The Standard

Our City Hall editor Ross Lydall tells us how a delay to the London mayoral election has affected the vote. The public’s going to the polls tomorrow, a year after the pandemic forced the ballots to be closed.Ross says candidates like independent Rory Stewart dropping out changed the way the campaign was fought, and will probably have some effect on the vote for both Labour’s Sadiq Khan and Conservative Shaun Bailey. We discuss the latest polls and look back at an extraordinary five years since the last vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our City Hall editor Ross Lydall joins the podcast to discuss the Evening Standard’s third and final poll of voting intentions in the London mayoral election. The Opinium survey shows Mr Khan on 48 per cent, down three points on last month, and Mr Bailey unchanged on 29 per cent of first-preference votes. The first of our three polls, in March, had Mr Khan on 53 per cent and Mr Bailey on 28 per cent of first preferences.Ross says the latest survey finds crime remains the most important issue to Londoners, having replaced health/the NHS in the second poll. We also hear about Mr Khan’s claim that he’ll try to bring the Olympics and Paralympics back to London in 2036 or 2040.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Features writer Katie Strick’s been looking at how the redecoration of 11 Downing Street by Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds reportedly hit the £200,000 mark.She reveals the costs of hiring one of London’s top interior designers, Lulu Lytle, whose fabric prices start at £100 a metre.And she’s been looking into how much of the flat’s furnishings were really from John Lewis when the Prime Minister and his fiancée arrived, such as the £100 chrome table lamp left by Theresa May.But is £200,000 a lot of money for a Downing Street refurbishment anyway? We also talk about the cash spent by previous occupants.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard columnist, Anne McElvoy takes us through the changing role of the Duchess of Cambridge as we mark the 10th anniversary of her fairy tale wedding to Prince William. Has royal life turned out the way Kate Middleton wanted it to? We discuss how she’s taken on a “centrist” role, acting as a kind of peacemaker during a time of disruption in the family. And we talk about what the future holds for her, and how her influence within Buckingham Palace and the United Kingdom will change when Prince Charles becomes King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us why the Electoral Commission’s launched a “bombshell” investigation into the redecoration of 11 Downing Street. The watchdog says it’s “now satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred.”The announcement came shortly before Prime Minister’s Questions, during which Boris Johnson was also asked again if he said he’d rather “let the bodies pile high” than have a third lockdown. The Prime minister gave a strong denial in the Commons, but Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared to suggest he would return to it later saying: “I’ll leave that there for now.” Joe tells us that’s sparked speculation the Labour party has more information that’s not yet been revealed to the public.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susannah Butter joins the podcast to look at Boris Johnson’s finances. As the cost of the Prime Minister’s flat refurbishment comes under scrutiny - why can’t he afford to pay for it? We learn how the UK PM’s salary is much lower than some other countries’ and Mr Johnson has actually taken a considerable pay cut to take over at Downing Street. But he also has considerable outgoings, including the cost of a divorce estimated at £2 million, and childcare costs.We also look at the Evening Standard’s exclusive poll showing Boris Johnson is regarded as “untrustworthy” by six in 10 Britons. The Ipsos Mori survey suggests Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is regarded as trustworthy by 42 per cent and not to be trusted by 41. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland Yard’s launching Operation Sceptre in another attempt to tackle London’s horrific knife crime problem.The Evening Standard’s John Dunne details how it will use technology, like knife detectors at train stations, as well as sending officers into schools to educate young people about the dangers of blades. The operation comes after a weekend of violence in which Fares Maatou, 14, was stabbed to death in Newham and a 16-year-old-girl suffered life-changing injuries after a double knife attack in Lambeth.Columnist Natasha Mwansa tells us how growing up in Newham she saw friends of friends get caught up in gang culture and very little seems to have changed. She says the issue is a city-wide one, and increased police patrols will not be enough to beat it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil discusses the Downing Street lobbying row that won’t go away. One of the government’s own ministers, Caroline Dinenage, revealed she doesn’t have Boris Johnson’s mobile phone number, saying it’s not given out “willy-nilly”. But that’s led to some asking why a businessman like Sir James Dyson has the ability to text the Prime Minister when some ministers themselves can’t. He also discusses speculation that former advisor Dominic Cummings is behind the leak of the text conversation between the billionaire businessman and Mr Johnson.Elsewhere, international travel will be legal again from the middle of next month, but where will you be able to go? Travel consultant Paul Charles joins us from a major tourism summit in Mexico, and reveals the 30 destinations that are believed to be on the so-called “green list”.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s City Hall editor Ross Lydall joins the podcast with two weeks to go until London hits the ballot box for the mayoral election. He’s been speaking to both Sadiq Khan and Shaun Bailey who have been campaigning in the city, with the Conservative candidate making up some ground in the polls although the Labour incumbent is far ahead. We also hear from the Greens’ Sian Berry and Lib Dems’ Luisa Porritt who are trying to pick up votes as the big day looms. And Ross tells us what happened when both Mr Khan and Mr Bailey asked to borrow his bike.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Queen has thanked people around the world for their “support and kindness” following the death of Prince Philip as she marked her first birthday without her “strength and stay”. In a statement the monarch, who turned 95, said that the Royal Family were in a period of “great sadness” but that she had “received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate”. The Evening Standard’s Lifestyle editor Suzannah Ramsdale joins the podcast to talk about how her Majesty spent the day with her family, Prince Harry’s involvement before heading back to the States, and plans for a four day bank holiday next year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Children are returning to school following the Easter break, following a long stretch of being taught at home. For some families, those lockdown kitchen classrooms became quite chaotic, and there are concerns the upheaval left a student generation behind in their education. Now the government’s put a price tag of £1.7 billion on helping their academic recovery. But a report by the Education Policy Institute think tank says up to £15 billion is needed. The EPI believes that without significant policy interventions and funding, there could be severe consequences for young people’s mental health, future earnings and life chances. The Evening Standard’s Education Editor Anna Davis examines the report's findings and Covid’s academic impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you among the legions of employees who have spent this pandemic year wedged in a spare bedroom or camped out with your laptop at the kitchen table? The Office for National Statistics kicks off this week with research showing that nearly half of London’s employees have been working from home since Covid struck - that’s far more people avoiding the daily commute than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. But has this cultural shift meant working habits are changed for good, or will it all be back to normal by Christmas? The Standard’s Consumer Business Editor Jonathan Prynn analyses the ONS data to decipher what it means for the future of commuting and the knock-on financial impact for London’s retail sector. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Philip’s biographer, Philip Eade, joins the show to discuss the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral at Windsor Castle. He tells us the stripped back event is “exactly the sort of funeral he would have chosen for himself,” with a guest list strictly limited to just 30 people and much of the ceremony cut down.The funeral’s taking place at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle, with guests being told to socially distance and wear face masks, including the Queen. But Philip Eade tells us the smaller, more intimate gathering of close family and friends may suit her Majesty more, as she mourns the loss of her husband of 73 years.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health editor Ross Lydall explains the results of an exclusive poll for the Evening Standard showing London would support controversial Covid passports if they meant being able to go out again. Some 67 per cent say they would personally take them up, boosting hopes that Covid certificates are the key to filling the West End, nightclubs and Wembley Stadium this summer. In a survey of 1,100 people in the capital for the Standard, pollsters Opinium found only 21 per cent would refuse to carry them, meaning support of more than three to one.We also hear from mayor Sadiq Khan, who reveals his worries about coronavirus mutations as surge testing continues in four boroughs following the discovery of the South African variant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s health editor Ross Lydall explains what the South African variant of coronavirus is and how the capital’s battling to contain it. Residents in a “targeted area” within SE16 in Southwark are being urged to get a test after a case of the mutation was detected there. Additional testing sites, some of them mobile, are also being rolled out in Wandsworth and Lambeth where dozens of cases of the SA variant virus have been identified.London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a Wandsworth resident, is one of those who have been tested as has his Tory election rival Shaun Bailey who got a Covid vaccine in the area this week.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With over-50s and priority groups all offered the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, the government is now rolling out the jab to other groups. Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil tells us who’s going to be next, and also tells us how the debut of the Moderna vaccine will pick up the slack left by the AstraZeneca injection which is no longer being recommended for the under 30s.Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is warning vaccines are not the reason the country’s coronavirus infection and death rates are down. Boris Johnson says it’s mainly down to the national lockdown rules, which began to be eased on Monday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in the beer gardens of Walthamstow’s Orford Road, this special edition of the Leader looks at the impact of lifting some lockdown restrictions on the hospitality industry. Chief food critic Jimi Famuwera joins the show to talk about the relief being felt by restaurateurs and bar owners across the city, but warns there is a huge unpaid rent crisis looming.He also gives some recommendations on places to go alfresco dining, as do Evening Standard writers Susanna Butter, David Ellis and Ellie Davis. Bookings at alfresco spaces such as roof terraces and gardens were said to be “off the scale” despite the day starting with snow showers and temperatures not forecast to rise above 9C. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s royal editor, Robert Jobson, joins the podcast to talk about the life and legacy of Prince Philip, who has died at the age of 99. Robert discusses the Duke of Edinburgh’s role in modernising the monarchy, and his importance to the Queen during their long marriage.Buckingham Palace says Prince Philip “passed away peacefully” at Windsor Castle, where he had been staying with the Queen since being discharged from hospital on March 16. He had spent a month in hospital earlier this year and underwent surgery for a pre-existing heart condition last month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil is on the show after the Evening Standard spoke to a leading expert on vaccinations, following concerns the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab could cause blood clots in very rare cases. Professor Adam Finn says that even if someone was hit by the condition following the jab, “there is effective treatment” and people should take the injection if they’re offered it. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says that as a “precautionary measure” anyone who has certain symptoms four days or more after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccination is advised to seek prompt medical advice. They are a new onset of persistent headache, blurred vision, confusion or seizures, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, unusual skin bruising or pinpoint round spots beyond the injection site. Nicholas also tells us how the latest Covid-19 infection figures show London is continuing to keep the bug at bay.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn joins the podcast as restaurant groups report an enormous demand for al fresco tables. One, the Incipio Group, says it’s taken more than 300,000 bookings for post-April 12, and some of its venues are close to having their weekends sold out until September. Jonathan says the strong response has given the company confidence to press ahead with plans for a further round of restuarant launches this year.Meanwhile, one of central London’s biggest landlords is pledging to provide 800 outdoor seats for more diners and drinkers in the streets of Mayfair and Belgravia from next Monday in another major boost to the capital’s embattled hospitality sector. The Duke of Westminster’s family property company Grosvenor said North Audley Street in Mayfair would be transformed into an “outdoor dining room” while 150 seats will also be laid on at Motcomb Street in Belgravia . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arts correspondent Robert Dex joins us to look at a government plan that could allow theatres to re-open without social distancing as early as this summer. Ministers are looking at how rapid tests and proof of vaccination could allow big shows to reopen in the West End, with auditoriums filled rather than nearly empty.It follows updated advice from scientists who believe we’ll all have to socially distance for several months after lockdown restrictions are eased because of concerns over covid mutations. But Robert tells us many theatre producers are wary of introducing covid passports, fearing it might mistakenly send the signal that a night in the West End is more dangerous than going to the shops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins us to explain why researchers are to begin coronavirus vaccine trials with children. It follows news that youngsters as young as five could be given the AstraZeneca jab in trials that could be key to keeping schools open after the summer. Professor Adam Finn, head of the Bristol Children’s Vaccine Centre, says giving the inoculations to millions of children may be necessary to keep the virus at bay.Meanwhile, Nicholas also tells us how official figures have revealed the vaccine roll-out in London and across England has “flipped” to delivering more second doses than first shots.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we heading for another Roaring Twenties? After a year in lockdown, it appears the UK has saved quite a lot of money and now the Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn says we’re being encouraged to spend it. Official figures reveal an unprecedented scale of cash piles have been put aside by households while “non-essential” shops, restaurants and bars remained closed for months and foreign holidays had to be put on hold. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows that the savings ratio — the proportion of disposable income put aside for a rainy day — rose from 14.3 per cent to 16.1 per cent in the last three months of 2020.For the year as a whole, the savings ratio — which peaked in the first lockdown last spring — rose from 6.8 per cent in 2019 to a record 16.3 per cent. But will this new nation of savers want to give up its cash for the sake of the country’s economy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to explain the new Novovax vaccine, that could be released in the UK in April. He says ministers have ordered 60 million doses, after trials found it to be 86 per cent effective against the Kent variant of Covid-19 and 96 per cent against the Wuhan strain. It comes as lockdown restrictions are lifted across the country, coinciding with a min-heatwave which has encouraged people to get outside and join their friends and family. Nicholas says that’s got some doctors concerned about people’s behaviour, with a warning not to drink and let your guard down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's political editor, Joe Murphy, joins the show to tell us how the relaxation of lockdown restrictions "goes further than advertised".  Trips to the seaside, the New Forest, favourite walks and cycle trails, plus top outdoor attractions such as castles, are all back within range of Londoners desperate to get out of the capital after lockdown, the Government confirmed to the Standard. But Joe warns that people are being discouraged from hugging their friends and relatives, with Downing Street still concerned about rising coronavirus infection rates in Europe, where a third wave appears to be gathering strength.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re just over one year since lockdown began, and we’re just a few days from it at least starting to come to an end. This week on the Leader podcast we’ve been looking at how the pandemic has affected our health and our economy – but what happens next? Will people go back to the office? Will they even want to? And is that going to cause problems for employers?  O2 Business has been looking at this, and they’ve discovered there are three types of people out there: office cravers, home dwellers, and mixers. We spoke to their Managing Director Jo Bertram to ask her about who those people are and how we’re all going to have to adapt to a post-pandemic world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It looks like the government's planning some kind of certification scheme for bars, retailers and airports that would allow people to prove they've either been vaccinated or do not have Covid-19. The Prime Minister says "there is going to be a role for certification" but it won't be put in place until "absolutely everyone" has been offered the jab. The Evening Standard's Reveller editor, David Ellis, joins the show to look at how 'Covid Passports for Pubs' might work, and if it will hurt an industry struggling to recover from lockdown or will it make potential customers feel more safe?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Conservative candidate for London Mayor, Shaun Bailey's told the Evening Standard he'll close the gap on Sadiq Khan ahead of the city making its vote on May 6th. He spoke to Ross Lydall, who joins the podcast to assess the Tory hopeful's chances after our Opinium survey of 1,100 Londoners revealed Mr Khan leads by 53 per cent to 28 per cent on first preferences.  Also, political reporter Sophia Sleigh's spoken to historian Dan Snow about proposals for a Covid-19 memorial at Whitehall. But what would something like that look like and is London the best place for it?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn and Nicholas Cecil discuss how measures to curb the spread of coronavirus have hit the capital city. More than £50bn has been wiped from London's economy, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CERB), but latest infection figures reveal the stats are continuing to head in the right direction with the rate for the city as a whole at 36.5 as of March 17, down nine per cent on the previous week.We also discuss how the threat of a third wave hitting the UK could be staved off if the vaccination programme continues to be rolled-out at speed, but doctors are warning it's "a race against time" with the virus gathering strength on the continent.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political editor Joe Murphy describes the negotiations as the European Union threatens to raise the stakes in the vaccine wars, just as Boris Johnson warns the continent's "third wave" of coronavirus will "wash up on our shores". The PM made the comments amid a fresh war of words brewing with the EU over the vaccine roll out. The president of the European Commission has warned that the EU could “forbid” doses made in the bloc from being exported to the UK. Also, if you’re a Deliveroo customer, chances are you’ll have had an offer to tuck into a slice of its IPO pop up in your inbox. So, what do you do? Buy in the hope of making big profits from your takeaway habit, or steer clear of what looks like a frothy market for IPOs? Our city editor Jim Armitage gives his verdict and tells us why today's digital stocks are reminding him of the late 90s dotcom bubble.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Staggering” official figures reveal how Covid-19 has impacted life expectancy in London -now at its worst since the Second World War.Data from PublicHealth England, analysed by the King’s Fund, shows life expectancy for Londoners has been seriously reduced - not just by a few months or even a year, but men have seen 2.5 years cut from their lives, and women will now live on average for 1.6 fewer years - and this is even worse for disadvantaged Londoners after suffering years of austerity policies.And a UCL investigation commissioned by Mayor Sadiq Khan and TfL has revealed a spike in deaths among London’s bus drivers, as face masks look set to be the norm on public transport for a while. The Evening Standard’s Health Editor, Ross Lydall, who has been covering both stories, gives us his insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Londoners are still processing the horrific disappearance and death of Sarah Everard, there is a renewed focus on what more can be done to keep women safe on the streets. As the inquest into Sarah’s death opened today, it’s been a particularly stressful time for teachers at secondary-age schools around Clapham in south-west London, where she disappeared. We speak to Gill Cross, Deputy Head Mistress at Streatham and Clapham High School, an independent girls’ school with over 500 pupils, where teachers have been supporting pupils and empowering them to report abuse.In Covid vaccine developments, as the Government admits there will be a delay in the vaccine rollout - but insists it’s on track - we speak to Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, about the Indian government’s decision to hold back millions of doses from Britain, the ongoing row with the European Commission over jab exports and where all this leaves Boris Johnson’s roadmap. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's shocked the UK by appearing to threaten to cut off vaccine supplies from Europe if doses of AstraZeneca made in the UK aren't sent back to the continent. Boris Johnson's hit back, warning the bloc to “stand by its commitments” and not endanger the battle against Covid-19 by imposing jab export restrictions. The Evening Standard's deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the podcast to look at a surprising turn of events that's come in the same week countries like Germany, France and Italy said they were pausing use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. He also discusses the latest in the UK's vaccination programme, as the country passes the 25 million doses given landmark and extends invites for the injection to everyone over 50.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With countries across Europe suspending use of the AstraZeneca injection, we speak to Dr Will Budd, from Imperial College London, about claims that the vaccine may be causing blood clots in some recipients.He tells us there's no evidence to suggest a link, and that the jab is safe. He says countries like Germany, France and Spain are simply taking precautions, but he expects they'll re-introduce the vaccine soon.  Also, the Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn talks to us as the Duke of Edinburgh is finally released from hospital after nearly a month. Prince Philip was being treated at King Edward VII for an infection and a heart condition. He's now thought to be back at Windsor castle with the Queen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evening Standard crime correspondent Anthony France takes us through the events that turned a peaceful vigil on Clapham Common into a violent protest with four arrests. Could Scotland Yard have done more to ensure the event took place as planned in the first place, and why did officers apparently switch strategies as evening fell and some of those still there became more angry?He also discusses the future of Met Commissioner Cressida Dick, who is under pressure to resign over what happened with politicians like the Lib-Dem's Sir Ed Davey saying she should quit. But Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel are giving her their full backing, and she insists she's the right woman to lead the force as London, and the UK, tries to reckon with violence against women. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave has promised Scotland Yard's dedication to the people of London is "undiminished" after it was confirmed Sarah Everard's body had been identified. The Evening Standard's home affairs editor, Martin Bentham, tells us detectives are now trawling through the background of a serving firearms officer who has been arrested on suspicion of the 33-year-old's murder. He also says the Met is facing five investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, including one looking at whether an opportunity to arrest the officer earlier for a different alleged offence was missed.  And, our city hall editor Ross Lydall joins us to talk about his meeting with London Mayoral candidate Laurence Fox. The actor and "anti-woke" campaigner has sparked a backlash after saying that Britons had a “sovereign choice” to decide whether or not to get vaccinated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Evening Standard's Helena Wadia speaks to one of the organisers of Reclaim These Streets, a series of vigils taking place across the UK following the disappearance of Sarah Everard.  Jessica Leigh is among those behind an event taking place at the bandstand in Clapham Common at 6pm on Saturday. She says they'll be calling for streets to be safe for women, regardless of what they wear, where they live or what time of day or night it is. A survey for UN Women UK, published this week, found that 97 per cent of women aged 18-24 said they have been sexually harassed. Similar vigils are due to be held across the UK.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's emerged the Duchess of Sussex did make an official complaint against Piers Morgan following the former GMB host's claim that she was "lying" during her interview with Oprah. Meghan is one of 41,000 to have raised an issue with ITV, but unlike the public's complaints, hers is reported to have gone straight to the channel's CEO. Piers Morgan insisted this morning that he "fell on his own sword", but the Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn says ITV bosses had to have taken Meghan's intervention into account. He also talks about how the interview is having impacts across the world, particularly in Commonwealth countries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We don’t know yet precisely how a year in lockdown has affected us, but we’re getting a pretty good idea. An Evening Standard survey found that 42% of our readers say their mental health has been hit by the Covid crisis. 27% don’t know what to do to improve their well-being.  On March 10th we’re launching London Minds, free online sessions involving inspiring speakers like Arianna Huffington, Dr Rupy Aujla, and Ben Bidwell from the Naked Professors podcast. Joining the Leader podcast are co-founder of the Movember campaign JC, and Power Hour podcast host Adrienne Hebert. They talk about the growing mental health crisis, and give simple advice on how to look after yours.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buckingham Palace is struggling to contain the fallout from a series of bombshell allegations from Harry and Meghan in their much-anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey. The monarchy has been plunged into crisis as the Duchess of Sussex alleged that a member of the royal family had raised “concerns” when she was pregnant about how dark her son Archie’s skin would be. Meghan also told how life as a working royal had taken her to the brink of suicide.Evening Standard columnist, and senior editor of the Economist, Anne McElvoy joins the podcast to talk about how damaging the allegations could be, and what Buckingham Palace needs to do next to recover? The interview was shown in the States on Sunday night and will be broadcast in the UK on ITV at 9pm tonight and ITV Hub.Clips in the podcast are courtesy of Harpo Productions/CBS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the podcast following his story revealing how several Tory MPs have joined the backlash against the government's once percent pay rise offer for NHS workers. Among them is former health minister Dr Dan Poulter MP, who as a doctor has been working on the frontline in a central London hospital during the pandemic. He told The Standard the Government should consider an inflation-matching pay rise and a one-off payment of at least two percent of salary to recognise the extraordinary work done by NHS staff in the last year.Meanwhile, rumblings of industrial action are beginning to mount, and current health minister Nadine Dorries has suggested the government might "move" on the pay issue.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another clip from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's upcoming interview with Oprah has been released, and for the first time it features Meghan speaking. The bombshell 30-second preview of Sunday's show features her accusing what she calls 'The Firm' of "perpetuating falsehoods" against her and Harry. It comes as Buckingham Palace confirms it's investigating allegations Meghan bullied some staff in October 2018.  Lawyers for the Sussexes dismissed the claims as “a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful information”. The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn tells us it looks like a very big row is about to erupt.  Also, our City Hall editor Ross Lydall was at Sadiq Khan's re-election campaign launch, which didn't quite go to plan. The mayor was forced to hole-up inside a coffee shop for an hour to avoid a small group of residents protesting about a transport scheme. Ross says Mr. Khan was then followed down the street by the group as he made his way to a waiting car.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Treasury worker, now Evening Standard journalist, Jack Kessler joins the podcast to reveal the thinking behind some of Rishi Sunak's big announcements. He tells us why income and corporation tax hikes are coming, and why they're being delayed. He also explains why successive budgets have seen freezes on fuel duty, including this one.  Rishi Sunak's moment in the Commons came just a few months after Britain left the EU, but the word "Brexit" didn't appear at all in his speech. Jack says that's because announcements like the 'super deduction' business tax cut would be dwarfed by what's been lost through leaving the world's biggest trading bloc without a deal covering services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are two major events taking place on Wednesday that will both contribute to the survival of the culture industries once lockdown is over. The first is an expected £400m budget announcement by chancellor Rishi Sunak, which will see even more money invested into the Culture Recovery Fund, along with cash for museums and venues to stay afloat until they can re-open in May. In the evening, the Evening Standard will be revealing the first recipients of the Future Theatre Fund which was created in association with Tik Tok and in partnership with the National Youth Theatre. 12 up-and-coming talents will receive £10,000 each. The NYT's chief executive and artistic director Paul Roseby joins the podcast to talk about how theatres have been navigating the pandemic, and how important it is that young people who have lost so many opportunities for stage work need to be supported.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hunt has intensified for an unknown carrier of a new Brazilian mutation of Covid-19 as scientists warned that if it takes hold it could undermine the roadmap out of lockdown. It was revealed on Sunday that six cases of the new Manaus variant of coronavirus, which is more contagious and may be more resistant to vaccines, have been found in Britain, three in England and three in Scotland. Our political reporter Sophia Sleigh says questions are being raised over how the variant from the Brazilian city was identified in a Covid-19 test of someone who did not fill in a registration form with their name and details. Also, royal editor Robert Jobson joins the podcast as it's revealed the Duke of Edinburgh has transferred hospitals for treatment for an infection. It's now the longest spell the 99 year old has spent in hospital and it comes as controversy brews around an interview Prince Harry and Meghan have given to Oprah Winfrey that's due to air in the States on Sunday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Harry’s appeared on the Late Late Show with James Corden, and revealed how his mental health was “being destroyed” by the UK media before he and Meghan left for LA. The chat, recorded before the couple announced they would never re-join the royal family, is being described as a “bombshell interview” and comes ahead of the highly anticipated conversation with Oprah. But it’s come out on the same day the Queen was recorded talking to NHS professionals about her own coronavirus vaccination, and encouraging all Britons to get the jab.The Evening Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds says that’s a rare intervention by the Monarch, but with so much attention being given to Harry’s interview it may not have the impact it was expected to. Lizzie says it’s an early example of how difficult the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s relationship with Buckingham Palace could become as they try to carve out a post-Royal future.Also, our city editor Jim Armitage joins the show to talk about the future of office working once London’s unlocked. It follows the first meeting of the Evening Standard’s Recovery Board, which saw industry leaders discussing how the city will have to change in a post-pandemic world.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer's exams have been cancelled and teachers will now assess their pupils based on coursework, essays and optional in-class tests. That's led to concerns about consistency across the country, with Robert Halfon, the Tory chair of the cross-party Education select committee, telling the Standard he's worried about a "wild west" of grading results.  On the Leader podcast we speak to Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders (ASCL). He tells us that they're expecting pressure from some parents to give their kids a better grade, but there are systems in place to make it difficult for teachers to do so. He also warns of "consequences" if schools are caught fiddling the results, including having their grades rendered void.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dozens of streets across the West End will be closed to traffic from April to the end of September to turn them into alfresco dining boulevards. Westminster council bosses have decided to repeat last summer’s scheme when a total of 60 roads - including 17 in Soho alone - were transformed through temporary closures and pavement widening. Our consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn's on the podcast to explain how it'll all work while still being safe as London tries to encourage people to come back after lockdown.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook's vice-president for northern Europe, Steve Hatch, joins the show to discuss the social media giant's role in both helping the UK ease out of lockdown, and prepare for life after it. We talk about how the company's adapted to the global pandemic, including ramping up its efforts to tackle disinformation using lessons learned from the 2016 US election. He also tells us about how Facebook expects more than 50% if its staff to be working from home for the forseeable future, and what that means for remote offices. And he explains what happened in Australia, where the platform temporarily blocked news from being viewed or shared by its users in a row over new media laws.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Schools and safely reuniting with loved ones are being prioritised in England's road map out of lockdown. Mr Johnson's been detailing his “cautious” approach for easing coronavirus restrictions in a speech to Parliament, confirming the reopening of schools on March 8 and the easing of some social restrictions. Our education editor Anna Davis says that's being welcomed by headteachers, although unions are concerned about the risk of staff catching the bug, and starting another cycle of infection.March 29th is when pubs and restaurants will be able to offer food and drink outdoors to groups of no more than six, but the Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn says there isn't a date for when people will actually be able to go inside to have a meal or a pint. He also warns there doesn't appear to be much respite for the travel industry, with still no word on whether people should book a holiday for the summer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.