It has been a busy start to the year for Laila Cunningham, the Westminster councillor newly selected as Reform UK’s candidate for the London 2028 Mayoral election. 

In today’s episode, The Standard’s City Hall Editor Ross Lydall sits down with Laila Cunningham to discuss controversial remarks she made earlier this week about London not being a “Muslim city”. During this interview, Cunningham sets out plans to make wearing face coverings, including the burqa, grounds for police to stop and search Londoners. She also discloses that, despite leading Reform’s campaign for the May borough elections, she will not be standing as a candidate herself.

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A special preview from our sister podcast Brave New World, featuring a new episode from its latest series.

For Episode Four, host Evgeny Lebedev is joined by human biologist, longevity science monolith and founder of The Ultimate Human, Gary Brecka. Together, they explore why so many people feel stuck at a “six out of ten,” what Gary believes to be the cause of fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, soreness, low mood, and why poor exercise recovery is often driven by nutrient deficiencies.

Listen to the full conversation on the Brave New World podcast

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As protests continue across Iran amid a rising death toll and a record number of arrests, members of the Iranian diaspora in London, home to an estimated 40,000 Iranian-born residents, are gathering publicly to express support and show solidarity.

In this episode of The Standard, host Tamara Kormornick is joined by Laila Jazayeri, Director of the Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK. They discuss the unfolding situation in Iran, why so many are mobilising in London, and how international support could help usher in a new era for the country.

Clip: Sky News

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Last year saw one of London’s lowest rates of homicides, with less than 100 fatalities. How is the city tackling crime, and how safe is London?

In this episode of The Standard, Tamara Kormornick is joined by the Director of The London Mayors Violent Crime Reduction Unit, to discuss the status of violent crime in London — and whether the city is as lawless as Donald Trump makes it out to be. 

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Every January, campaigns like Dry January and Veganuary encourage restraint and self-denial at the coldest, darkest point of the year. But what if we’ve misunderstood both health and the seasons?

In this episode of The Standard, host Alan Leer is joined by journalist Melanie McDonagh as she makes the case for “Wet January” — arguing that winter is the worst possible time to give things up, and that our modern wellness habits have lost touch with how people have historically lived through the colder months.

We discuss seasonality, comfort, self-denial, and what our obsession with restraint says about modern life.

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Is there anything better than a cultural escape as winter sets in?

Today we're debunking one of the lesser-known art forms - opera - as the timelessly classical La Traviata show opens in the capital, which is the most performed opera in the world.

We're joined by Netia Jones, the Associate Director of Opera at the Royal Opera, to discuss the origins of the art forum, how technology is changing it, tips for first-time opera attendees and much more.

And if you’re keen to experience some new culture this year, then read more about some of our top cultural picks for the year ahead.

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Support for Labour in London has fallen to a new record low with the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Greens and Reform UK, according to a new poll.

Just 31 per cent of Londoners now say they would vote for Sir Keir Starmer’s party, according to a Savanta survey, down from 43 per cent at the 2024 General Election.

The broader picture is of a fracturing of political allegiances in London in a blow to Sir Keir as he fights to stay Prime Minister amid unrest among Labour MPs.

The Standard's Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.

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Overthrown Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is facing drug trafficking charges in New York after being seized by US forces in an early-morning raid on Caracas.

But he was once instrumental in an extraordinary deal between London and the oil-rich South American nation that resulted in 250,000 low-income Londoners being able to claim half-price bus and tram fares for a year.

As the world watches on, The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest.

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It’s a new year and officially the first Monday back to work after the festive break…if that feels a little bleak, and you’re looking to schedule some laughs in 2026, then stay tuned for today’s episode. 

The live comedy scene seems to expand exponentially every year; from award nominees to TV stars to online sensations and podcast heroes, stand-ups are all getting back to their stage roots. 

The Standard’s Comedy Critic Bruce Dessau is here with a bumper guide to the best of the bunch hitting the road in the coming months, from Josh Widdicombe and Michael Spicer, to Sam Nicoresti, Bridget Christie and plenty more. 

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It’s a new year, and 2026 is set to be full of blockbuster and arthouse film releases to entice viewers to the cinema. 

Although we’re only just entering Oscars season, a brand new slate of films will be hitting the big screen very soon.  

The Standard’s Head of Culture, Martin Robinson, is here to discuss some of the most anticipated movies of 2026, including Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Supergirl, The Odyssey, Avengers: Doomsday, The Moment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, The Bride, The Testament of Ann Lee and The Drama. 

You can find the full list of 2026 releases here. 

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