The Standard

The Evening Standard’s political editor, Joe Murphy, tells us why London may have turned a corner in the battle against coronavirus. We’ve learned case numbers for the infection are now falling in every one of the capital’s boroughs, in some cases up to 30 percent. But Joe also warns that, despite the good news, hospitals are still packed with record numbers of patients, and both the Health Secretary and Mayor of London are appealing for people “not to take their foot off the peddle”.

Also, we look at what the first 100 days of a Joe Biden presidency might look like. The man who beat Donald Trump will be inaugurated at a ceremony in Washington with unprecedented security, including extra vetting for the National Guard amid fears of an “insider attack.”Once he gets to the Oval Office, though, what will President Biden do?

We’re joined by Jack Kessler to look through the probable portfolio of executive orders and policy decisions that will be coming out of the White House from the very first day.  

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An Evening Standard investigation has revealed half a million under-18s who previously showed no signs of mental health issues are now facing problems, due to the lockdowns caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Investigations editor David Cohen joins us to talk about his findings, which also show A&E wards are seeing increasing numbers of adolescents admitted for self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

We also hear from a psychologist who tells us why social media cannot replace physically seeing friends and a headteacher describes seeing traumatised children forget lessons. With cases already at unprecedented levels, the Centre for Mental Health says a new cohort of 500,000 previously healthy children under 18 will require mental health care due to the devastating economic, health and family pressures caused by the virus crisis.

For information and support call Mind on 0300 123 339

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The Evening Standard's Nicholas Cecil joins the show as pressure grows on the government to send more vaccine doses to London. It's emerged the city's delivered just one tenth of the jabs nationally, which mayor Sadiq Khan says has him "hugely concerned". But there appears to be hope on the horizon, with hospital admissions dropping and infections falling in some boroughs. Nicholas also discusses the possible threat of further lockdown restrictions, telling us the government's taking a 'wait and see' approach. 

Also, from Washington, we're joined by The Hill's Capitol reporter Juliegrace Brufke who was in the building when the riots broke out. She describes a city nervous about the upcoming inauguration of Joe Biden, especially after Donald Trump's second impeachment. And she relives the moment the Capitol was breached, telling us how she texted her family while hiding from rioters.

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Health editor Ross Lydall joins the podcast as the Evening Standard reveals London’s getting fewer doses of coronavirus vaccine per head than other areas of the country. t’s down to a “fair share” system that’s distributing the Oxford and Pfizer doses equally between primary care networks. 

London has the highest infection rates in the UK, but is losing out because its population is more dense than some areas. On Tuesday night, London had a record number of Covid patients on ventilators, with the number of working-age adults with the virus taking total inpatient numbers in the capital above 15,000. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked Boris Johnson for additional supplies to help curb the pressure on hospitals.  

Also, Donald Trump is about to become the first US President to be impeached twice in a historic vote in the House of Representatives. We hear from UCL politics expert Julie Norman who tells us, unlike the first time, there are increasing signs some within his own party will support the move in a Senate trial. That may include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who reportedly thinks impeachment will help the Republican party expel Mr Trump’s influence. 

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The Evening Standard’s Sophia Sleigh tells us how her Sunday outing to a local park ended up with a political controversy. She spotted Boris Johnson out on his bike in Stratford with a security detail, seven miles away from Downing Street, at a time when the government’s telling everyone to “stay local”. Sophia says while the PM didn’t break any laws he has an “optics problem” with some claiming it’s a “do as we say not as we do” situation. The row’s also resurrected memories of Dominic Cumming’s eye test at Barnard Castle, leading to calls for ministers to clarify exactly what “local” means.

Also, #FreeSchoolMeals has been trending on social media after pictures of what impoverished families are being sent to feed their kids started appearing. In lieu of £30 vouchers, they’ve been receiving boxes from private companies, but the meagre offerings only include some bread, a few vegetables and cans of baked beans. The department of education say’s its looking into it. Our columnist, Susannah Butter, tells us she thinks it’s “appalling” and wonders what would have happened if Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford hadn’t, once again, stepped in to help.

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The Chief Medical Officer, Chris Witty, is warning the health service will face unprecedented pressures as coronavirus continues to spread. In London, an estimated one in twenty have the infection. We speak to Lewisham GP Dr Louise Irvine who describes five hour waits for ambulances, poor co-ordination in the vaccine delivery system, and little support for those trying to stick to lockdown rules. 

Also, celebrity correspondent Lizzie Edmonds talks to us about the reboot of Sex and the City. The gang's getting back together for a new series on HBO Max, but Kim Cattrall's iconic Samantha Jones is not on the announced cast. Will it really be the same without her?

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Health editor Ross Lydall joins the show to explain why the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has "put up the biggest red flag he can" as coronavirus runs rampant through the city. Ross tells us what that means for hospitals where doctors have told him they are "horrified" by the rise in cases that Mr Khan describes as "out of control". There are more than 7,000 Covid patients in London hospitals — almost 2,000 more than the first peak last April — and almost 1,000 are on ventilators.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard's Susannah Butter has been talking to some of the nurses in the capital trying to cope with an onslaught of infected patients arriving in their wards. She tells us they're struggling to deal with the huge numbers, and it's causing enormous stress that inevitably many are taking home with them. 

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Boris Johnson’s under huge pressure to deliver a successful vaccine roll-out today as he promised MPs a “means of escape” from lockdown. Our political editor, Joe Murphy, says the Prime Minister’s announced that London’s ExCeL exhibition centre will host one of seven new mega-vaccination venues launched in stadia and halls next week. But he’s facing growing unease, including from within his own party, over how long the latest lockdown will last. Meanwhile, education secretary Gavin Williamson’s cabinet position may be in doubt after he cancelled GCSE and A-Level exams, days after a screeching u-turn on school closures.

And, we speak to Dr Julie Norman, from UCL’s department of political science, as it appears the Democrats are taking the Senate off the Republicans. She tells us how activists and politicians rallied supporters to overcome voter suppression in what was once a deep red state. And she says some Republicans are blaming Donald Trump for the loss, risking a split in the party. 

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Michael Gove appears to have contradicted the Prime Minister's suggestion that the new lockdown in England will end in February, by suggesting it'll be March before restictions are lifted. The Evening Standard's political reporter Sophia Sleigh tells us why the new rules may be in force longer than first thought, and how that's impacting the country's economy as well as morale. 

And Netflix says Bridgerton was watched in 63 million households in the first four weeks of its release. Katie Rosseinsky says the period drama, which uses contemporary music and has a diverse cast, is among several to try shaking up the genre. 

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