The Standard

After a ground-breaking investigation by the Evening Standard into the UK’s painkiller use, drug companies will now publish addiction warnings on opioid packets. The Leader speaks to the paper’s Investigations Editor David Cohen about how this small change will save lives for decades to come.

Also, we welcome Andrew Bailey as the next Governor of the Bank of England. Our Business News Editor, Alex Lawson, looks at the career of the man picked by Chancellor Sajid Javid to replace Mark Carney. And we reveal why Mr Bailey’s been nicknamed “the Big Sexy Turtle.”

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

The Queen has delivered her speech, can Boris Johnson now deliver on his promises? Our political editor Joe Murphy looks at the government’s agenda. Brexit is the predictable priority, but why is there an overhaul of espionage laws, and what happened between the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn?

Also, there’s been a dip in the number of people using public transport in London, but car use has gone up outside the city centre. The Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor, Ross Lydall, takes a look at the figures and predicts a major clash at next year’s mayoral election.

And, Cats, the movie based on the musical, is being critically savaged. We speak to film critic David Sexton who says it’s “nearly as obscene as the Human Centipede”.

Plus, a bonus Christmas message recorded for the Leader podcast by composer and pianist Stephen Hough. Can you believe in Christmas if you don’t believe in Christ? 

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

There have been 135 violent deaths in London since the start of 2019. That's a high not seen for eleven years. The city is in the grip of knife crime epidemic that authorities appear powerless to stop. The Evening Standard’s crime correspondent Anthony France talks to the Leader podcast about what efforts have been made, and what more can be done. 

Also, the 45th President of the United States is set to become only the third in history to be impeached. Ahead of the vote, Donald Trump's gone on the attack, sending a 6-page letter to Democrat Nancy Pelosi, and comparing the whole thing to the Salem Witch Trials. The Evening Standard's US correspondent, David Gardner, tells us what's happening on Capitol Hill. 

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

Who can beat Boris Johnson? It’s the question the Labour party has to answer, but will it make the hard decisions the Evening Standard thinks are necessary to make it a genuine competitor in a future election? Our Londoner Editor Ayesha Hazarika, once a Labour spin doctor herself, thinks Jeremy Corbyn’s leaving behind a mess that could take a decade or more to repair.

Also, with traditional events like Wimbledon combining with the glamour of the NFL, along with competitions like the ATP tennis finals, London is proud to be ranked the world’s number one city for sport. But is that position at risk from usurpers like Paris? The Evening Standard’s correspondent Matt Majendie’s been investigating, and talks to the Leader about how Brexit and other concerns may be putting global sports bosses off the capital.

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

The BBC is under fire again, with the government apparently boycotting the Radio 4 Today programme, and critics accusing it of bias. The Evening Standard’s reporting BBC bosses are planning a big expansion of broadcasts outside of London to show the broadcaster’s listening to the whole of Britain, but with attacks also being lobbed at the license fee, is this now the time for a much wider modernisation programme? The Leader talks to our comments editor, Susannah Butter.

Also, we reveal the extraordinary story of the late Standard film critic Alexander Walker who quietly amassed a huge art collection including works by Picasso and Hockney. Our arts correspondent Robert Dex tells us how when experts when to Mr Walker’s small flat in Maida Vale they discovered valuable pieces leaning on the kitchen sink, and propped up in a cupboard next to the vacuum cleaner. The entire collection is now to go on display at the British Museum. 

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

In today’s election special we bring you the latest from our newsroom, analyse the results and discuss the Prime Minister’s next steps after winning a massive Commons majority.

Boris Johnson has led the Conservatives to victory, crushing Labour, breaking the ‘red wall’ and securing his position as Prime Minister. The Conservatives now have the largest majority of any government in the last 18 years, bigger even than Margaret Thatcher’s in 1983.

Evening Standard Editor George Osborne, Londoner Editor Ayesha Hazarika and Associate Editor Julian Glover were following the election drama through the night, and join The Leader podcast for this special edition to offer their analysis of this seismic shift in the British political landscape.

What does Boris Johnson’s enormous majority mean for Brexit and the UK economy? And what can Labour do now in the face of such a dramatic loss? Listen to the podcast to find out.

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

An convicted murderer named John Crilly challenged the London Bridge terror attacker with a fire extinguisher despite knowing that Usman Khan was wearing what he believed was a live explosives vest. John Crilly told the BBC he was prepared to die to protect others and insists he is not a hero. The Leader podcast spoke to our Crime Correspondent Anthony France to discuss what John Crilly shows us about the importance of prisoner rehabilitation.

Boris Johnson has cast his vote - and took his dog Dilyn to the polling station. The Evening Standard today is urging everyone to make sure they vote.

It’s that time of year again where theatres across the UK host a variety of different Pantomimes to celebrate the Christmas period. Our theatre critic Nic Curtis visited the Palladium theatre last night to watch ‘Goldilocks And The Three Bears’ staring a host of stars including Julian Clary and Paul O’Grady. Nic tells the Leader podcast why it’s “indecently good fun”

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

In the Evening Standard’s editorial today the paper urges voters to support Boris Johnson’s Conservatives on Thursday.

George Osborne – himself a veteran of multiple elections as both senior politician and editor of the Evening Standard – joins The Leader podcast to discuss why the paper supports Mr. Johnson for Prime Minister.

In the podcast, George Osborne reveals who he will be voting for – and why he might be tempted to vote for Independents David Gauke, Dominic Grieve or Anne Milton if he lived in their constituencies.

Subscribe to The Leader podcast for the best in election comment and analysis. We’re releasing an election results special on Friday, in which our senior editors will dissect the result and ask – ‘What happens next?’

TRANSCRIPT

PRESENTER:                       

From the Evening Standard in London, this is the Leader. 

PRESENTER:                      

 The Leader speaks to our editor George Osborne about how the newspaper came to its decision, and how he personally will vote in an election like no other

PRESENTER:                      

In the very first episode of the Leader podcast, we spoke to the Standard’s Associate editor Julian Glover about the history, and purpose of the Editorial column – “It carries clear, sharp, opinions on key news stories of the day,” he told us. “to inform you and make you think…” And it was all leading up to this. On the eve of the General Election, this newspaper has traditionally backed a candidate to be Prime Minister – In December 2019… here’s what the Evening Standard thinks:

ES COMMENT:

This newspaper speaks for London when we say we’re unhappy with the two paths presented to us: Brexit under the Tories or national bankruptcy under Labour. 

Jeremy Corbyn is manifestly unfit to hold the highest office in the land. That has been obvious since Labour made the suicidal decision to choose him as their leader four years ago.

The other person who could be PM on Friday is already in Downing Street. As with all prime ministers, the traits that propelled Boris Johnson to the highest office will inevitably be the ones that eventually force him from it.

While he says he wants to “get Brexit done”, he knows that cannot happen: we are condemned to years of agonising negotiation which will end in us following EU rules we no longer control.

But since Mr Johnson took office this summer, he has been more focused and more serious than anyone expected. And, just maybe, he can restore to the country the optimism and confidence that was lost in that referendum result he helped deliver.

When it comes to the choice between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson, there is no contest. Corbyn would be a disaster for Britain. The Evening Standard backs Boris to remain as PM.

PRESENTER:                      

Shortly after the column went to print, I knocked on our editor George Osborne’s office door, and asked him how the Standard came to its decision:

DAVID MARSLAND

George, the Leader today starts off by saying that the newspapers unhappy with the past proposed to the people. Why is...

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

Boris Johnson has written for the Evening Standard warning of “profound” economic damage if Jeremy Corbyn wins the election. But what about the Conservatives own plans? The Leader podcast ask the Evening Standard’s associate editor Julian Glover to take us through the Prime Minister’s proposals.

A big accountancy firm called Grant Thornton has been hit with a fine of £650,000 over mistakes made in an audit of a stock-market listed company, however the identity of this company has been kept a secret. The Leader podcast spoke to the Evening Standard’s city correspondent Michael Bow who explains the background behind the story, and why the name of the company should be revealed.

***

TRANSCRIPT

PRESENTER

Thanks for listening to The Leader you can subscribe to make sure you get the best news analysis and commentary at 4pm every day. Now, from the Evening Standard in London this… is The Leader

PRESENTER

Hi I'm David Marsland. Boris Johnson's written for the Standard warning of profound economic damage if Jeremy Corbyn wins the election, but what about the Tories plans

JULIAN GLOVER

Underneath all the noise The Conservative economic proposals are pretty modest, except for one big catastrophic thing which is Brexit.

PRESENTER

Associate Editor Julian Glover takes us through the PMS proposals and….

MICHAEL BOW

The FRC has room to use its discretion not to name a company now one of the reasons for this is to do with public interest

PRESENTER

City correspondent Michael bow on the city secret this newspaper should be revealed.

PRESENTER

Taken from the Evening Standard’s editorial column this is The Leader. For the whole thing pick up the newspaper or head to standard.co.uk/comment. In a moment:

Why stopping Jeremy Corbyn is not the same as a Tory economic plan.

PART 2

PRESENTER

You've probably seen this Boris Johnson recreating a scene from love actually.

[CLIPS USED] BORIS JOHNSON ELECTION CAMPAIGN ‘LOVE ACTUALLY’

JEREMY CORBYN READS MEAN TWEETS

“I'll bet Jeremy Corbyn will be glad when this election is over, so he can go back to wearing his commy hat. The Labour leaders reading mean tweets about himself and his spending plans.

Jeremy Corbyn isn't some kind of kind be magic grandpa. Quite the opposite in fact. Wow. Can someone tell me who Jeremy Corbyn is? the next prime minister”

PRESENTER

Joking aside the economy's been oddly absent from much of the election debate writing in the Standard today, the Prime Minister's trying to put it front and centre warning the damage to economic confidence would be profound if labour wins this week. Our editorial column agrees but argues Mr. Johnson has questions or his own to answer:

LEADER COMMENT

The poll suggests there isn't going to be a majority Labour government. So a rather more important question is what a conservative government would do to the economy, what do we know? Ignore the noise. On spending, as the Institute for Fiscal Studies says, there would be little in the way of changes to tax, spending...

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

Boris Johnson is hitting Labour strongholds in the final days of this election. He says he’s taking nothing for granted despite a Survation poll showing him with a 14-point lead. In the Evening Standard, pollster Ben Page says a late swing from the Conservatives can’t be ruled out – and neither can a hung parliament. The Standard’s political editor, Joe Murphy, joins the Leader podcast from Westminster.

London commuters have been counting down until the end of the RMT union’s 27 day South Western Railway strike. But more bad news came today as the RMT has threatened to continue the strike until after New Year’s Day. The Leader podcast thinks the Government should step in.

Trafalgar Square became a sea of sleeping bags for the Big Sleep Out, as thousands of Londoners swapped warm beds for a night of rough sleeping to raise money for homeless charities. The Leader podcast spoke to journalists Hattie Brewis and Naomi Ackerman to tell find out why events like this are so important.

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