The Standard

 Boris Johnson has now been in hospital for a couple of days, and there’s no word on when he’ll be coming out. The government says he’s “stable and in good spirits”, but he’s suffered breathing difficulties and received what Downing Street calls “standard oxygen treatment.” Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is in charge for the moment – but what if this goes on longer? We speak to Lord Owen, the former foreign secretary under James Callaghan, to ask how governments work without a Prime Minister, and what lessons we can learn from history?

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Her Majesty is being praised for an address to the nation that inspired memories of the united efforts the UK made to get through the Second World War. The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover says she gave the country a sense that people remain in charge, and we can get through this crisis. 

A new Labour leader:

On Saturday Sir Keir Starmer was announced as the new Labour leader with a decisive 56 percent majority. 

Under normal circumstances the new opposition leader might be expected to begin with a confident broadside against the government. Instead one of Sir Keir’s first acts was to speak to the Prime Minister and promise to work with him to get the country through the coronavirus crisis. Clearly these are not ‘normal circumstances’ so how does an opposition work during a pandemic? Ayesha Hazarika, former Labour speechwriter and Evening Standard Londoner’s Diary editor, joins the Leader podcast.

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London’s newest hospital, NHS Nightingale opened today after a heroic nine-day build. The field hospital, housed in London’s Excel Centre, will be the world’s largest critical care unit.

NHS Nightingale opened with 500 beds with capacity for 3,500 more. It will be used to treat patients who have been transferred from intensive care units across the capital. Up to 16,000 staff could be working at the facility. These will include NHS nurses, doctors and volunteers from St John Ambulance.

Prince Charles opened the hospital via video message from home, where he is himself recovering from coronavirus symptoms. He said, “Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp, brought hope and healing to thousands in their darkest hour. In this dark time this place will be a shining light." More hospitals are expected to be built across the UK in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. 

Today’s special edition of The Leader: Coronavirus Daily tells the story of this heroic project, with contributions from our reporters who have been inside the new Nightingale hospital.

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As NHS England announces a record 561 deaths with coronavirus in a single day, the government faces relentless pressure to fix its testing ‘fiasco’. On Thursday the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced his five-point plan to “press the accelerator” on coronavirus tests. But is it enough, and can the government make good on their promises? The Evening Standard’s Health Editor joins The Leader podcast to discuss what the government’s plan means, and why increased testing is so vital.

Big Issue Magazine

A week ago, the government ordered local councils to house rough sleepers within 48 hours in response to the coronavirus crisis. But many are still living on the streets. Big Issue founder Lord Bird joins The Leader podcast to discuss why, despite the complexities that authorities now face, this could be the moment we end rough sleeping the UK for good.

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London’s National Health Service has reached its “hour of need”. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has issued an appeal to businesses and organisations across the capital to lend vehicles, hotel rooms, and spare medical equipment. The NHS is under pressure for beds and staffing and people are starting to help. The London Fire brigade have offered staff as ambulance drivers and thousands of people have signed up to be NHS volunteers. Even 5* hotels such as Claridge’s are offering their beds and hot meals to doctors, nurses and other key workers. The Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy speaks to The Leader podcast on how vital it is that more of us provide support to those who ceaselessly care for us.

UK pollution has fallen to its lowest levels during the coronavirus lockdown. The public are driving less, public transport services and commercial flights have either been reduced or cancelled. Data from the London Air Quality Network, run by Kings College, compared the current pollution levels with the average.  The Leader podcast speak to Simon Birkett, founder of Clean Air London, to find out how much of a difference there is and what the long term impact might be.

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The Metropolitan police have made hundreds of arrests after raiding homes of criminals in self-isolation. The Evening Standard's crime correspondent Anthony France tells the Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast, it's an example of a police force acting properly, at a time when others are being criticised for clamping down on people going for walks or "driving to relieve boredom".

There is no cure for coronavirus, but that doesn't stop some people from offering alternative medications. The Evening Standard's Liam Coleman tells us about the London church leader selling 'divine plague protection' for £91 per kit. 

It’ll be a while before you hear a choir in full swing again, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t groups still going. Through online meet-ups people are enjoying singing with total strangers – in some cases hundreds of them at the same time. The Evening Standard’s Katie Strick’s been joining in, and tells the podcast why it's so popular. 

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Why are countries like Germany able to test more people for coronavirus than the UK? Here, around 10,000 a day are being carried out, but over there it's around 500,000 a week. We speak to professor of microbiology Simon Clarke about what the tests actually are, and why he doesn't think they're a "silver bullet" that will halt the pandemic. 

There are signs the stockpiling that came ahead of the UK coronavirus lockdown is coming to an end. The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn has been talking to supermarkets who say the aisles are getting back to normal. He also tells us about the turmoil in the airline industry as easyJet grounds its entire fleet. 

Prince Charles is out of self-isolation, and Clarence House says he's in good health. But Evening Standard Insider editor Lucy Pavia says there are still concerns about the Queen and Prince Philip. She also reveals what Charles may have been up to while in seclusion at Birkhall Cottage in Scotland. 

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The Evening Standard is with you through this coronavirus crisis. That's why we're re-focusing our daily podcast to bring you the best news, analysis and advice on the latest developments - to help you make sense of this fast-changing situation.

Every weekday at 4pm, 'The Leader: Coronavirus Daily’ is packed with the latest information from trusted sources on Covid-19, as well commentary and insight from the Evening Standard's journalists and editors. 

Join us by subscribing through Acast, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

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Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, has tested positive for Covid-19. He announced the news himself via a personal video message on his twitter account. The PM explained that he was suffering from mild symptoms and took a test on the advice of Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.  Mr. Johnson is in self-isolation and says he will continue to lead the UK’s effort against Coronavirus from home. The UK’s Health Minister Matt Hancock has also tested positive for the virus. What’s next for the UK Government? The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Londoner Editor, Ayesha Hazarika.

Food for London Now

The Evening Standard and The Independent have launched a campaign to feed vulnerable Londoners during the coronavirus crisis. The appeal will deliver food to the poor, elderly and those most at risk. As part of The Food Alliance, three charities - The Felix Project, Fair Share and City Harvest - have teamed up to deliver the produce to community hubs in every London borough.  

Evengy Lebedev, Proprietor of the Evening Standard, wrote for the paper today on why this is happening and why London needs to stand together to help fight this crisis.   

Investigations Editor David Cohen is co-ordinating the campaign and tells The Leader podcast why coronavirus is leaving people so vulnerable.  Donate to the campaign here.

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Can London's hospitals cope with what doctors are calling a 'tsunami' of coronavirus cases? The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn has been speaking to medical workers who talk of exhaustion, stress and an alarming lack of equipment. He speaks to the Leader Podcast as a campaign is launched for the public to show their support for the NHS

Fines for breaking distancing rule

The Evening Standard today broke the news that there will be a £60 on-the-spot fine for those who break the government's rules on social gatherings. This would double for subsequent offences. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy joins The Leader podcast to discuss the impact of these fines. He also explores the complexities of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s financial “rescue plan” for the self-employed, due to be announced Thursday evening.  

Artists in trouble

What is it like to be a performing arts professional during this crisis? Many venues have closed which has left artists without work. The Leader podcast speak to pianist and composer Stephen Hough who reveals his suddenly empty diary of performances - and explains the knock-on effect this is having on him as a self-employed person.

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