Witnesses Describe Horror Outside Mosque
KINKADE: Hello, I'm Lynda Kincaid. Welcome to this edition of THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. They call it a high stakes political game of beat the clock. Brexit talks between the U.K. and the European Union officially got underway in Brussels on Monday. U.K. and EU negotiators called the mood "incredibly positive." The both sides have less than two years to come up with a deal. And months of hard bargaining remain including the complex issues of EU citizens' rights, future trade agreements and U.K. financial payments to Europe. EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, says the goal is to agree on the terms of Brexit first, and then take up their future trade relationship. This appears to be a major concession from the U.K. Meantime, British Brexit secretary, David Davis, said the status of Northern Ireland and the and the Good Friday agreement took up more time today than any other subject. Despite the daunting challenges, both sides believe they can get a good agreement.</s>MICHEL BARNIER, CHIEF EU BREXIT NEGOTIATOR: This first session was useful. Indeed, to start off on the right foot as the clock is ticking.</s>DAVID DAVIS, BRITISH BREXIT SECRETARY: There's more that unites us than divides us. So, while there will be undoubtedly challenging times ahead of us in the negotiations, we will do all that we can to assure that we deliver a deal that works in the best interest of all citizens.</s>KINKADE: Well, Daniel Hannan joins me now. He Is a Conservative member of the European Parliament for Southeast England and the author of the book "Why". He joins me now from Brussels. Good to have you with us. We hear today that there was a positive agreement. A good start to the talks. What did you make of it?</s>DANIEL HANNAN, MEMBER OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Yes, I think it was. And that's to be expected. We have a continuing interest in each other's prosperity. I mean, Britain wants to have a successful and wealthy European Union next door. If for no other reason than that prosperous neighbors may good customers. And I think that the reverse applies. So, I hope that at the end of this process, instead of being the grudging tenants that we've been these past 40 years, will become the best of neighbors.</s>KINKADE: The Prime Minister called that snap election and it did backfire. She didn't get the mandate that she needed. Does she have the weaker hand here going into these negotiations?</s>HANNAN: Well, it's actually the most pro-Brexit House of Commons we've ever had. In the sense that 85 percent of MPs were elected for parties promising to implement the referendum results. As a opposed to 13 percent in the last House of Commons. I don't think there's going to be any real change from the deal that was ordered. The proposed deal that was set up by the U.K. government before. We want to have the closest relationship with our European allies. We want to be they're military and trading and security partners. We want to preserve the bits of the deal that are working. But we want to live under our own laws and we want gradually to be able to reorient towards a more global trading policy anymore deregulated economic policy at home. And I think that's a process that can unfold in and agreed and cordial fashion.</s>KINKADE: There is a lot to work through over the next couple of years. What do you think will be the most complex of the negotiations?</s>HANNAN: Well, you've already touched on the issues involving Ireland. All sides, London, Dublin, in Brussels agree that we do not want a hard border in Ireland. I think that's perfectly achievable. We have a common travel area at the moment that includes the U.K. and Ireland which are in the EU and that also includes the Channel Islands and the and the Isle of Man that are outside the EU. So, it's something that can be managed feasibly. But it's going to require a certain amount of finessing. And then of course, there's going to be arguments about agriculture and fisheries and so on. And of course, they'll be a big row about the budget. But I think on the big fundamentals, the continuation of a free trade area, the continuation of security and military links and so on, and indeed, reciprocal rights for each other's nationals who have already settled in each other's territory, I think the two sides are very close together.</s>KINKADE: Big businesses in the U.K. are really pushing for a softer Brexit. There's a lot of fear amongst business in the U.K. Should there be?</s>HANNAN: No, I think those fears are misplaced. I think we will end up outside the single market in the literal sense that we're not bound by the European Commission and Court, because we'll be outside their jurisdiction. But having done that there's no reason why we shouldn't replicate quite a lot of the contents of the single market regulations. There are lots of non-EU states that do this very successfully, from Guernsey and Jersey to Switzerland. There are outside the single market in a legal sense, but through bilateral treaty and through domestic legislation, they mimic quite a lot of it. And you know, I help noticing that they're managing pretty well. The Swiss export nearly 5 times as much per head to the EU from the outside as we do. It's plainly not an impediment to a successful trading relationship. But this was have a huge advantage that we can now look forward to. And also, being able to sign their own free trade agreements with the United States, with China, with India, with Australia and that something that I think is going to significantly boost our economy in the years to come.</s>KINKADE: All right, Daniel Hannan. Great to get your perspective on all of that. Thanks so much.</s>HANNAN: Thank you.</s>KINKADE: With Brexit negotiations officially underway, Theresa May is still working on solidifying her alliance with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party. In his first foreign trip since taking office, the newly elected prime minister of the Republic of Ireland visited 10 Downing Street. And he said that any border that exists between the Republic and Northern Ireland after Brexit must be invisible. Speaking at a joint press conference on Monday, Mrs. May said she wants to maintain a common travel area with Ireland after Brexit.</s>THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm personally committed to ensuring a practical solution that recognizes the unique economic, social, cultural and political context of the land border with Ireland which so many people pass through every day. And it will remain our priority to work closely with the Irish government to ensure a frictionless and seamless border as frictionless and seamless border as possible.</s>KINKADE: CNN's Nic Robertson joins me now from Downing Street. And Nic, Theresa May has come under a lot of criticism as she's dealt with issues on the home front. The things that come to mind are those recent tragedies. If she in a vulnerable position right now?</s>ROBERTSON: She is. There are certain of her MPs who would like her to be removed and step down. It does seem to be impractical for the Conservative Party to do that. Number one, whoever would take over the job right now would be under huge political pressure from not just the Brexit negotiations, but all the other things that are happening in Britain at the moment. Dealing with for example, the Grenfell Tower burning last week. That has caused particular trouble for Theresa May. We've also seen her obviously, dealing with the attack, the terror attack overnight last night at Finsbury Park, most of the terror attacks over the past few weeks. There's a huge amount happening here that are major distractions from dealing with the outcome of the Brexit talks. But not the lease, on top of that was the disastrous elections that she called that have left her party in a minority. And she still yet to form an agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland to count on their votes. And the Queen's speech is on Wednesday this week. So, when you frame all of that it would be a very toxic moment for another Conservative politician to take over. So, while there's pressure on her to get this right and to show that she can get it right and to do the right things. As she did today, going to the Finsbury Park Mosque to meet some of the leaders in the community there. Something she failed or was slow to do last week with the tragedy in the tower that caught fire. She is trying to put some of that to right and lay some of the criticism that's being thrusting once again. So, she's trying to put some of that down. But it doesn't detract from the fact that there are still a lot of Conservatives out there who believe that she is not going to be able to lead them all the way through the Brexit negotiations with a weak government that doesn't have a majority and that needs to count on votes of other parties that haven't yet been secured.</s>KINKADE: All right, Nic Robertson for us live outside 10 Downing Street. Thank you very much. European stocks rose across the board on Monday after French President, Emmanuel Macron, one a substantial parliamentary majority in Sunday's final vote. The French CAC claimed its biggest rise since May 5. While the German Dax logged a fresh record high, climbing 1.1 percent by the markets close. British Prime Minister, Theresa May, says Islamophobia is a form of extremism and the U.K. has been far too tolerant over the years. Up next, I'll speak to a former police chief about the fight against extremists and hateful ideology.