Robert) Ambassador Lighthizer and myself meet with the Vice Premier. "

China's trade with the United States is falling as the two sides prepare for negotiations with no signs of progress toward ending a tariff war that threatens global economic growth.

Imports of American goods tumbled 22% in August from a year earlier to $10.3 billion, customs data showed Sunday. Exports to the United States, China's biggest market, sank 16% to $44.4 billion.

Despite the planned October talks, the two governments escalated their fight on Sept. 1, imposing or increasing penalties on billions of dollars of goods. President Donald Trump plans another increase Oct. 15.

Praising the strength of the U.S. economy, Mnuchin also said talks were continuing with the French over a digital tax and pushed for Congress to take up the USMCA trade agreement.

He also said he was in touch with the British Government over the Brexit situation.

"Whoever thinks we have political issues (in the U.S.), they're dealing with their own political issues at the moment."

Washington - 9 September 2019

1. Pan, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin walks to microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I think there's no question the U.S. economy is in very good shape. As we look around the world, there's no question that China is slowing, Europe is slowing. The US is the bright spot of the world and in regards to a middle class tax cut, you know, we'll be looking at tax cuts 2.0. It's something that'll be something we'll consider next year. But right now the economy is in very, very good shape."

3. Pan, reporters to Mnuchin

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"But, I will say we are looking forward to a (Chinese) vice minister level (meeting) here this month. We're also looking forward to the Vice Premier coming early next month. So we're looking forward to a lot of work being done in time for when (US Trade Representative Robert) Ambassador Lighthizer and myself meet with the Vice Premier. They are in the middle of the month.

(Reporter: Can you tell us how the talks are going with the French taxes and whether in the wine tariffs they're still on the table?)

Sure. So, what we agreed to at the G-7 with the French is that we would spend 90 days trying to work to see if the U.S. and France could reach an understanding, a conceptual understanding on an international agreement. And I think that's the first step to us both promoting an international agreement and that's what we're working on. They're complicated issues. We're meeting with lots of companies. We actually have a bunch of the digital companies coming in this week to Treasury. We have multinationals coming in next week. So we're gonna make sure that business supports whatever we do."

5. Pan from reporters to Mnuchin

SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I think we're operating under the belief that it will (USMCA) get to the floor and I know we're we're pleased that Congress is back. Ambassador Lighthizer has been working very closely with the House. I've spoken to Speaker Pelosi several times about this as has the Ambassador and we're hopeful that now that Congress is back they'll focus on it. And if there are a few small changes that he needs to work with Congress, I know he is talking to them but this is a very important deal to the U.S. economy, U.S. workers, agriculture, digital. It's an encompassing deal and something that I think is very important. So I look forward to being .. having it be passed."

6. Cutaway reporters

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"Well, I specifically stopped in London on the way back from the G-7 to meet with my new counterpart the Finance Minister (Sajid) Javid. You know, I would say it is. I met with them before all the changes have gone on. But I have been in direct contact with him several times and they're dealing with their own political issues. So whoever thinks we have political issues, they're dealing with their own political issues at the moment."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

"I expect the governor of the People's Bank of China to come over for these talks. So part of the conversations we will be having with them is around currency and currency manipulation, but that's never come up. (Chinese dumping of US financial bonds.) Thank you everybody."

10. Pan, Mnuchin walks away

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for talks in Berlin on Monday.

Merkel said the pair would be discussing, among other issues, "the first ideas" on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU's long-term budget after 2020.

The EU has proposed higher contributions from member states to secure the budget against the background of Brexit.

Berlin - 19 February 2018

1. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrive

2. SOUNDBITE (German) Angela Merkel, German Chancellor:

"When we talk today, we will be talking about the Multiannual Financial Framework, the first ideas on this, about the issues of Brexit. Germany and the Netherlands are among the countries that have always had a close and cooperative relationship with the British. This is what we want for the future. We will share our thoughts on the Euro zone."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (Dutch) Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister:

"And with all these issues, the guiding principle for The Netherlands is that collaboration in Europe must yield tangible results for its residents. An effective and efficient European Union must be able to respond to current political developments, and to contribute, in the longer term, to prosperity, stability, and safety."

5. Merkel and Rutte handshake

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Prime Minister Theresa May's speech appeared to suggest that if a deal with the European Union didn't work Britain would move to become a low tax, "bargain basement economy on the offshores of Europe."

Corbyn said May needed to be clearer on her objectives.

In her speech May said Britain will leave the EU's single market - but will "seek greatest possible access to it" - as it exits the trade bloc.

May says her plans for Brexit cannot allow the U.K. to remain in the single market of the bloc because that would mean "not leaving the EU at all."

May said she wanted Britain to be part of a customs union agreement with the other EU states, and remove as many trade barriers as possible. She did not provide details, but said she had an "open mind" on how to do it.

Corbyn said "she seems to be wanting to have her cake and eat it."

The Labour leader said he would soon be setting out the party's idea of future relationships with Europe "but also our ideas about future trading relationships with the rest of the world."

UK POOL

London - 17 January 2017

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Opposition Labour Party leader:

"Throughout the speech there seemed to be an implied threat that somewhere along the line if all her optimism of a deal with the European Union didn't work, we would move into a low tax, corporate taxation, bargain basement economy on the offshores of Europe, and I think she needs to be a bit clearer about what the long-term objectives are."

++BLACK++

Question off camera: (English) Will you vote for Britain to leave the single market?

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Opposition Labour Party leader:

"We have said all along that we will not block Article 50 coming in and that's going to be very soon within Parliament. We will be putting a case for market access to Europe, we'll be putting a case for regulation of labour market and all the issues that go with that, we'll be putting a very strong case to the British people and to Parliament. This is two years away and it's quite nice that at last we've got confirmation that 27 member state parliaments will get a vote, including ours, and of course the European parliament also gets a vote on this."

Question off camera: Specifically on leaving the single market, that is something that you will now accept will happen?

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Opposition Labour Party leader:

"She has said that leave the single market and at the same time says she wants to have access to the single market. I'm not quite sure how that's going to go down in Europe. I think we have to have a deal that ensures that we have access to the market, we have British jobs dependant on that market, that's what we'll be pushing for. Whether it's specifically this form of single market I don't know. She seems to be wanting to have her cake and eat it."

++BLACK++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Opposition Labour Party leader:

"Well she concedes that herself, she concedes that we depend a great deal on the people who have come to work in this country and also she makes the correct point which indeed Parliament has already voted on, that EU nationals living in Britain should be allowed to remain here just as much as British nationals of which there are probably 1.5 million living across Europe are able to continue living there. So there's going to have to be a close relationship with Europe in the future. We're going to hold them to account on all of this because I think there are enormous dangers in this and when she talks about future trade arrangements, all she said was that Donald Trump said we'd be first in the queue. First in the queue? For an investor protection type trade treaty? I don't know exactly what she has in mind in that."

++BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jeremy Corbyn, Opposition Labour Party leader:

"Well be obviously responding to the statement in Parliament today, Keir Starmer (shadow Brexit Secretary) will be doing that, Emily (Thornberry, shadow Foreign Secretary) and Keir have been making the point all along that there has to be proper parliamentary scrutiny of that. We will be doing all of that and of course when the major debate comes up, which I hope will be very soon, we'll be setting out our idea of future relationships with Europe but also our ideas about future trading relationships with the rest of the world. We want to ensure that jobs and markets are protected in this country, we want to ensure that British manufacturing industry has a chance to export. She makes all these optimistic statements, every economic indicator in Britain is going in the wrong direction at the present time."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++