Sir Christopher Wren is called the "first modern architect" and designed St Paul’s Cathedral - how does his legacy shape 21st Century London?

We speak to former Through the Keyhole and MasterChef star Loyd Grossman, a heritage campaigner and chairman of the City’s of London's Gresham College, plus archaeologist John Darlington, who’s executive director of World Monuments Fund Britain.

Three hundred years after Wren's death, this special episode of the Leader podcast is recorded at the Square Mile church he also designed, that you could describe as “little St Paul’s”. 

St Stephen Walbrook, which is tucked behind Bank station, has a 'miniature' dome sharing features with its cathedral cousin nearly four times the size.

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Credit Suisse is borrowing nearly £45 billion from Switzerland’s central bank in the hope of calming nerves as its share value tumbled...and then bounced back.

The bailout follows a week of jitters in the global banking sector, after the collapse of three US banks: Silicon Valley, Signature and Silvergate.

So, how concerned should consumers be about their savings and current accounts, and is it 2008 all over again - or something completely different, with a system better able to cope?

The Leader podcast’s joined by Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.

In this episode:

• Why a bank famed for stability found itself in trouble
• Banking safeguards since 2008
• How European Central Bank and markets responded
• Is your money at risk?
• Does social media gossip amplify financial fear?
• Budget: Extra analysis

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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s first Budget - how will it impact you? Analysis with Evening Standard deputy political editor David Bond and Antonia Jennings of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies.

In this episode:

• How the Budget affects the pound in your pocket
• Hunt’s post-Covid “back-to-work” plan
• Chancellor promises to “halve inflation”
• Energy cap latest
• Pension allowances shake-up
• Council services suffer more post-Osborne austerity cuts
• Poorest Londoners turn to churches for warmth amid rising fuel bills

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The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s been teasing controversial plans to get more people on benefits, and also early retirees, back into the workplace.

What else do we know about Jeremy Hunt’s first Budget?

The Leader podcast’s joined by Dr James Meadway, a council member at the Progressive Economy Forum and former Labour economic policy advisor.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• What a higher tax-free pension allowance means
• Will there be any rabbits to pull out of the hat?
• Tax cuts? Hunt and Sunak are playing general election long game
• Why Labour are struggling to capitalise on economic turmoil

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HSBC has snapped up the British arm of Silicon Valley Bank for just £1 in a government and Bank of England-brokered private sale.

Deal marks the most significant such bailout since the 2008 financial crisis and follows late-night talks over the weekend after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank’s US parent company, amid concerns about liquidity.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt insisted all deposits for hundreds of UK start-ups have been protected, but the move sparked markets turmoil. 

Insight on the emergency sale and impact on sector with Jesse Griffiths, chief executive of London’s Finance Innovation Lab.

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We all know who Deborah Meaden is - entrepreneur, investor, long-serving Dragon in the den… and environmental campaigner. Deborah’s involvement with climate causes go back to her college days, and now it’s an increasingly important part of her business. In this episode we talk about:

•  The urgency of the environment crisis and how business needs to react
•  Why she would never work in the oil industry
•  Her selection process for investing in companies
•  Why we shouldn’t criticise companies as “greenwashers”
•  The support she believes government should give to SMEs with environmental goals

This is a bonus episode taken from our business show How to be a CEO. To hear the full episode click here. Deborah’s appearing at our SME EXPO, which is being held at Excel London on April 25th and 26th. Also appearing will be Reggae Reggae Sauce mogul Levi Roots, Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins, style guru Trinny Woodall and Biscuiteer Harriet Hastings. Go to SMEXPO.co.uk for free tickets.

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Lesley Paterson, the Scottish producer and screenwriter of Netflix’s All Quiet on the Western Front shares the story of how after 16 long years, the film finally came to fruition. 

Lesley discusses how her career as a professional triathlete helped fund the project, her childhood love of the original novel and how she approached screenwriting for a German film - without actually knowing the language. 

Plus, she explains everything that went into the movie behind the scenes that has already swept the BAFTAs and hopes to do the same at the Oscars. 

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The Police Federation of England and Wales is demanding a minimum 17% pay increase for officers - and suggest their salaries are negatively affected by restrictions on their right to strike.

Police officers have been prohibited from striking by law for over a century, with the most recent legislation being the Police Act 1996. 

Steve Hartshorn, National Chair of the PFEW, discusses the difficulties involved with policing right now amid a lack of public trust and explains what could happen next if their demands aren’t met. 

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To mark International Women’s Day, we’re going behind London’s Women of the World festival. 

Run by the WOW foundation, it all started off at London’s Southbank Centre back in 2010 and has since grown exponentially. It’s now held in 30 locations across six continents.

The event celebrates the achievements of women and girls but also confronts global gender injustices. 

Jude Kelly, founder and CEO of the WOW foundation, explains its history, their work and the importance of IWD.

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Government accused of breaking international law as full details of its immigration bill are revealed – with UK likened to Russia and Belarus over small boat crossings plan.

The Evening Standard’s Political Editor, Nicholas Cecil, breaks down the controversial bill and looks at the potential political ramifications.

In part two, Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, explains why the plans will simply add more ‘cost and chaos’ to the system.

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