The Standard

As London buckles under another 72 hours of Tube and rail strikes - are there other, better ways to get from A to B? How will future generations of Londoners navigate their daily commutes? The Leader speaks with Paul Campion, chief executive of TRL, formerly the Transport Research Laboratory, whose futuristic projects include London’s flagship driverless car trials, investigating smart materials and examining the behavioural science behind urban travel.We discuss the challenges of blending futures transport modes together, whether car AI could end road rage, and those jet packs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of railway workers have walked out on strike, leaving a fifth of services running and half of lines closed. It’s the sixth bout of such industrial action this year as members of the RMT, TSSA and Unite unions working for Network Rail and 14 rail operators take to the picket lines in a dispute over pay and working conditions. There's also another Tube strike on Friday, followed by more rail industrial action on Saturday, Evening Standard transport editor Ross Lydall has the latest on what the future holds for the capital's commuters and if there’s political will to reach a compromise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With winter approaching and those rocketing electricity and gas bills - what are the best measures to save pounds on our electricity and gas without breaking the bank? Is the government doing enough, how are London families coping and what about future power supply? The Leader’s speaks with Jack Wilkinson-Dix, policy officer for the Energy Saving Trust, and David Wilson, chief executive of Energy Exemplar, a tech future-modelling company helping National Grid shape its next gen power transition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Office for National Statistics data reveals wages plunged by 4.1 per cent in the last quarter, with pay now dropping fastest since 2001 when the latest records began. But historical analysis shows we’re actually suffering the biggest pay squeeze since Jim Callaghan was PM.The Leader’s joined by Dr Grace Lordan, labour economist at the London School of Economics and Hannah Slaughter, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation.Find us on Twitter #TheLeaderPodcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mudlarking is the historic pursuit of combing the Thames foreshore for, hopefully, some rare or valuable artefacts to give us a glimpse back into history of how Londoners used to live.Among the coins, bottles, occasional weapons and oddities like tiny Roman spoons for scooping out ear wax found nestling in the silt, mudlark Jason Sandy made a chilling discovery - what was apparently a giant boa constrictor skin that had been shed by its occupant.So, does this clue reveal a big snake on the loose near to Chiswick? Hopefully not, but it could join legions of exotic animals now wandering, slithering and swinging around the capital, which include terrapins, parakeets and even sightings of what’s claimed to be a puma roaming south-east London.Many of the exotic non-native species found around London are believed to have been thrown out after their owners could not cope with responsibility, such as the terrapins flushed away after the 90s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze. Last year, a project began in Black Park lake in Wexham in Buckinghamshire to relocate non-native terrapins over their threat to wildlife.So, what happens when these animals disappear into the London ecosystem?To discover what’s lurking in the capital’s waterways and undergrowth, we’re joined by Dr Mark Jones.We discuss how shocking numbers of exotic pets in the UK now include monkeys and the legislation needed to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you work in the financial and investment sectors, you will know about the CFA - their exam is known to be “the world’s toughest”.The mere mention of the gruelling test on Wall Street would probably leave some of the toughest finance veterans weeping.Celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, we’re joined by Marg Franklin the CEO of The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.In this episode, she explains how they’ve navigated through many eras of economic uncertainty, including the pandemic, and how Gen Z’s societal and environmental ethics are transforming the workplace.You can listen to the full interview on our How To Be A CEO podcast here.For all the latest business news head to standard.co.uk/business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transport for London might be in trouble. Away from the strikes and behind the scenes TfL is in financial turmoil - and has been for a while.The Mayor of London’s transport authority has been trying to come to a deal with the Government and it’s all on a bit of a knife edge. As Londoners wait eagerly to see what happens next, it's got many concerned that if a deal isn’t made, whether TfL could be nationalised... Ross Lydall, the Evening Standard’s City Hall & Transport Editor explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we all crack out the factor 30 to head outside and enjoy the sun for yet another heatwave… you can’t help but notice that everywhere is looking very dry.We’re experiencing another heatwave, our water sources are depleted, parks and green spaces are no longer… well, green. Plus, there’s no signs of rain on the horizon.Hannah Cloke is a professor of hydrology, climate expert and natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading. She explains the severity of the situation, whether or not we’re actually in a drought and what happens if the hosepipe bans don’t work…Find us on Twitter at #TheLeaderPodcast and come back at 1pm tomorrow for our other podcast, Tech & Science Daily.For all the latest news visit www.standard.co.uk/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A growing campaign ‘Don’t Pay UK’ is aiming to get one million people to pledge not to pay their energy bills once the price cap goes up in October. Their argument is that if enough people do this, it will force energy companies to look at ways to ease financial pressures. Over 97,000 people have already ‘promised’ to cancel their direct debits and the number is rising. But, what exactly happens if you don't pay your energy bills? Debt advisor, Sara Williams, behind the advice blog debtcamel.co.uk explains the risks.Find us on Twitter at #TheLeaderPodcast and come back at 1pm tomorrow for our other podcast, Tech & Science Daily.For all the latest news visit www.standard.co.uk/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get ready for a summer of discontent. It’s the season for industrial action; TfL, train operators, bus drivers, airport & airline staff, ferries & sea container port staff… and even barristers are all getting in on it. Don’t worry though, Katie Strick, commissioning editor and senior feature writer at the Evening Standard, is on hand to give you the ultimate guide on everything you need to know about the summer of strikes.Find us on Twitter at #TheLeaderPodcast and come back at 1pm tomorrow for our other podcast, Tech & Science Daily.For all the latest news visit www.standard.co.uk/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wildfires might not have been something you would associate with London or the UK previously, but in 2022 times have changed.There have been reports of more wildfires across the capital and it seems like we’re going to need to adapt, another heatwave is expected over the coming week and conditions are still very dry… So just how prepared are we? Andy Elliott, firefighter, wildfire researcher, wildfire instructor and national wildfire tactical advisor for the National Fire Chiefs Council explains.Find us on Twitter at #TheLeaderPodcast and come back at 1pm tomorrow for our other podcast, Tech & Science Daily.For all the latest news visit www.standard.co.uk/news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is taken from our business podcast How to be a CEO.As an SVP at Diageo Catharina von Franck sits on the company's UK board and is in charge of growing iconic brands like Guiness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys and others. Diageo has just moved to a new HQ in the heart of Soho, London's hospitality centre. In this episode she tells us:  What’s it like inside Diageo’s new buildingWhy London’s so important to the hospitality industryWhat Diageo did to help hospitality during and after the pandemic How to stay relevant but true to your brand’s history The mistakes to avoid when marketing your brand To listen to the full episode click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After experiencing the driest July since 1935 the first hosepipe ban of 2022 is in place in the UK.Residents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are the first to face a ban, and will be followed by people in Kent and the South East from August 12th.To add to drought concerns, river experts have reported the source of the Thames has dried up for the first time on record.Some experts have criticised water companies for the way they’ve controlled our water supplies and dealt with leaks.We speak with meteorologist Dr Rob Thompson from the University of Reading about how we got into this situation. Plus Climate Lecturer John Grant from Sheffield Hallam University explains how we can change our water usage to deal with future droughts.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is once again facing a recession, as the Bank of England announced its predictions for the economy, alongside a 0.5% rise in interest rates.It’s the highest for 27 years, and the Bank of England has also predicted  energy bills will push inflation to 13% - up from an already 40-year-high of 9.4%.The Bank has predicted the UK will go into recession in the fourth quarter of this year, which could last into 2024.Alongside that, the energy regulator Ofgem warned that customers face a “very challenging winter ahead” as it now plans to update the energy price cap quarterly instead of every six months.We speak with Economist Lukasz Krebel from the New Economics Foundation about the significance of this latest forecast from the Bank of England.Plus we speak with Grace Blakeley, Economist and Columnist for The Tribune about the effectiveness of the interest rate rise.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As TfL passes the latest deadline in discussions over government funding and unions continue to threaten strike action, the future of transport in London hangs in the balance. On Wednesday afternoon Transport For London said discussions with the DfT were “ongoing” and repeated calls for £927million to get through the rest of the year, as well as a long-term funding deal.The company also accused unions of ‘undermining’ its bailout deal negotiations with further threats of strike action, which are planned for later this month.The Evening Standard’s Political Reporter Rachael Burford explains what could happen next as discussions continue. And CEO of Centre For London Nick Bowes discusses how the situation has become so dire for TfL, and gives his predictions for what might happen next.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The news that BP has reported record profits of almost £7billion has not gone down well with bill payers and campaign groups.The energy firm’s highest profits in 14 years come as people in the UK are warned their annual energy bills could reach on average £3,300 a year by January.It led to campaign groups calling the situation a “Cost of greed crisis”, and the words “don’t pay UK” trending on Twitter - a campaign encouraging people to cancel their energy direct debits in October.The Evening Standard’s Business Editor Jonathan Prynn talks us through the situation, BP’s announcement, and what might happen next.Plus we speak with Ruth London from campaign group Fuel Poverty Action, who are calling for a basic level of free energy for all, and are backing the ‘Don’t Pay UK’ campaign.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following England women’s history-making Euros win at Wembley, there’s now a focus on how the tournament will impact the women’s game.As well as the trophy, the Lionesses saw a record crowd at Wembley for a women’s home game of more than 87,000 fans, and the final also set the record for the most-watched TV broadcast of a women’s match, with the BBC revealing a peak audience of 17.4 million viewers.We speak with Yvonne Harrison, CEO of Women In Football, a professional network supporting the women’s game.She discusses the impact of the England Women’s Euro win, the barriers some women and girls still face in the industry, and what can be done to push the sport to the next level.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We join Meta's northern Europe VP Steve Hatch in the company's new HQ at King's Cross. In this episode we talk about:The opening of the huge new officeWhy Facebook chose London for their new baseWhat is the Metaverse?What can the Metaverse offer to SMEs?Why businesses need to constantly evolveBuying dog beds on the platform....Listen to the full episode here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember the Eighties and Nineties earworm theme broadcast from Down Under to television sets in millions of British homes on BBC One twice a day?Now, it’s all over for Neighbours as the long-running Australian soap ends its 37-year run now amid dwindling viewing figures on Channel 5, after a total 8,903 episodes.While these days you’ve got a never-ending on-demand buffet of online shows and films, but back in the late 80s it was four channels and pretty much everyone knew what was happening in Ramsay Street. Many thousands Londoners are set to tune in for the first time in decades for the last episode after it topped the ratings in Australia, watched by an average 1.2 million people.Fans gathered to watch the final scenes at an outdoor big screen in Melbourne’s Federation Square, that’s the city where the show is set and produced.All the big guns are back in Erinsborough for a last hurrah, including Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.The antipodeans were known by households throughout the UK simply by their first names, and who were so popular that over a third of the population tuned in to watch their characters’ wedding in 1988 - that’s 19.6 million people.Now, the pair have joined Hollywood stars Guy Pearce, Margot Robbie and a host of other old, reassuring faces and references - including a tribute to Bouncer the dog - for an emotional extended finale show.But despite an online petition of nearly 70,000 signatures to save the show, it was not to be, and now Neighbours has gone the way of Crossroads and Brookside to that modern soaps resting place, the internet.To examine the significance of the poignant end of a pre-web icon, The Leader’s joined by Nick Clark, the Evening Standard’s deputy culture editor.We discuss the big names from the once cultural phenomenon, reflect on the word-of-mouth hit show and hear from Kylie and Jason themselves, speaking from Ramsay Street. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The discovery of the Lulo Rose, a pure pink diamond, in Angola is thought to be the largest such gemstone found in 300 years - and interest is already intense ahead of its sale.The ancient gem was found in Angola at the Australian-run Lulo alluvial diamond mine, which focuses on scouring river beds, and so how important is this discovery? Well, just one in 10,000 diamonds is coloured pink, so finding one is very special indeed.This monster is a type 2a diamond, which means it has few or no impurities.The Lucapa Diamond Company hasn’t given a value for the uncut gem yet, but another such rock, called the Pink Star and weighing 132 carats, sold for over £58 million at a Hong Kong auction in 2017.One carat equals 0.2 of a gram.The Angolan mine is opencast, which means miners sift through thousands of tonnes of alluvial riverbed gravel from the Cacuilo River, hunting for rough diamonds that have collected in deposits over millions of years after eruptions forced them to the surface.The world’s largest known pink diamond is the Daria-i-Noor, discovered in India in the 1700s, weighing in at 182 carats.The largest clear diamond is the 3,100-carat Cullinan I found in South Africa in 1905, which is part of the Crown Jewels.To discuss the importance of this historic find and what else lies beneath the Earth’s crust, The Leader’s joined by Robin Hansen, curator of minerals and gemstones at London’s Natural History Museum.We also discuss the cutting process and how to check a gem’s provenance if you’re shopping for that special gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is another strike day and more travel chaos on railway services.Once more there’s commuter misery as main lines into and around London are hobbled on the fourth day of nationwide rail strikes, with just a fifth of the usual services expected to run.Industrial action has left many services grinding to a halt, and freight’s being given priority over passengers.More than 40,000 RMT union members working for Network Rail and 14 of England’s 15 rail companies walked out for 24 hours until midnight tonight.There’s more industrial action to come by the Aslef union on the railways on Saturday, while a Tube strike hitting Transport for London-run services is planned for next month.Meanwhile, London has the highest proportion of travel complaints to the Ombudsman.So, do rail strikes ever achieve their aim, and at what cost to passengers?The latest row is over eight per cent pay rises - or the lack thereof - pensions and working conditions, but have these kinds of strikes ever achieved anything for its participants - are they effective?To discuss why unions use strikes as a strategy, we’re joined by one of Britain’s leading transport experts, Tony Travers, professor at the School of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science.We discuss the complexities of the negotiating process, Mayor Sadiq Khan’s fabled “zero days of strikes” pledge back in 2016, government proposals to crack down on industrial action and what the future holds for passengers fares. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom says it will severely cut gas into the European Union that’s delivered through its main offshore pipeline.Gazprom says it’s stopping operation of a compressor turbine for Nord Stream 1 - which pipes Russian gas into Germany and is already operating at reduced capacity - due to what it calls the “technical condition of the engine”.In an escalation of Europe’s energy crisis, the move means from 4am on Wednesday, gas supplies into Germany will drop to 33 million cubic metres each day, or just 20 per cent of capacity.The Kremlin previously blamed shortfalls caused by maintenance issues on Western sanctions, and says a second compressor is also showing defects.It adds to winter supply security worries for Germany, where the economy ministry say officials knew of “no technical reason” to reduce deliveries via Nord Stream 1, which stretches 760 miles under the Baltic Sea.Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and the EU accuse the Kremlin of gas “blackmail”, while in the early hours of Tuesday Russian missiles attacked coastal villages in the Odessa region.The broken turbine is reportedly still awaiting arrival after maintenance by Siemens Energy in Canada, with Moscow saying it hopes the works will be done “sooner rather than later”.Siemens Energy says there are customs issues delivering the repaired turbine.To unravel this latest geopolitical twist, The Leader’s joined by Professor Samir Dani, an operations management expert at Keele University who specialises in global supply chains and the impact of the Russian-Ukraine war on oil and gas prices.We discuss the EU’s strategy to wean off Moscow-backed gas, the impact on consumers, new sources for energy and how the world’s digital economy is “entangled” with the Russian state.It follows talks on Tuesday, where EU members agreed to 15 per cent cut in the volume of gas used by member states between August and March, in order to help build-up reserves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Health Service faces what’s described as the “greatest workforce crisis” in its history due to severe levels of understaffing.A report by the cross-party Health and Social Care Committee warns poor staffing levels are creating a serious risk to patient safety.It comes as research by the Nuffield Trust shows the NHS in England is short of 12,000 hospital doctors and more than 50,000 nurses and midwives.Projections suggest an extra 475,000 jobs will be needed in the health sector and an extra 490,000 jobs in social care by the early part of the next decade.So what’s causing the crisis? Pay concerns, Covid, Brexit, workplace sexism and bullying are all being mentioned as contributing factors.As patient waiting lists stretch over the horizon, what can be done to solve this workforce crisis - and what will happen if it’s not fixed?We’re joined by Alan Lofthouse, a former paramedic and now a Unison union national officer, who reveals how emergency crews report ambulance waiting times outside hospitals of up to 20 hours.The Leader also discusses the points made in the Health and Social Care Committee report, the impact of staff shortages on morale and whether the Conservative rivals battling for leadership have a good offer to improve the NHS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taken from our How to be a CEO podcast. We join AXA’s UK&I CEO Claudio Gienal to talk about his career at one of the world’s biggest insurance companies, and their research into the post-pandemic landscape for SMEs.To hear the full episode click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great British getaway hasn’t got off to the best start. A critical incident was declared at Dover on Friday morning, Saturday is predicted to be the busiest day on the roads in years and we all know air travel is absolutely all over the place.But with families desperate to get away for what is for some their first proper holiday since before the pandemic, the travel chaos doesn’t look like it’s going to be calming down anytime soon. Travel journalist and host of the Big Travel Podcast, Lisa Francesca Nand, shares her insight and tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have our final two candidates for the next Tory party leader - former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss.They’ve managed to make it through five rounds of voting, fending off six other official nominees. But, the hardest part of the race has only just begun. They have hustings to face, TV debates and it’s a while yet until the outcome is known on 5th September.The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor, David Bond, explains everything you need to know about the potential PMs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another bleak chapter in the cost of living crisis, inflation has reached a 40-year high at 9.4%.Simon Clarke, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, says the Government and the Bank of England are focused on tackling this issue and we should see a ‘marked improvement’ by next year. But is it enough? Those on low and middle incomes are already feeling it and many are struggling to make ends meet. 2023 seems like a long time to hang on until. Jack Leslie, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, explains why this is happening, the impact it is having and how we’re only just at the start of this cost of living crisis.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another record breaking day for UK temperatures, at the time of recording the Met Office says London Heathrow reported a temperature of 40.2°C - and there’s still time for that to be beaten.During the extreme heatwave, roads have melted, train lines have buckled and there’s been a big dip in productivity across the country. It’s got many wondering that with the hot weather set to become a more regular thing in London and the rest of the UK, is it time for us to heat-proof our infrastructure?Professor Hannah Cloke, climate expert and natural hazards researcher at the University of Reading gives her insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hotter than the Sahara. The Met Office has given the UK’s first red extreme heat warning and the UK Health Security Agency has issued a level 4 heat-health alert - both running from Monday to Wednesday. It’s officially ‘too hot’ and our city isn’t exactly made for this weather… but it might be about time we have to start looking at changing that. Ross Lydall, the Evening Standard’s City Hall Editor & Health Editor, explains both the risks to our health as well as the pressures on our infrastructure. In part two, we’re joined by Andrew Tucker from Thames Water who addresses concerns over potential water shortages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus content taken from our How to be a CEO podcast: William Reeve knows a thing or two about how to sell a successful start-up. His first, Fletcher Research, was bought for around £20m in 1999. He followed that up in 2011 with a reported £200m sale of LoveFilm to Amazon. Since then he’s worked with household names like Secret Escapes and PaddyPower, helping to develop their businesses. Now he’s CEO of digital property lettings platform Goodlord and a non-executive director at Dunelm.To listen to the full episode click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final five candidates to become our new Prime Minister are to take part in two TV debates this weekend.Kemi Badenoch, Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Tom Tugendhat will go before the cameras tonight and on Sunday night, before the next round of voting on Monday, and Tuesday.Then the final three candidates will take part in a third TV debate on Tuesday night.It’s the first opportunity for them to challenge each other, and defend their ideas in a live setting.The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor David Bond explains how significant the TV debates will be, the key subjects being discussed, and who may benefit the most from them.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emirates has today rejected Heathrow’s order to stop selling some plane tickets, to comply with its to 100,000-a-day cap on passenger numbers.The airline issued a statement accusing Heathrow of showing “blatant disregard for consumers” by attempting to force carriers to “deny seats to tens of thousands of travellers”.In response Heathrow said it had asked airlines to “help come up with a plan to solve their resourcing challenges”, but no clear plans were put forward, and the airport had “no choice” but to impose a capacity cap.Travel Journalist Simon Calder explains what it all means for air travel out of Heathrow, and what might happen next.And Travel Expert Rob Staines discusses the wider problems facing passengers, and when things might get back to normal.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the UK’s heading for what could be a record heatwave, UK government officials have declared the first ever national heatwave emergency in England.Temperatures are set to soar above 30 degrees celsius between Sunday and Tuesday prompting a Met Office ‘Amber Alert', warning that exceptionally high temperatures “could lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.”It’s the latest reminder that global warming is escalating, and has provoked fresh calls for a focus on cutting emissions and using green energy.Met Office Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst explains what exactly is causing this week’s heatwave, and why models suggest more are likely to occur in future.And Climate Scientist at the University of Bristol Dr Eunice Lo explains the health concerns behind the heatwave, and tells us more action is needed to cut back on carbon emissions.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirty years after being illegally trafficked into the UK under the wrong name, Sir Mo Farah has finally revealed the story of how he came to the country.In a BBC documentary the four-time Olympic gold winner revealed that he was trafficked from his home in east Africa to the UK at just nine years old and forced to work as a domestic servant.He explains how he confided in his PE teacher, who helped him eventually move in with another family.The story has prompted a lot of reaction, and we speak with Social Worker Lauren Starkey from anti-trafficking charity Love 146 and the charity’s Director of Services Imogen Spencer-Campbell about the impact his story will have.And refugee and asylum specialist Louise Calvey explains the problems with processing those who’ve been trafficked into the country, and her hopes for change following Mo’s story.For more information about child trafficking visit charity Love 146 here.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A total of eleven Conservative MPs have officially launched campaigns to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.In various campaign videos from the likes of Tom Tugendhat, Sajid Javid, Suella Braverman, and Rishi Sunak we have seen promises around tax cuts, delivering Brexit and tackling immigration.On Monday Environment Secretary George Eustice said he expected the number of candidates to be whittled down to just two within a fortnight.The Evening Standard’s Deputy Political Editor David Bond discusses his ‘top 5’ candidates; those most likely to become our new PM, and the most important policies during their campaigning.Plus we speak with Tory MP for the Isle of Wight Bob Seely about his views on the candidates, who he believes are most likely to win, and what the conservative party is looking for in a new leader.Follow us on Twitter for more news - @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Euan Blair’s company Multiverse, which offers apprenticeships as an alternative to University, has been valued at $875 million. The son of former PM Tony Blair has built an enormous, multinational, firm that’s disrupting how companies like Morgan Stanley and Microsoft are finding, and keeping, the best staff. To listen to the full episode click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Queen’s had a working relationship with 14 prime ministers during her 70-year reign, beginning with Sir Winston Churchill from 1952 to 1955.Now, this week as the Downing Street psychodrama unfolded, the monarch and her staff will have keenly followed developments.After all, our monarchy remains woven into matters of state happening just down the road from Buckingham Palace in Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster.Could the Queen get dragged into the fallout from the Johnson premiership, and what was her relationship like with the outgoing prime minister? We look at the Queen’s role in times of national political flux and has the latest on the race to succeed Boris Johnson after his resignation speech.It comes as Johnson defies calls to leave No.10 immediately as the hunt for his successor hots up, with senior Tories looking to September for getting a new prime minister installed following shortlist selection, voting by party members and Parliamentary summer recess.To give us a glimpse into the protocols and legal practicalities of the Queen’s rapport with Boris Johnson, we’re joined by the Evening Standard’s royal editor Robert Jobson.The Leader also discusses whether there’s appetite for constitutional reform under future monarchs Charles and William. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After more than 50 MPs’ resigned in a painful 24 hours for Boris Johnson, he’s going, going...gone.At about 12.30pm, the ominous Downing Street lectern was carried out into the road, for a speech marking the end of two years and 348 days since Johnson became resident of Britain’s most famous address - the same as Neville Chamberlain.And while his innings weren’t as long as Theresa May or David Cameron, he does beat the likes of Gordon Brown and Sir Anthony Eden.So what, or who, did for the scandal-ridden PM in the end?The knife was certainly twisted by Nadhim Zahawi, who called for Johnson to go just a day after being made Chancellor - with the request made on Treasury-headed notepaper.The pound had a small bounce and while the Conservatives seek to anoint a successor, Labour are calling for an election to let the British public decide.So, who’s the best person to get our country back on an even keel?We’re joined by the Evening Standard’s deputy political editor David Bond and ES columnist Ayesha Hazarika to examine today’s bombshell developments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Prime Minister’s nightmare day started with more resignations following the shock news that chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid had quit.Nadhim Zahawi, the former education secretary, was parachuted in to the chancellor’s role at number 11 Downing Street, and was promptly dispatched to defend the Johnson administration on breakfast news.As the Chris Pincher groping scandal marked a watershed moment for Boris Johnson's leadership, a stream of ministers handed in their red brief cases.The exodus includes children’s minister William Quince and party vice chairman Bim Afolami.For increasing numbers of Conservative politicians, poor judgment in the appointment of Pincher as deputy chief whip was just another embarrassment following Partygate, the Downing Street flat refurbishment, the Arcuri scandal and the curious case of the disappearing Times news story.Now the vultures are circling and one newspaper this morning suggested this government was one “destined to devour itself”.Johnson's tumultuous day also included prime minister's questions and a session before MPs on the liaison committee.So can the PM hold on for a few more months, weeks, days - or even hours?To make sense of an intense week full of intrigue in Westminster, the Leader’s joined by Evening Standard deputy political editor David Bond.We also look at what the pollsters are saying about Johnson's popularity, or lack of it, and whether Sunak's suggestion his government was not “conducted properly, competently and seriously” offers Labour a political advantage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An estimated 117,000 people have died while on NHS waiting lists as the devastating knock-on effect of Covid-19’s many waves on hospitals is revealed.Now the treatment backlog stands at 6.5 million people, as coronavirus rates spike and the health service struggles with staffing problems.It came as Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North and shadow health secretary, returned to Hampstead’s Royal Free Hospital to thank medics who spotted a cancerous tumour during a routine kidney scan.To make sense of the shocking new death rate figures, revealed in Freedom of Information requests by Labour, we’re joined by Evening Standard health editor Ross Lydall.We discuss how London’s waiting times compare to the trusts elsewhere in the country, and which surgical specialisms have been hardest hit.At the same time, former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s been speaking about how his government prepared for the wrong sort of pandemic.The Department of Health and Social Care called the data “deeply misleading” and said the deaths “may be completely unrelated” to the treatment for which the patient was waiting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The entire 38th floor of the City’s ‘Cheesegrater’ skyscraper is set to be turned into an escape room game for stressed office workers to blow off steam.The building’s owner, CC Land, says the idea is for co-workers to better collaborate and “have fun” together as they compete to win Crystal Maze-style tasks. Meanwhile at 22 Bishopsgate, the Square Mile’s newest tower, bosses are offering “puppy yoga” - stretches plus dog cuddles - to try and boost colleagues’ serotonin between IRL meetings and crunching spreadsheets.They are among strategies to try and tempt working-from-home staff back to the Covid-era physical office.That’s on top of street food stalls, ice cream deliveries, craft classes and massages in what’s the Times reports is the “hotelification” of workplaces, or “office 2.0”.It’s no longer tech giants bringing high-end freebies to blur the lines between nine to five - now, many of traditional City firms are spending big on renting space with wellbeing extras.But does these techniques actually improve productivity or job satisfaction, and does anyone really want boss-approved good times in a “vertical village”?To find out more about stress-busting ideas being designed into offices of the near future, The Leader’s joined by workplace wellbeing consultant Emma James, chief operating officer at Kamwell, an employee wellbeing company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a bonus episode with Sarah Friar, CEO of Nextdoor.Sarah told the Evening Standard's How to be a CEO podcast us about the challenges of building a multinational company whose entire purpose is keeping things local. To listen to the full episode click here.For all the latest business news, features and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a two year hiatus, Pride is back for 2022. It’s just in time to mark a monumental milestone - 50 years since the first-ever Pride march took place in London.We hear from Peter Tatchell, one of the organisers of the original march as well as Stuart Feather, both activists and then members of the newly-formed Gay Liberation Front. Britain’s first movement of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Peter and Stuart take us back to what is was like to be gay men living in the UK in 1972, why they created Pride… and essentially, how they made history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A typical London home now costs nearly ten times the average local income, as surging house prices reduce affordability to the lowest level on record.It comes as the latest figures from Nationwide Building Society show the capital’s house price growth has slowed from 7.4 per cent to 6 per cent.But with hybrid working and the Covid-era race-for-space still driving many people’s property decisions, is it still possible to bag a relative bargain well inside the Zones?Research from Savills estate agents shows a typical flat in Zone 4 costs over £610,000 but in Zone 2, an equivalent home costs about £364,000.In New Cross, also in Zone 2, one of the best value deals is a flat for about £324,000, and Peckham is reportedly best value for terraced house at about £590,000.But go a little further out to Zone 3 and to East Ham for flat at around £238,000, while in Zone 4’s Ilford, the savviest buyers can find an apartment for about £177,000 and a Thamesmead terraced house for around £337,000.We discover more about the new factors driving property price growth, whether it’s sustainable and why the Elizabeth Line could be a game-changer for home prices.There’s also analysis of the latest plans to try and tackle London’s cladding scandal affecting flats and why the rental market is red hot again with sealed bids after pandemic restrictions were lifted.To examine the latest data, The Leader’s joined by Evening Standard business editor Jonathan Prynn and Homes & Property editor Prudence Ivey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Metropolitan Police has been handcuffed into ‘special measures’ by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary after a series of damaging scandals and “systemic failings” in the force’s work.It means the Met will now be under intense administrative scrutiny by the watchdog.The announcement follows outrage over awful incidents that included the rape and murder of Sarah Everard shattering public confidence, the failure to stop serial killer Stephen Port, the strip search of a black schoolgirl, Child Q, as well as not logging 69,000 crimes yearly.Crime in the capital is up over 10 per cent, including a year-on-year 8.5 per cent rise in violence against the person — almost 250,000 crimes — sexual offences up 26 per cent and knife crime up five per cent, although homicide decreased by 10 per cent and youth homicide is down by a third.How can the capital’s famous constabulary redeem its reputation and restore confidence among Londoners?To examine the latest on the scandal inside Britain’s most famous police force, The Leader is joined by the Standard’s City Hall Editor Ross Lydall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you noticed chocolate bars getting smaller, crisps bags pumped with air to bulk them out and then you get the corporate cold shoulder when you try to complain?You’re a victim of skimpflation.Economists class skimpflation as unlike regular inflation where you pay more for the same good and services, but instead you pay the same for something that’s worse quality or wait longer for it.So that shirt that rips in the washing machine on the first wash, or that teeny tiny chocolate bar - will it ever end, and how can we stop getting ripped off?And as inflation roars upwards, the Institute of Customer Service says customer service complaints are at a record high - and it’s quality, reliability and availability of goods and services that top people’s list of irritants.As inflation rockets, with the supply chain still suffering Covid fallout, how can we get a better deal?The Leader’s joined by Professor Heather McGregor, executive dean of the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, and formerly star of the Channel 4 show SuperScrimpers, under her nom de plume Mrs Moneypenny.Listen to Professor McGregor’s top tips to get the value for money and how to reclaim your consumer rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind the Alpine glad-handing at this year’s G7 summit is an agenda packed with discussion points focussing on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Leaders of the world’s seven wealthiest nations will look to reach consensus on how to deal with the war’s impact on global food and energy supply, all with the spectre of Covid’s re-emergence looming large.At Schloss Elmau, in the Bavarian Alps, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky beamed in virtually to appeal for weapons and shore up support.It comes as Russian missiles struck the capital Kyiv over the weekend, the first attacks in three weeks.Ahead of the G7 summit, US president Joe Biden also unveiled a financial package aimed at addressing health, climate and energy security, gender inequality and digital connectivity.So, why is this G7 summit so critical? And what happens behind the scenes in those corridor stop-and-chats?After awkwardness at Nato in March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson did his best not to be pictured alone again at a summit, and cracked a joke about Vladmir Putin’s pectoral muscles to colleagues.To help us unpick the policy nuance of this year’s event, we’re joined by Evening Standard deputy political editor David Bond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Morning presenter, and former Saturdays singer, Rochelle Humes launched her baby hair and skincare business 'My Little Coco' just as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world.We talk to Rochelle about:Why entering business was harder than breaking into showbizThe learning curve she faced, including an early challenge by Chanel over the word "Coco"Why she partnered with Boots to get her products on their shelvesThis is a cut down episode of Rochelle's How to be a CEO interview: click here to listen to the full thing https://podfollow.com/how-to-be-a-ceoFor more business news, interviews and analysis go to standard.co.uk/businessThis podcast was recorded at the Treehouse London Hotel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As crime documentaries and public court cases are growing in popularity, we speak with one of the most respected US attorneys, David S Rudolf, about why that is.David is best known for his work defending American Michael Peterson, who was charged with murdering his wife Kathleen at their home in North Carolina back in 2001.The case, and subsequent appeals were eventually shared in the Netflix documentary series The Staircase, in one of the most closely followed cases ever documented.David discusses the background to his decision to become a lawyer, why the series was so special, and considers why crime docs and public court cases are so popular today.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time since 1984 polio has been found to be spreading in the UK, after being detected at a sewage works in London on three separate occasions this year.As a result Londoners have been urged to make sure that babies and children are fully vaccinated against polio.It is a rare disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. Jane Clegg, Chief nurse for the NHS in London said that the majority of Londoners are fully protected against polio and won’t need to take any further action.In this episode, Dr Mike Skinner from Imperial College London discusses the history of polio, how likely further community spread is, and how worried we should be about it.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.