The Standard

The new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has delivered the conservative government’s new budget. As the NHS prepares for the spread of coronavirus, the chancellor promised the government’s full support ‘whatever the cost’. He also announced plans to raise the National Insurance threshold and pledged money to help flood-hit regions. Economist Stephen King joins The Leader podcast to break down the budget – did Mr. Sunak live up to Stephen’s call to act like a ‘war-time chancellor’?

Even before the budget, banks and businesses had already started preparing for the impact of Covid-19. Restaurants and shops are reporting a decline in footfall, and the discounts to attract customers have already begun. On Wednesday the Bank of England’s governor, Mark Carney, cut the interest rate to 0.25% in an attempt to keep people spending. The Leader podcast spoke to the Evening Standard’s consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn to discuss whether the interest rate cut will make a difference – and what it means for you.

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Will coronavirus wreck your holiday? British Airways has cancelled all trips into and out of Italy. Quantas has cut passenger capacity by a quarter around the world. Popular destinations like Spain are reporting huge spikes in the number of people infected. On Broadway in New York, desperate producers are slashing the prices of tickets to top shows in an attempt to lure customers back to empty theatres. The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn tells the leader why the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism industry has been “greater than any terrorism scare” and it’s likely to get worse.

London Mayoral Election Poll

The first poll of 2020 shows Sadiq Khan enjoying a huge lead in the London mayoral election. With 49 per cent, Mr Khan is nearly 25 points ahead of his closest rival, the Conservative’s Shaun Bailey. Independent Rory Stewart is even further back on 13 per cent, while the Lib Dems and Greens are registering single figures. Our political editor Joe Murphy says with two months to go, the challengers need to raise their games.

Warhol at Tate Modern

A blockbuster Andy Warhol exhibition at Tate Modern’s bringing his classic works to London, along with exhibits that haven’t been seen in decades. Does it shed new light on one of modern history’s greatest artists? The Evening Standard’s critic Ben Luke says ‘not quite.’ He’s given it three stars in his review, and tells the Leader podcast why. 

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As more and more people self-isolate from the coronavirus, more businesses are struggling to stay open. The ones that can are planning ahead to avoid disrupting the economy any more than it already is.

So is the new Chancellor Rishi Sunak who on Wednesday will announce the budget. Economist Stephen King joins The Leader podcast to explain why this will be one of the hardest budgets yet, especially for a brand new chancellor.

Harry & Meghan are out

Harry and Meghan have officially bowed out of the Royal Family during the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. Have they made the right decision? The Evening Standard’s Royal Correspondent Robert Jobson says it’s a bittersweet moment for the couple, and the Queen. 

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The head of the World Health Organisation’s warning governments everywhere “this is not a drill,” as the number of people infected with coronavirus passes 100,000. But while scientists race for a vaccine, is there a danger they’re being pressured to release something too soon? Meanwhile, in the US, concerns are growing after it emerged there aren’t enough testing kits, which could hurt the government’s ability to detect and contain the virus. The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Philip Delves Broughton in New York.

Harry and Meghan’s comeback photo

Harry and Meghan have made their public comeback with a photograph that may well become iconic. Taken in the rain at a charity event in London, the image was being spread across social media moments after appearing online. Can one picture wash away months of controversy and set the couple up for a post-royal world? We speak to the Evening Standard’s Insider editor Lucy Pavia.

International Women’s Day

Has International Women’s Day lost its meaning? With rampant commercialisation of the day, the Evening Standard’s comment editor Susannah Butter speaks to features editor Phoebe Luckhurst to ask if it still has any power? 

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The UK is now in phase two of its battle plan against coronavirus. The infection has defied containment, so now doctors are trying to delay a severe outbreak. The country’s chief medical officer Chris Witty explained what measures are now being taken to the Commons health and social care committee, and gave a warning that he expects the number of people to catch the virus “only to go up.” The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, to explore the latest developments.  

Coronavirus recession

It’s not just the health authorities feeling the pressure from coronavirus. Flybe’s blaming it for driving down passengers, leading to the company going into administration. HSBC cleared an entire floor at its London HQ after one of its workers was confirmed to have the illness. The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn tells The Leader podcast, there is more to come, and wonders if we’re entering a ‘coronavirus recession’. 

Refugee season

What’s it really like living inside a refugee camp? The Imperial War museum says an installation opening next month will “immerse visitors” into an environment likened to a mini-city. It’s part of the museum’s Refugees season, which also sees artist Ai Weiwei handed the entire atrium for a commission titled ‘History of Bombs’. The Evening Standard’s arts correspondent Robert Dex tells the Leader what the museum is trying to achieve.

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Coronavirus is coming, but what happens after it’s gone? Will it change our culture? The way we behave? Will home working become more acceptable? Will business travel be less popular? Evening Standard associate editor Julian Glover looks at the possible lasting legacy of the biggest public health emergency in a generation. 

Biden’s Super Tuesday

Joe Biden has won Super Tuesday in one of the most dramatic political come-backs in recent history. Written off just a few days ago, the former vice president enjoyed huge victories, including taking Elizabeth Warren’s home state Massachusetts. It now looks like a two horse race between the former vice-president and Bernie Sanders. But is Mr Biden really the Democrats’ best hope of beating Donald Trump in November? The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s US correspondent, David Gardner.

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One in five employees may be too ill to work during a coronavirus outbreak this year, according to the Government’s battle plan which is putting Britain on an unprecedented war footing against the growing threat. The strategy’s been revealed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and could see police told to focus on responding to serious crimes if the disease cuts through their ranks. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy’s seen the document and tells the Leader podcast what it says. 

Apple pay-out

Apple’s to pay out up to $500m dollars (in total) to some iPhone users in the US. It comes three years after Apple admitted it had been pushing out software updates which slowed down older phones. It’s settled a court case in the States, although without admitting any wrong-doing. The Evening Standard’s technology journalist Amelia Heatham explains to the Leader podcast what’s happening, and who can claim. 

Pretty Woman the Musical

It’s the movie about a prostitute that became 1990’s surprise rom-com hit, and launched the career of Julia Roberts. But does Pretty Woman work as a West End musical in a post #MeToo world? The show stars Aimie Atkinson as Vivian Ward and Danny Mac as Edward Lewis. Evening Standard critic Nick Curtis has seen it at the Piccaddilly Theatre…. and gave it 4 stars. He tells the Leader podcast why. 

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The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock’s written in the Evening Standard to outline the Government’s coronavirus “battle plan”. He describes how the country is in a ‘containment’ phase, and calls on the public to ‘do their duty’ to stop its spread. He also says the government has the powers to ‘enforce’ self-isolation. As the number of cases in the UK rises again, the newspaper’s comment editor Susannah Butter talks to the podcast about what the government’s doing, and how far it can go. 

Super Tuesday 2020

They call it “Super Tuesday” – when Democrats from 14 states across America will vote for who they want to take on President Trump. Apart from the election itself in November, this is the biggest night in US politics this year. Pete Buttigieg didn’t last the distance, dropping out on Sunday, leaving candidates including Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Mike Bloomberg and four others scrambling to pick up votes. Our US correspondent David Gardner’s been analysing the stats and tries to predict the outcome.

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held inside an Iranian jail where campaigners claim people are dying from coronavirus. Tehran denies there is an outbreak among inmates at Evin, but the British government says they’re not taking that as “authoritative,” and Nazanin’s family say they’re extremely worried. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, speaks to the Leader podcast about his calls for Downing Street to intervene before it’s too late. He reveals how the jail has run out of cleaning products, and that authorities are refusing to test Nazanin for the virus even though she has the symptoms of a cold. He also talks about how their 5-year-old daughter Gabriella is settling into life in the UK without her mother. 

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While doctors and governments struggle to stop the spread of coronavirus, the bug is already infecting stock markets and sports schedules. Trillions have been wiped off shares around the world in less than a week. Football games are being played behind closed doors. Massive events like the Olympics are reported to be at threat. The Leader Podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s sports editor James Major and business news editor Alex Lawson to look at who’s being affected, including the famous lager label that’s unwittingly been caught up in the panic.

Heathrow’s runway dream grounded

Heathrow Airport have had a blow to their dream of building their third runway, as the plans have been blocked by the High Court. The judges told the Government that they had “unlawfully” failed to assess the impact it had on climate change.

But will Boris Johnson support Heathrow Airport’s project? The Prime Minister has previously campaigned against the third runway from happening. The Leader podcast connect to Courts Correspondent Tristian Kirk who’s at the High Court and has been following the story.

Homeless Appeal success:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has approved highly of the success of the Evening Standard’s campaign to help end homelessness in London. Oliver Poole joins The Leader podcast to reveal what Boris had to say, as well as discussing the most recent figures on those tragically sleeping rough in London. 

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