The Standard

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves will bid for more investment in Britain as she travels to the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos this week.

Reeves is expected to meet the heads of major international banks during her two-day Swiss visit to promote Britain’s fiscal credentials for the future.

But it comes amid record government borrowing, government department cuts ahead and minuscule growth of just 0.1 per cent.

The Standard podcast is joined by Ashwin Kumar, director of research and policy at the Institute of Public Policy Research, professor of social policy at Manchester Metropolitan University and former advisor to ex-PM Gordon Brown.

In part two, The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford on why some residents of two boroughs are being warned their council tax bills will double, but there’s - slightly - better news for fellow Londoners in the most cash-strapped authorities.

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Join host Nicola Barron in conversation with David Larbi, the poet, writer, and musician who has built a million-strong community through his authentic takes on mindfulness across TikTok and Instagram. In this illuminating episode, David shares insights from his debut book Frequently Happy: 52 Mindful Moments to Bring Hope and Joy, exploring how we can find joy in everyday moments and use creativity to reconnect with ourselves.

Don't miss David's live online workshop Frequently Happy: Exploring Creativity, Mindfulness, and the Power of Wordson Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (6-7pm GMT). Book at standard.co.uk/masterclasses.

Part of The Bigger Life Festival, brought to you by Masterclasses from The Standard.

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Donald Trump made an astonishing return to the White House on Monday when he was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

The inauguration, which took place at the US Capitol Rotunda building due -3C temperatures, follows four tumultuous years out of office which saw the 78-year-old Republican businessman and ex-reality star survive assassination attempts and face a series of legal cases.

We asked Mike Rogers, chief security analyst west at US-based International SOS, about heightened security arrangements around the ceremony.

In part two. University College London’s Dr Thomas Gift, associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on US Politics, discusses Big Tech’s influence and direction of policy for Trump’s White House 2.0. 

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The Israeli security cabinet has ratified an initial six-week deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in the war that will see some of the hostages held in Gaza being released.

The breakthrough marks the cessation of 15 months of fighting since the Hamas terror attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023, and also brings hope of border crossings being reopened for aid to ease the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.

The US-brokered ceasefire on Sunday will see the exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and comes a day before president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. 

The Standard podcast is joined by Dr Rob Geist Pinfold, lecturer in international security in the Defence Studies department at King’s College London.

In part two, amid food shortages, toxic air and price-gouging, how Angelenos are supporting each other in the aftermath the deadly LA wildfires.

We're joined by Kenia Alcocer, an organiser with Union de Vecinos, part of the Los Angeles Tenants Union.

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A damning report into the state of the NHS has revealed patients are dying in corridors and can go undiscovered for hours.

The Royal College of Nursing published findings, based on the experiences of more than 5,000 UK nurses, into the state of care in England’s hospitals as staff try to manage the number of people needing care.

The “harrowing” report comes amid soaring ambulance waiting times and tells of patients sitting for days in chairs due to a lack of beds, patients lying in corridors and treatment delays.

The Standard podcast is joined by Mathew Hulbert, a volunteer patient leader at Just Treatment, which campaigns for public health investment, fair pay for NHS staff and an end to outsourcing of NHS services.

His 78-year-old mother, Jackie, died in July 2022 from sepsis in hospital - after waiting 11 hours for paramedics following a fall at home in Leicestershire.

In part two, the deputy of Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled cutbacks in some public spending to channel more funds into the Labour government’s dash for growth.

It comes as Office for National Statistics data released on Wednesday showed GDP increased by just 0.1 per cent.

The London Standard’s political editor, Nicholas Cecil, examines what’s to come in the months ahead for government departments.

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The UK inflation rate unexpectedly fell slightly to 2.5 per cent in December in a surprise boost to embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed a slight drop from 2.6 per cent in November and fell below City forecasts.

It comes amid record government borrowing and falls in the pound over the past week.

How does this all fit into the wider economic outlook, what might it signal for our shopping baskets - and what about the spectre of ‘stagflation’?

The Standard podcast is joined by Jo Michell, professor of economics at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

In part two, influencer Adam McIntyre on concerns about the financial impact of a TikTok ban on digital creators and small business ahead of a US supreme court decision on the Chinese ByteDance-owned app’s future in the States mid data security concerns.

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Local councils nationwide are preparing to reveal the bad news to residents about this year’s council tax rises.

So, why are our rates rocketing, how much more can we expect to pay - and which authorities are impose the biggest hikes?

The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford discusses local government finances and policy for the year ahead.

In part two, as millions of Britons reach the halfway mark for Dry January, we look at the benefits and challenges of quitting alcohol for a month.

We’re joined by Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of the London charity Alcohol Change UK, and The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer Vicky Jessop, who’s now on her third booze-free new year.

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The Prime Minister has unveiled the government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan in a bid to make Britain a world leader in the artificial intelligence sector.

Sir Keir Starmer’s will take forward all 50 recommendations made by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who was commissioned by Science Secretary Peter Kyle to identify AI opportunities.

It will see the creation of AI “growth zones” to accelerate planning approvals for data centres, build a new supercomputer and - controversially - allow tech firms to train AI on anonymised health data. 

So far, £14 billion has been committed by tech firms and its forecast the new data centres will create 12,000 jobs - amid growing concerns about the march of AI on roles in many other sectors.

In a speech at UCL, Sir Keir claimed productivity could be doubled through using the technology in less than five years as Britain becomes as “AI superpower”.

The Standard podcast is joined by Dr Mark Kennedy, associate professor of strategy and organisational behaviour at Imperial College Business School.

In part two, The London Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil examines why the pound has fallen again as UK borrowing costs hit high - and what its means for the future of Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

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Welcome to The Standard podcast’s round-up special edition.

In this episode:

How does Sir Keir Starmer plan to cut NHS waiting lists?

Golden Globes 2025: Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana & Adrien Brody among winners

Child grooming gangs: government plans new safeguarding law but no public inquiry

What must be done about London knife crime after boy, 14, killed in stabbing

HMPV: what we know about virus risk, symptoms & spread

LA wildfires: future risks of climate change

Why did the pound hit a 14-month low & how will it impact me?

The London Question: Will the Silvertown tunnel be bad for London?

Duchess of Sussex’s new Netflix cookery & lifestyle show With Love, Meghan set for release

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London’s £2.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel beneath the Thames is set to open in the spring - but how will this impact traffic flow on the capital’s roads?

There are concerns the crossing, set to impose a toll along with the Blackwall Tunnel, could push vehicles to other points along the river as drivers seek to avoid the charge.

And what about cyclists?

It’s this week’s ‘The London Question’ posed by the Standard in a comment piece by our transport editor and City Hall editor Ross Lydall, who joins us to discuss the mega-project.

In part two, we examine what’s known so far about the Duchess of Sussex’s new cookery and lifestyle show titled With Love, Meghan - with The London Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer India Block.

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