The Standard

Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us the government’s fears of a new, as yet unknown, coronavirus mutation are behind its “timid” approach to lifting lockdown. Despite pressure from some MPs in his own party, Boris Johnson’s resisting demands to speed up the process saying the way out “will be “cautious but irreversible”.We hear how that’s causing a row inside Downing Street, but measures such as “Covid Passports” are being ruled out.

Also, features writer Katie Strick gives us the lowdown on pregnancy for the famous in LA, following the Duchess of Sussex’s announcement that she’s expecting a second baby. Learn about the hospitals where a “natural birth” means not wearing make-up and which celebrity pals might be God parents to the new arrival. 

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Stephen Manderson, aka Professor Green, is a big advocate for opening up the conversation around mental health, having presented documentaries on everything from suicide to child poverty. 

On this episode of the Leader podcast Evening Standard columnist Jimi Famurewa, sits down with Stephen to talk about the profound effect the pandemic is having on everyone’s mental health, particularly for children, and his thoughts on the impact of social media in our lives.

Speaking from his London home, the rapper spoke about working from home and juggling two new businesses Aguulp, a supplement company, and Giz n Greens, a pizza business that he set up with his close friend and chef Gizzi Erskine during the pandemic.

This episode is an adaptation from Evening Standard’s video series The Lockdown Sessions, you can watch the full interview here.

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The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy joins us to explain the concerns over the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, as the Prime Minister says he says he has “every confidence” in the jab. It comes after a study of around 2,000 people suggested it only offers minimal protection against mild disease of the variant and, due to the young age of participants, could not conclude whether the jab worked against severe disease.

Experts in the UK though say it does guard against the worst of the virus, but it’s possible the country will now need three injections to the ever evolving Covid bug at bay. Also, Joe tells us about the Standard’s exclusive IPSOS Mori poll, showing Britons would prefer Boris Johnson rather than Keir Starmer to be in charge of the rest of the pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery. He says it’s a problem for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who appears to be failing to make an impact with the public, even as the UK has a record coronavirus death toll. 

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Health editor Ross Lydall joins us to explain how two major milestones in the fight against coronavirus are about to converge on a single day.1.5 million people from London’s most at risk groups should have been vaccinated by February 15, which is also the day the government will start putting UK arrivals into quarantine hotels. But those strict border rules are coming under criticism, with some hotels unhappy about being forced to take people in and at the same time turn other customers away. Labour’s also accusing the government of being too slow to implement the changes, which come 50 days after the ‘South Africa’ variant was first discovered.

Also, the Evening Standard’s chief theatre critic Nick Curtis gives us his five star review of 2021’s first theatrical blockbuster: ‘Handforth Parish Council’. He tells us how the cast of unknowns have made a “supreme” drama with their Zoom call set to the backdrop of a meeting in a small Cheshire town. He also predicts “You don’t have the authority, Jackie Weaver!” will become the catchphrase of video conferencing for the remainder of lockdown.

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan tells us how the coronavirus pandemic has “exposed the institutional racism” in the city, with BAME communities hardest hit by the infection. In an interview with Ayesha Hazarika, he describes how he recognised something was wrong as he wrote letters to grieving families and realised so many names were from ethnic minority backgrounds.

He also calls for greater cross-party collaboration to beat the bug, citing the a video featuring MPs from all parties encouraging Black and Asian people to get the vaccine as an example of what can be done.

Mr Khan also says he fears a mental health crisis is unfolding in London, comparing the trauma some are experiencing to that faced by the public during the Second World War. And he talks about how he’s using music, zoom calls and walks with the dog to help him get through an extraordinary time.

The interview is adapted from the Evening Standard’s Lockdown Sessions series. The full-length video is available on our YouTube channel.

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London’s public health director, Professor Kevin Fenton, reveals the findings of his study into the spread of coronavirus in London through the pandemic so far. He’s discovered that the capital’s Asian community was hardest hit in the second wave of the infection’s spread, and in this special edition of the podcast he explains why that may have happened.

Speaking to our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, he also reveals that more cases have been found in women than men, and discusses the ‘South African’ and ‘Kent’ variations of Covid-19.

He also tells us about when he hopes lockdown restrictions might start to be lifted, and pays tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, the Second World War Veteran who raised millions for the NHS and has died after testing positive for Covid. 

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Political reporter Sophia Sleigh joins the podcast as scientists warn there may be other versions of coronavirus emerging. The Government’s former chief scientific adviser has said he is "more worried" about the South American covid variant than the one from South Africa. Professor Sir Mark Walport, who held the top advisory post from 2013 to 2017, warned that different variants were “cropping up” around the world. 

Also, John Arlidge tells us about the one thing Joe Biden and Donald Trump agree on: ‘Big Tech’ should have its powers curbed. But how can that be done? He explains the difficulties in tackling social media such as Facebook, and the overwhelming dominance of firms like Apple and Amazon

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