The Standard

The Evening Standard's Susannah Butter joins the show to talk about her interview with the Education Secretary that set Twitter ablaze. During their chat Gavin Williamson appeared to confuse footballer Marcus Rashford with rugby player Maro Itoje. The cabinet member's name was trending on the social network, with Rashford himself among commenters saying: "Accent could have been a giveaway". Susannah tells us what happened when Mr Williamson made the gaffe, and also talks about some of the other parts of the interview including his "transitioning" tarantula and the moment he realised he may have accidentally insulted the Queen. 

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The Evening Standard's Jack Kessler takes a look at the numbers as the Prime Minister announces a 1.25% increase in National Insurance to, Boris Johnson says, fix social care and the NHS following the devastation of the pandemic. The government says the move will raise £36bn, but it breaks a manifesto commitment not to raise taxes and some in the Conservative party have said they're opposed to the move. We ask Jack why the PM's taking a gamble, exactly what the proposals actually mean, and whether or not it'll pay off the PM?

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Evening Standard reporter Rachael Burford joins the show to talk about how tens of thousands of Londoners have finally started returning to the office. She's been at London Bridge talking to commuters, some of whom haven't been back at their desks for 18 months or more. But is this the start of a long-term return to tubes and busses, or will we see the numbers tailing back off again as the new post-pandemic world begins. 

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Arts correspondent Robert Dex joins us to talk about ABBA’s reunion concert in London next year. The band are building their own venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and the gig will use digital versions of Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Ingrid that have been dubbed “Abbatars”. We also talk about the two new songs that have been released and the pioneering steps ABBA have taken to keep their name in headlights despite not producing any new music for 40 years.

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It looks like London is going back to the office, but it's far from everyone and it's certainly not every day. Our consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us how another initiative to encourage people back to their desks by reminding them of nights out with colleagues. But with Friday appearing to be a popular work from home day, how effective will that campaign be? Also, although public transport is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, alarming figure show car use in the city centre is higher than it was before Covid-19. Is all the work to discourage cars on the commute being unravelled? 

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Throughout this week, schools across London are re-opening after the summer break but can they avoid the shutdowns that blighted last year? Our education editor Anna Davis takes us through what steps are being taken by teachers and pupils to keep Covid-19 at bay, even though face masks aren't mandatory and 'bubbles' are no longer in use.  There's also uncertainty about lessons themselves, with teachers saying that, despite government assurances, they don't know if there will be exams held at the end of the school year or how they will be assessed if they are.  And Anna tells us about the mental health issues that some school heads are concerned about, with warnings support services are coming under increased pressure as teenagers return to the classroom and problems from the lockdown emerge. 

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The Evening Standard's political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the podcast following the departure of the final US soldier from Kabul airport, and the Taliban taking total control of Afghanistan. He tells us why "more speculation than usual" is surrounding the Foreign Secretary's position, as Dominic Raab faces more criticism over his handling of the crisis. And we also learn that Boris Johnson is not at Downing Street right now, but his team is insisting he's "not on holiday". 

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As the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden writes for the Evening Standard to persuade Londoners to spend money at attractions in the city, our Business Consumer Editor Jonathan Prynn tells us why. He says this weekend is the last chance tourist traps that have been shut for the last 18 months have to bring in cash before everything closes again for the winter. We also discuss the dire straits of Theatreland, which is trying to battle back with a series of blockbuster openings like Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Cinderella’. And we look ahead to the Festive season, when the city’s shops will be making the same appeal as they try to finish a horrendous 2021. 

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The Evening Standard’s defence editor Robert Fox joins us following an explosion and gunfire at an entry gate into Kabul Airport. He tells us how the US and UK have been worried about “yet another thing” hampering efforts to get people out of the country, but warns advice to head to the border may be the wrong action to take. He also tells us about ISIS-K, an offshoot from the original Islamic State that’s been operating inside Afghanistan and may have plans to launch terrorism attacks in foreign countries. 

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A plea from Boris Johnson and other world leader for the US to extend its deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has been rebuffed by Joe Biden. To explain what’s happening, the Leader podcast spoke to Dr Julie Norman, deputy director of UCL’s Centre on US politics. She tells us that the White House’s decision is the first example of Biden’s foreign policy in action, in which he wants to work with allies but “basing the tough decisions on how he views US interests”. We also discuss whether Afghanistan will become an issue in the US midterm elections next year, and how the situation is playing out in neighbouring countries.

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