The Standard

Boris Johnson has just faced his biggest Tory rebellion since becoming Prime Minister. A total of 99 Conservative MPs opposed Johnson’s plan to introduce Covid passes but the move passed due to support from the Labour Party.

Tory rebels spoke publicly today saying Johnson needs ‘to change’ but how much will this have shaken the PM?

The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor, David Bond, explains the significance of the rebellion and whether it's time for Mr Johnson to worry about a potential leadership challenge.

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As the race to get a Covid-19 booster jab continues and long queues form outside vaccination centres, how realistic is the government’s target to get everyone triple vaccinated by the end of the year?

In London, already more than half of all coronavirus cases are of the Omicron variant, and the number of coronavirus patients in the capital’s hospitals is at its highest level since March.

And in Scotland extra measures have been brought in to try and limit the spread of Omicron - including a limit on socialising to three households.

The Evening Standard’s Health Editor Ross Lydall discusses how the UK’s booster programme is going, and how big a risk the Omicron variant poses to the nation and the NHS.

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The UK Government says it’s ‘throwing everything’ at beating Omicron as it brings forward the target date for all adult booster jabs to be delivered by the end of December. It comes as the first UK death has been recorded with the variant. 

But with huge queues outside vaccination centres and many reporting issues with the online booking system, will the new target be achievable?

Nicholas Cecil, the Evening Standard’s Political Editor, walks us through the new campaign to ‘Get Boosted Now’ and its potential challenges. 

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What is the key to Succession’s success?  

The hit US TV comedy-drama - with a heavy British influence - follows the incredibly powerful Roy family and the inner workings of their company Waystar RoyCo. The family fight amongst themselves over who will take over the global media and entertainment conglomerate after their father, Logan Roy. 

It’s won countless awards and an adoring global fan base - so much so that a fourth series has already been confirmed. 

As season three draws to a close, we speak to one of Succession’s former writers - Anna Jordan - about being in the writers room and what the key is to the show’s success. We also ask her thoughts on series four and whether or not she thinks it will be the last...  

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As the drama continues around alleged Christmas parties at Downing Street last year, an NHS doctor is warning public trust in the government is waning.

The Conservative Party has now admitted an event took place in the party’s Westminster headquarters on December 14th last year.

An investigation continues into allegations that the party held more events last year, when covid rules at the time stated they weren’t allowed.

Dr Sonia Adesara discusses her reaction to the allegations, a potential rise in people not following covid measures, and the health risk that poses for UK hospitals.

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It’s been a tough day at the office for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as he faced a fiery PMQs largely focused on claims of a Christmas Party at Number 10 last year, when such gatherings had been banned under pandemic restrictions.

One of Boris Johnson’s advisors at the heart of the scandal, Allegra Stratton has resigned and offered her “profound apologies”, after footage emerged of her joking about a Downing Street Christmas party.

The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor David Bond discusses the alleged party, how the Prime Minister coped during today’s fiery PMQs and whether Boris still has the public’s trust.

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As coronavirus cases are on the rise again and the Omicron variant becomes more prevalent, some of the measures designed to slow the spread of the virus have been reintroduced.

Wearing facemasks is mandatory again in shops and on public transport, and extra testing is required for those travelling to the UK from abroad.

But, so far no major changes have been made in schools across England.

The Evening Standard's Education Editor Anna Davis and Mike Short from UNISON discuss how schools are coping with rising Covid cases, what measures are needed to keep children safe, and why it's so important schools remain open.

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London’s youth unemployment has soared by 55 per cent since the start of the pandemic, with 21 per cent of young people seeking work jobless.

The Office for National Statistics says the figure is five times the national jobless rate of 4.3 per cent for all ages.

In response, the Evening Standard, The Independent, and London Live have launched their Skill Up Step Up Campaign, to help young people in the capital get into work.

Campaigns Editor for the Evening Standard David Cohen explains why young people are struggling, what went wrong with the government’s own scheme to tackle unemployment, and what the Skill Up Step Up campaign is all about.

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We get the scoop on Intellipedia, the internal Wiki developed at Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley. The Leader was granted the first British broadcast interview with one of the digital specialists instrumental in its creation. Carmen Medina rose from analyst to Deputy Director of Intelligence, working under six presidents from Carter to Obama during her 32-year tenure.

Now retired, Carmen talks us through Intellipedia’s development, her role in the aftermath of 9/11 and the cybersecurity risks lurking in your smartphone.

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