The Standard

As the UK commemorates the 75th anniversary of VE day, are we living through this generation's defining moment? Evening Standard columnist Matthew D'Ancona reflects on what can be learned from not just the moment of victory in Europe, but the struggles the country faced after it. With Boris Johnson expected to ease some lockdown rules next week, he believes we face our toughest challenge yet, and future generations will judge us on our decisions. 

Hotels are hoping to re-open before the end of the summer, and welcome in those who have been desperate for a break since social isolation began. But the Evening Standard's consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn says the experience is going to be very different, with receptions scrapped and restaurants closed in favour of room service. With the Bank of England also warning of the sharpest recession on record heading the UK's way, how many people will be in a position to rent a room anyway? 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the UK's leading Covid-19 experts, has resigned from the government's SAGE advisory panel after getting caught breaking his own lockdown rules. Critics say he couldn't continue in the face of accusations of hypocrisy as the general public continues to self-isolate. But how does his stepping down make the country safer? The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover argues he should have held his ground , and the UK needs to accept flawed people can make good decisions. 

Rory Stewart has dropped out of the London mayoral race claiming pandemic restrictions in the city make it "impossible" to campaign for an already delayed election. He announced the decision with an article in the Evening Standard, and hasn't yet given any other candidate his endorsement. Our City Hall editor Ross Lydall breaks down what the move means for the rest of the runners, including how Sadiq Khan could be the one with the most to gain.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government’s furlough scheme has been a lifeline for businesses and individuals during lockdown - but it can’t continue forever. Taxpayers are meeting the wages of 6.3 million people at a cost of around £8 billion. The Evening Standard has revealed the government’s now looking at ways to taper off the subsidy, starting with reducing it from 80 percent of an employees wage to 60 percent. What will this mean for small businesses? Craig Beaumont from the Federation of Small Businesses joins the Leader podcast.

In order to lift the lockdown, the UK must pass five tests: does the NHS have enough capacity; has there been a sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths, is the rate of infection decreasing, is there enough PPE to meet demand, is there a risk of a second peak? So how close are we? The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor has been running the numbers, and joins The Leader podcast to share what he’s found.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government appears to be getting ready to put the country back to work - but how can that be done, and when will it happen? As a tracing app goes live on the Isle of Wight this week, it's understood Boris Johnson is preparing a speech for Sunday that will outline his strategy to lift the lockdown. The Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy tells The Leader podcast it will involve relaxing the two metre rule for social distancing, a reduction in hot-desking, and a ban on borrowing other people's pens. 

If the offices are going back, what about the schools? There's no confirmed date for pupils returning to classes, but headteachers all over the country are starting preparations, with some expecting lessons to resume in July. We speak to Charles Fillingham, head of Francis Holland School in Regent's Park, on how they'll be handling social distancing, and whether he expects all the children to come back on the first day.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what could be a decisive move against coronavirus, full-scale tracking and tracing of new infections is planned by the end May. It will see people using an app, and the government deploying tens of thousands of officials to chase down fresh outbreaks. It comes as testing is ramped up across the UK. The Evening Standard's political editor, Joe Murphy, explains how the system will work, and also discusses his exclusive interview with Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer. 

US President Donald Trump is undermining his own intelligence service with a claim he's seen evidence Covid-19 broke out of a lab in China. The office of the National Intelligence Director says there's nothing to suggest the virus is "genetically modified or manmade," and most scientists think it was transferred to humans from animals. But the President's approval ratings have been falling as infections increase in the US. So is this more about winning the election in November than investigating the origins of the outbreak? We ask US politics expert Dr Rubrick Biegon from Kent University.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London mayor Sadiq Khan joins us on the podcast to talk about the future of the city after lockdown. He's written an opinion article for the Evening Standard, outlining the challenges being faced by the people, transport and businesses. He's calling for financial support from the UK government, including extending furloughing "long into the future" but how will that be paid for? We also ask if the tube and busses are ready for commuters returning to work, after the London Strategic Co-ordination group warned the network could be "rapidly overwhelmed" because of social distancing needs. 

Colonel Tom Moore has celebrated his 100th birthday. To mark the occasion, he was treated to a flypast by Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, and yesterday received a promotion for his efforts which have raised more than £30 million for NHS charities. 

The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds on Colonel Moore’s journey into the limelight - including being the first centenarian to feature on a Number One single - and why he has become so dear to our hearts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of their son.  Born in the early hours of the morning at a London hospital, the pair have thanked their “fantastic NHS team” .

After a busy few months and being struck down with the virus, it is unlikely for the Prime Minister to take any more time off.  The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s ‘Londoner' editor Ayesha Hazarika on the latest from Downing Street. We ask her whether the gender of a prime minister makes any difference when their child is born?

Restaurants remain to stay closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The simple pleasure of dining out with loved ones will not be the same for at least a couple of years. But how can restaurants come back from this? There isn’t yet a government led guideline in place. The Leader podcast speak to Michelin star chef Jason Atherton and ask how he plans to reopen – and still succeed – in a post lockdown world.  Can a restaurant really survive with social distancing for another two years?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deaths from coronavirus in England, Scotland and Wales have risen to tragic new heights. The Office for National Statistics says they've increased by 633, bringing an end to the downward trend that had been seen recently. The Prime Minister and Chancellor joined the nation in holding a minute's silence for key workers killed in a pandemic that shows little sign of going away. But the Evening Standard's Health Editor, Ross Lydall, says in amongst all the statistics there are signs of hope.

In its most ambitious campaign ever, the Evening Standard has set a target of raising £10 million to keep London fed through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. We've teamed up with the Felix Project, which is distributing 100,000 meals a day to the poor and elderly who cannot afford food or are stuck at home, as well as NHS staff. Our Food for London Now appeal has already raised £3 million in just over a month but our proprietor, Evgeney Lebedev, tells us the situation will get worse once the lockdown is lifted so more help is needed. You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson's gone back to work with an attempt to seize control of the government's faltering lockdown strategy, and a warning that the UK faces its "moment of maximum risk." He appeared at the lectern outside Downing Street to ask families and businesses to be patient and not "throw away the sacrifice of the British people." But was it effective? We ask the Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover.

What happens in London after lockdown? The newspaper's running a series of sustained reporting looking at how the city will recover once the social isolation restrictions are lifted. The Leader podcast speaks to Lord Heseltine to get his view on how regeneration should begin, and we learn what happened when he was first told about the BSE crisis while in government. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s thought around 34 percent of people with covid-19 in the UK come from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background. Those communities make up 14 percent of the population in England and Wales. The government has tasked NHS England with looking at the issue, but now Labour is launching a rival review, headed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence. 

In this episode of The Leader podcast, we speak to infectious disease physician Manish Pareek to discuss the complexities of investigating this issue - including the fact that until recently the ethnic backgrounds of covid-19 victims have not been recorded. We also meet lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu to ask whether we really need two investigations.

Olivia Colman helps feed the hungry in London

Actor Olivia Colman has been helping prepare meals for the needy with the Felix Foundation. The charity is a partner with the Evening Standard’s Food for London Now campaign, which today announced donations have passed £3 million. Evening Standard investigations editor David Cohen joins The Leader podcast to explain why coronavirus is exacerbating the issue of food poverty in London, and how the generosity of Evening Standard readers is making a difference.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.