The Standard

It’s been a week to forget for the Prime Minister and with allegations of even more government covid rule breaks, he’s still not out of the woods. 

After a family member tested positive for covid, Boris Johnson is now stuck isolating in Downing Street giving him time to think about his next move. 

The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor, David Bond, explains what we know so far about the numerous controversial parties, how much clarity the Sue Gray inquiry will bring to the situation and whether there’s a way back from this for Boris.

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Travel to France is back again. The country has announced it will lift its ban on UK holidaymakers from tomorrow.

It means an end to controversial restrictions brought in last month for British travellers to curb the rapid spread of Omicron. These included; having ‘a compelling reason’ to enter the country and a requirement to isolate on arrival.

It all sounds like good news but it’s not actually that straight forward as Simon Calder, the Independent’s Travel Correspondent explains.

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London could be about to face a different health crisis - congestion. 

The city’s Mayor has issued a warning that the capital could soon be overrun by filthy air and gridlock because of a shift towards driving as transport during the pandemic. However, with the ongoing TfL funding crisis and fare increases on the horizon, Sadiq Khan has a big job on his hands if he wants to convince people to ditch their cars. 

Also, with positive signs of covid cases in the city easing, can we expect a return to the office soon? 

Our City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall, has been speaking to Mr Khan about what this could all mean for Londoners, if the end is near for working from home and whether we can expect any changes when it comes to the law on cannabis. 

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New findings from Imperial College London could help future-proof covid vaccines.

The study found that high levels of T-cells from common cold coronaviruses could provide protection against covid - which could give a blue print when it comes to creating new jabs to target the virus. 

Dr Rhia Kundu is the study author from Imperial College London. She explains the findings and how Londoners played a crucial role in this important research.

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You’ve already been hit with the highest inflation rate in 10 years - and there’s more financial heartache in store for Londoners...

The capital and South East are set to bear the brunt of National Insurance increases, and your household bills are forecast to spiral by hundreds of pounds.

How do we get this under control, and can anything be learned from history?

David Bond, the Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor, unpicks the economics and examines what all this means for the Prime Minister's electoral prospects.

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If you’re still nursing the post-New Year blues or hope to cut down your drinking a bit for ‘22, London’s first alcohol-free off-licence has opened as a pop-up in the West End.

The shop is run by former Islington Liberal Democrat councillor Laura Willoughby, who founded her Club Soda startup to help people with “mindful drinking”, spurred by an energy boost after giving up alcohol herself a decade ago.

Now, the month-long pop-up on Great Portland Street is stacked with low and no-alcohol drinks, from beer to vodka and even pre-mixed negronis.

It comes as the British Beer & Pub Association said Britons were set to drink nearly 8 million pints of low-and no-alcohol beer this month amid Dry January resolutions.

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David Bowie has posthumously earned his estate what’s reported to be about £185 million ($250 million), and the Starman joins the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner among artists selling the rights to their back catalogues for hundreds of millions.

But why, how does it work, and is there anything in all this for younger artists? The Evening Standard’s City Editor, Oscar Williams-Grut, dissects Bowie’s mega-deal and discusses how in the 90s, the singer sold his own royalty-backed ‘Bowie Bonds’.

Fans of Brixton’s famous son can also enjoy a month-long celebration of his legacy at the BFI Southbank, with a new show called The Starman and the Silver Screen, showcasing his roles in film and television.

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Commuter rail routes groaned back into the service today, but suffered cancellations and Covid-linked train staff shortages.

Prepare yourself for hefty fare increases in 2022...but could Crossrail, AKA the Elizabeth Line, finally open?

The Standard’s City Hall Editor Ross Lydall examines the year’s public transport issues ahead. Mainline fare increases of 3.8 per cent are incoming, while Tube passengers can expect a 4.8% hike. Commuters are also set to face future travel chaos after the RMT union voted for a six-month strike from January 7. The RMT action will see members walk-out from the Victoria and Central lines at 8.30pm on Friday until 8am on Saturday, and from 8.30pm on Saturday until 8am on Sunday. Transport chiefs say they are “disappointed” at the planned strikes, warning it will “cause unnecessary disruption”.

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