[Hala Gorani, Cnn Anchor:] Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We are live at the Houses of parliament in London on a historic day, and so it begins. It's nearly 300 days since Britain stunned Europe and the world and voted for Brexit. A few hours ago, it started that tricky divorce from the European Union with a letter, but now the hard work really begins. Nic Robertson has the story of the day.
[Theresa May, British Prime Minister:] The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union.
[Nic Robertson, Cnn International Diplomatic Editor:] With these words, Prime Minister Theresa May, beginning Britain's divorce from the European Union, a 44-year embrace over.
[May:] Leaving the European Union presents us with a unique opportunity. It is this generation's chance to shape a brighter future for our country.
[Unidentified Male:] Have you come back to take back control, Ambassador.
[Robertson:] In the minutes before Britain's representative to the eu handing over the formal letter of departure to the E.U. Council president. His vision of separation less rosy than May's.
[Donald Tusk, European Council President:] There is nothing to win in this process and I'm talking about both sides. In essence, this is about damage control.
[Robertson:] The six-page letter he received, signed by May under the watchful gaze of Robert Winfall, Britain's first prime minister, outlines Britain's desires for constructive engagement, respectful and sincere cooperation, put citizens first, secure a comprehensive agreement, minimize disruption and give certainty, pay attention to the U.K.Ireland relationship and the peace process in Northern Ireland, protect shared European values, begin technical talks on detailed policy as soon as possible.
[May:] I have been clear that we should seek to agree the terms of this future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal within the next two years.
[Robertson:] But even in an approach, both sides are already at odds. The E.U. demands withdrawal first, only then discuss the future partnership.
[Tusk:] There's no reason to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels nor in London. After all, most Europeans, including almost half the British voters, wished that we would stay together, not drift apart.
[Unidentified Female:] Scotland's future should be in Scotland's hand
[Robertson:] May's woes won't end with the E.U. Scotland's first minister lambasting her for ignoring Scotland's 62 percent vote to remain and calls for independence, tweeting, "Today, the PM will take the U.K. over a cliff. With no idea of the landing place and Scotland didn't vote for it and our voice is being ignored."
[May:] We are one great union of people and nations with a proud history and bright future. And now that the decision to leave has been made, and the process is under way, it is time to come together. For this great national moment needs a great national effort, an effort to shape a stronger future for Britain.
[Robertson:] And now comes the long, hard slog, to deliver on that promise deal for all, a brighter future. May's own future, and her place in history, depend on the outcome. Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
[Gorani:] Well, that vote last June has also triggered forces within the United Kingdom. Not everyone wanted to Brexit, obviously, but in Scotland, a vast majority of people wanted to remain with Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second independence referendum. Angus Robertson from the Scottish National Party spoke after Theresa May and he did not hold back.
[Angus Robertson, British Member Of Parliament, Snp:] The prime minister says that she thinks Brexit will bring unity to the United Kingdom, it will not. On this issue, it is not a United Kingdom and the prime minister needs to respect, respect the differences across the nations of the United Kingdom. If she does not, if she remains intransigent and if she denies Scotland a choice in our future, she will make Scottish independence inevitable.
[Gorani:] All right. Let's bring in Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland and now an MP in Westminster. You also had your say in parliament today.
[Alex Salmond, Former Scottish First Minister:] Of course. But that exchange with Angus Robertson was fabulous, talking about Scotland's rights as a nation. Theresa May said, well, my constituency [inaudible] we should remain as well. As if one on hand Scotland's history as European nation was somehow equivalent to an English parliamentary constituency dear to the prime minister's heart, it's that misunderstanding of this prime minister not understanding Scotland as a nation regards itself of having right of self- contamination, which is going to be her undoing in Scotland.
[Gorani:] You support a second referendum post-Brexit?
[Salmond:] Yes, I do because Nicola Sturgeon put this in the manifesto last year, if Scotland gets dragged up against the will of the Scottish people, there should be a referendum from the Scottish parliament. She won 47 percent of the vote, landslide victory. She's first minister. She's got the backing of her parliament and absolutely entitled to put forward that position.
[Gorani:] But the British government has to agree to it. This isn't something that's just up to Scottish people to vote on a second time and Theresa May saying, essentially, not now. Now is not the right time.
[Salmond:] Which, of course, is, you know, self-determination, like justice delayed is self-determination, denied. British prime ministers do not have a great track record of trying to turn down rates of self-determination of other nations. In times gone by, the United States of America, more recently David Cameron once told me there would never be a Scottish referendum, had to change his mind when the will of the Scottish people became clear. And Theresa May's position may crumble, maybe not this week or next month, but it will crumble because you cannot withstand against the accepted right of a nation.
[Gorani:] I get that, but unless the negotiations go well and all Britons feel like this is headed in the right direction, we're getting a good deal out of this, in the end Brexit wasn't the disaster that many predicted that could happen?
[Salmond:] Well, if that does happen, and Theresa May if she's got a great Brexit deal, which she will put to this parliament and every other parliament, 27 of them across Europe, another chance, why shouldn't that stage in 18 months to two years' time, the people of Scotland get the same opportunity to match up the BrexitBritish deal against the prospective of an independent Scotland within a European context.
[Gorani:] Right. But from her perspective and perhaps from the perspective of many in the government Scotland had an opportunity, they voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, we're not going to do this every two years.
[Salmond:] Yes, just a couple of [inaudible], you're well aware this government, the majority, wasn't counting through its manifesto commitment towards small business. Nicola Sturgeon is counting through a manifesto commitment to the Scottish people and Theresa May is absolutely wrong to attack another politician for carrying forward a manifest of commitment backed by a parliament. The bottom of this, is Scotland's rights as a nation and way, way beyond the rights of the Scottish National Party, there is a fundamental understanding of Scotland as a nation has the right of self-determination and the days of British prime ministers standing in the way of that for a long time, these days are over.
[Gorani:] But it just does feel and I hear this a lot from SNP and MPs and others that they feel like they're not getting the it's a question of respect almost. Didn't consult us when you decided how to go ahead with Brexit before triggering Article 50? You're comparing a nation, Scotland, which for hundreds of years was a nation with your constituency as somehow those two things are equal, is that fair to say? You don't feel respected?
[Salmond:] Certainly true that, you know, David Cameron used to tell me, had a respect agenda towards Scotland as far as I can tell Theresa May has disrespect agenda. It's true that she could have headed this off. If she had said to Nicola Sturgeon when she put forward the compromised proposal from Scotland, OK. Single market, we'll try to get you to stay in, doing a special deal for Ireland, let's do a special deal for Scotland. She could have headed off this confrontation, but she chose not to.
[Gorani:] OK.
[Salmond:] I notice this morning that staring down at Theresa May as she was signing a letter was a picture of Sir Robert [inaudible], Britain's first ever prime minister in the 18th century, if the way Theresa May is going in the terms of the treatment of Scotland, she might be the last British prime minister.
[Gorani:] I guess, international viewers are many ask me this, is it really possible that Britain will break up, I mean, as a result of Brexit. Northern Ireland wanting one thing, they still want full access to the E.U. Scotland might hold a second referendum. Is it possible that this Brexit deal will be the undoing of the United Kingdom as we know it?
[Salmond:] Well, as I pointed out, the prime minister today, this is not just Scotland, [inaudible] in deadlock. The Welsh are extremely dissatisfied. Scotland is moving for a referendum, the English split 5050. So all around us she has created an atmosphere of disunity. I think she should mend her ways and above all start treating Scotland with a bit of respect.
[Gorani:] Alex Salmond, thank you very much. Always great having you on the program. Theresa May's 15-minute speech spoke of the historic nature of the day, there is no denying that, as Britain begins the tricky divorce process. But the prime minister was keen to stress that Brexit doesn't mean Britain needs to renegotiate its values. Listen.
[May:] This is a historic moment from which there can be no turning back. Britain is leaving the European Union. We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws. We are going to take control of the things that matter most to us. And we are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain, a country that our children and grandchildren, are proud to call home. That is our ambition and our opportunity. That is what this government is determined to do. Mr. Speaker, at moments like these, great turning points in our national story, the choices we make, define the character of our nation. We can choose to say the task ahead is too great, turn our face to the past and believe it can't be done, or look forward with optimism and hope, and to believe in enduring power of the British spirit.
[Gorani:] All right. There you have it. The prime minister calling for unity, this time everyone has to work together to make Brexit work. Alastair Campbell was Tony Blair's former press secretary during his time as the U.K.'s prime minister here with me now not happy that Brexit was essentially happened last June and now Article 50 is triggered. Is it inevitable?
[Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's Former Press Secretary:] I don't believe it is. Enough people think it's a disaster, including members of the cabinet, by the way, certainly most of the people in that place think it is, even if they're all tripped into the cabinet to vote for it.
[Gorani:] Members of the cabinet of Theresa May.
[Campbell:] Members of the cabinet think it'a calamity and they're in there
[Gorani:] Can you name names?
[Campbell:] I won't. I might one day. I might one day. I know members of the cabinet who think this is a complete disaster. Most of the business community thinks it's a disaster. Millions of people think it's a disaster. The other thing is I think that the public are going to very quickly realize that the things they know already the promises that were made, being utterly broken. Extra money for the health service will be able to stay in the single market. We'll get great trade deals straight away, none of this is going to happen. We're going to end up with probably a little less European immigration and maybe get rid of the European quota. Stay for a few years if there's a transitional
[Gorani:] All right, this has been your position for a while, but when you think some members of the cabinet believe it's a calamity, why do they believe it's a calamity? In the end, this is the way the U.K. is headed.
[Campbell:] Well, maybe it is. It doesn't mean it's not a calamity?
[Gorani:] But why? What are the reasons for that?
[Campbell:] The same reasons that they gave during the campaign.
[Gorani:] Which were?
[Campbell:] Which were about the economy, which were about whether the gains that we're going to get from this are going to be outweighed by the losses and they are. They know that. Theresa May probably knows that deep down. So I think that we're in a situation now where we're in kind of a "Lala Land," where they they're all they're still saying we've gone through the phony war now. The hard reality is going to kick in.
[Gorani:] Right.
[Campbell:] And they're not going to get a deal. David Davis, on the record, we will get the exact same benefits as though we were still in the [inaudible], they're not going to get them.
[Gorani:] Right. And when you say "Lala Land," you mean fantasy land, not the Hollywood musical.
[Campbell:] I wish it was a musical or play. I mean, they are in fantasy land and they actually think if they say it loudly enough, our ridiculous right wing newspapers scream it loud enough from the front pages every day, the people will believe this is one inevitable and going to be good. It's not inevitable and it's definitely not going to be good.
[Gorani:] So Before I ask you how it's not inevitable, there is there was a poll conducted a few months ago, Britons were asked once again, do you still support Brexit several months later, and the majority still did. So it's not the case that most Britons think it's a disaster. I mean, public opinion still supports Brexit.
[Campbell:] Let's not get too carried away with the polls. I'll tell you something, I do loads and loads and loads of events and at the moment, I always start them by asking any audience, are you broadly optimistic or pessimistic first about Brexit and then about Trump. Trump and Britain is a 100 percent virtually pessimistic. Brexit most of the things that I'm doing is between 70 and 90.
[Gorani:] Are these events in London?
[Campbell:] Around the country. I was in a school in the midlands last week, 16 and 17-year-old, and any government, any government that governs against the interest of its young people is a government doomed to fail in my view, and the 16 and 17-year-olds, 150 of them, one of them, wanted us to come out of the European Union.
[Gorani:] So anecdotal evidence.
[Campbell:] It's anecdotal but there are so much of it. Listen, the other reason I think this is going to change, MPs, these guys, are going to be going to their constituencies. We know that the Brexiters will come on here and they'll say I have people coming up the whole time saying this is great, freedom day and all this nonsense, in the papers the whole time. They are going to get businesses large and small. They're going to get the academics. They're going to get the university sector. They're going to get virtually every sector is going to be saying to them, what on earth are we doing? That is beginning to happen and I believe that what she's done today is now going to get accelerated, I really believe that.
[Gorani:] Article 50 has been triggered. The prime minister herself has said there's basically no turning back from this. How could you even
[Campbell:] That's not true.
[Gorani:] Practically
[Campbell:] But you would have to essentially have all 27 remaining members agreeing to allowing Britain back in and if Britain does hold another referendum is I accept that what she's done today is the massive concession of one of the biggest bargaining chips of the lot. She's now entered negotiations. I still believe that there will be a desire within the European Union for the U.K. to stay in at some point. And I also genuinely believe that British public will change their mind, and let's remember, Theresa May is capable of changing her mind. Until June 23rd, she was a remainer. She is now hard Brexit. We have to persuade her to change her mind. We have to persuade Jeremy Corbyn to get more active and to get more engaged, and actually start to leave the Labour Party. We have to persuade people in Northern Ireland. You had Alex Salmond on here. She talks about bringing the country together. I'm not going to support something I don't believe in. We're talking about the potential breakup of the United Kingdom because of a hard Brexit policy for which frankly I don't consider her to have a mandate.
[Gorani:] All right. We'll see how it turns out. We have two years of this.
[Campbell:] We have a lot longer than that.
[Gorani:] At least in the initial phase. Thanks very much, Alastair Campbell for joining us. Great to have you on. The reaction from Europe, by the way, was swift. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for fair and constructive negotiations with the U.K. Meanwhile, the European Commission president says the British people will come to regret leaving the E.U. Here's what they had to say.
[Angela Merkel, German Chancelor:] The British government has now officially declared its intention to leave the European Union. We Germany, but also the other partners of Great Britain in the European Union, surely did not hope for this day. We're losing a strong and important member state. But, of course, we respect British voters' Democratic decision.
[Jean-claude Juncker, European Commission President:] This as I said earlier a sad day because the British have decided by writing to leave the European Union, a choice they will regret one day. But I'm feeling fine tonight because we have this kind of dialogue and because we are talking about the European future and, in fact, although we have our weaknesses and our failures, we should consider Europe is the best place on Europe to live.
[Gorani:] All right. Let's bring in Richard Quest, who's been following this story closely all day, host of "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" at the top of the hour.
[Richard Quest, Cnn International Host, "quest Means Business":] Do you remember it was you and I sitting in this configuration.
[Gorani:] Do I remember?
[Quest:] Nine months ago.
[Gorani:] We were on the air, I personally was on the air 11 straight hours, personal record. Did it feel like a momentous historic I mean, the thing is when there were other events I've seen more people, gawkers, more people interested in the coverage, this time it feels different. Yet it is a historic day.
[Quest:] This is a deeper moment. Not that sort of momentum with a lot of brass bands, this is a very deep philosophical, structural issue that's going to shift the tectonic plates of European politics for the foreseeable future because let's forget about the U.K., the other issue on the other side of the water, because we're focusing it from here, is can the E-27 remain united or will there be a divide in rule? Will they start fractioning off? Will they start fracturing and eventually fall apart?
[Gorani:] But before we get to that Angela Merkel was quite clear, the U.K. would like to discuss a trade deal in conjunction, in parallel with other divorce issues, how to actually separate, how to consciously uncouple. However
[Quest:] The reality
[Gorani:] However she has said no. We need to consciously uncouple and then we'll talk about the trade.
[Quest:] There will be some form of trade.
[Gorani:] Some form of, but we're not talking very active negotiations. That's a difference.
[Quest:] Well, Michele Bonnier is suggesting that there can be formal negotiations on the divorce, informal negotiations on the trade relationship, so if this succeeds, then this can become formal.
[Gorani:] Sure. Yes, absolutely. But that's not immediate and that's not what the U.K. wants, ideally because they might get to the end of the two- year period and not find themselves in a position of being able to sign a trade deal. That wouldn't be great.
[Quest:] There won't be a great trade deal. I mean, when I say great trade deal, a big trade agreement. That will take many years to negotiate. What you're talking about here is a basic free trade agreement that sets out goods, a policy that sets out services, and, to use that horrible phrase, transitional arrangements that sees everybody over the hump.
[Gorani:] With lot of these E.U. rules and regulations still in place in two years.
[Quest:] No question about it.
[Gorani:] There is no other way.
[Quest:] No, but I love the great repeal bill that's about to be put in parliament here specifically says the European decree goes into British law so there is no uncertainty about what the position is.
[Gorani:] Got it. Richard Quest, see you at the top of the hour. Thanks so much.
[Quest:] Thank you.
[Gorani:] It's a historic day for London, but was also a day of remembrance, one week ago a terror attack unfolded just meters away from here on Westminster Bridge and parliament. Earlier today a vigil was held for the victims. Take a look. Police along with religious leaders and community groups held a moment of silence beneath Elizabeth Tower. They then walked across Westminster Bridge, met police members, paid tribute paying tribute to their fallen colleague, Officer Keith Palmer, three others were killed in the attack. Dozens were wounded. Some of them still in hospital and critically hurt. Day of reflection as well, one week ago today. Much more on this historic day still to come. On the program, we will speak to two British MPs about Article 50 and what may lie ahead as the country begins a pain staking divorce from the E.U.