The Standard

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled her spending review today, with budgets set out for all government departments over the next few years. The Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn has the latest.  And in part two, as featured in The Standard’s Hidden London series, we’re joined by John Darlington, an archaeologist and director of projects for the World Monuments Fund, to explore Bosto...

More than 700 children, as young as 10 , have been caught with knives and firearms in London schools, according to new figures obtained by The Standard. Crime correspondent Anthony France joins us to explain more.  And in part two, food and drink writer Josh Barrie reveals the big winners from last night’s National Restaurant Awards - with 56 restaurants in the capital making the top 100 list...

A boat of 12 activists - including Greta Thunberg - headed for Gaza to deliver urgent aid has been diverted to Israel and those on board ‘kidnapped’ . Asad Rehman, Executive Director of the UK based human rights organisation War on Want, explains the latest.  And in part two, news reporter Megan Howe reveals The Standard’s exclusive freedom of information data on how much the Met police spent...

Today Labour’s Davy Russell narrowly defeated the SNP to win the by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, with Reform coming a close third . The Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford has the latest.  And in part two, Rachelle Abbott meets the founder of hip hop band Cypress Hill, B-Real, to discuss the band’s new album with the London Symphony Orchestra, which was...

Katja Faber is a former barrister and journalist who has lived through every parent’s worst nightmare—the death of her 23-year-old son, Alex Morgan. In our opening episode, Katja takes us back to 2014, introducing us to Alex and the glamorous, globetrotting world he was part of before his tragic killing later that year. We explore the circumstances surrounding his death and how he and his killer e...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed what to expect in the upcoming spending review - including that winter fuel payments will be restored to some pensioners this year, in a government u-turn on the allowance cuts. To run us through the latest, we're joined by The Standard's Chief Political Correspondent, Rachael Burford. Plus, in part two, we’ll be exploring whether monogamy is still a realistic...

Today the New York private equity firm KKR dramatically pulled out of a financial rescue plan for the heavily indebted Thames Water. Eleanor Shearer, a senior research fellow at the Common Wealth think tank, joins us to ask what happens next. Plus, the Standard’s showbiz correspondent Tina Campbell, is here to discuss the latest development in the continuing feud between It Ends With Us co-stars B...

The London Standard’s defence editor Robert Fox joins us to discuss the government’s newly released strategic defence review. And in part two, he explains the latest on peace talks in Istanbul following Ukraine’s long-range drone attack on Russia on Sunday. https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/defence-review-keir-starmer-spending-donald-trump-b1230498.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Who is behind the red paint attacks   both in and outside the capital? Journalist David James Smith reports on the latest, as Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, urges the Met Police to treat the repeated vandalism with the seriousness it deserves. And in part two, journalist Lucy Pavia shares how you can bring the cottagecore garden trend to your own urban outdoor space. Hosted on Acast. See...

Ashok Kumar, an American associate professor of political economy at Birkbeck University, shares how the action of the US federal court has scuppered Trump’s tariff plans, and impacted global trade relations. The Court of International Trade found the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from US trading partners. And in part two, The Standard’s re...

As the Mayor of London urges the government to consider decriminalising possession of small amounts of cannabis , Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst for Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, unpacks the findings of the London Drugs Commission. And in part two, The Standard’s culture writer Claudia Cockerell questions the power and popularity of the slogan t-shirt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is positioning his party against Labour, with policies that will allegedly be funded by axing net zero projects , saving up to £225 billion. The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford explains more. And in part two, news reporter Megan Howe tells us w hy one London borough is seeking independence to rejoin Essex . Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

As Ofgem announces the latest energy price cap , we’re joined by Emily Seymour, from consumer champion Which? to unpack today’s facts and figures. And in part two, The London Standard’s lifestyle and culture writer India Block reveals the winning songwriters of the Ivor Novello awards  - and the state of the music industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the day that a package of fundamental reforms to the justice system is announced , The London Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk reports on the action. And in part two, we explore why Clarkson’s Farm has proved to be Prime Video’s most successful original series of all time , with Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

There’s been a bigger-than-expected inflation jump for households across Britain - and The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford unpacks the news, alongside Keir Starmer’s surprise policy u-turn. And in part two, Tamara Davidson reports on the release of Final Destination Bloodlines, which is the cult franchise’s sixth film after 25 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

Keir Starmer claims Britain is back on the world stage after securing a new deal between Britain and the EU - but opposition leaders say he has surrendered on fishing rights. Chief political correspondent Rachael Burford has the latest. And in part two, The London Standard’s business editor Jonathan Pyrnn reveals details of the Barbican Centre’s ambitious renovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

Speaking from London’s Old Bailey, we’re joined by The London Standard’s courts correspondent, Tristan Kirk, with the latest on the major hack of the UK’s justice system by cyber criminals. And in part two, we learn about the new Guinness micro brewery which will be coming to London’s Covent Garden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As excitement builds around the Eurovision Song Contest , The London Standard’s Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop highlights the standout acts to watch — amid ongoing protests and controversy surrounding Israel’s participation. And in part two, as part of this week’s hidden London, world war two historian, Dr Helen Fry, is at Latimer House, where intelligence services extracted...

Claudia Cockerell shares the sour truth about London’s sugar babies, who are dating older, wealthy men  to fund their lives in a cost of living crisis. And reporter Megan Howe joins us from the High Court to explain the row over events such as Mighty Hoopla and Field Day, which are held in Brockwell Park - and how the verdict will impact London’s festival scene. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...

The Government has slashed Sir Sadiq Khan’s affordable housing targets after the number of affordable homes being started in  London  last year was revealed to be the second lowest on record. Local democracy reporter Noah Vickers joins us to unpack the latest data from City Hall. And in part two, Chief Theatre Critic Nick Curtis tells us about the hottest theatre tickets in town this sum...

Chief political correspondent Rachael Burford joins us to discuss the backlash against Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s migration reforms, with his immigration speech likened by MPs to the rhetoric of Enoch Powell. And in part two, Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk brings us the latest from P Diddy’s trial in New York , where the music mogul is accused of sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitutio...

Chief political correspondent Rachael Burford joins us to discuss the secret underground world propping up some of the capital’s most-hyped restaurants , fuelled by illegal immigration. And in part two, Commissioning Editor and Culture Writer Vicky Jessop shares all the news, shocks and surprises from Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards ceremony. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between 2023 and 2024, police recorded a record high of 37,959 blackmail offences in England and Wales but what’s behind the increase in this type of crime?   Alexandra McCready is Head of Reputation and Privacy for law firm, Vardags, and joins us to reveal what really goes on behind closed doors when it comes to dealing with blackmail and sextortion.    Plus, how and why the recent...

After several days of commemoration events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, culminating in a memorial service today at Westminster Abbey, we’re joined by Laura Clouting, Senior Curator at the Imperial War Museum, to explore why the historic event still holds importance in today’s society and what we can learn from those who endured the Second World War.   Plus, as Sir David Attenb...

Tensions are rising between two nuclear powers after India launched missile strikes into Pakistan-controlled territory . Pakistan’s calling it an “act of war”. The London Standard’s reporter Jacob Phillips joins us to explain what’s happened, why now, and what it means for the UK and wider world. Plus, we hear from James Ashton, co-founder of Oscar’s Book Prize. He tells us about this year’s winni...