The Standard

After six seasons, 60 episodes and three incarnations of the Queen, Netflix’s The Crown is abdicating its throne. But, will fans be satisfied with its ending? Columnist Melanie McDonagh gives her verdict. In part two, our senior feature writer & editor, Katie Strick, discusses the newest episode of London Love Stories with Katie Strick featuring none other than the much-loved filmmaker Ri...

A ‘historic deal’ has been reached at the COP28 climate change summit in Dubai. For the first time, the agreement calls on all countries to ‘move away’ from using fossil fuels, but is it enough? Sustainability expert and presenter of our Sustainable Travel podcast series, Juliet Kinsman, shares her insight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Storm clouds gathered over 10 Downing Street as Rishi Sunak tried desperately to quell mutiny among Conservative party rebels ahead of a make-or-break immigration vote on his flagship Rwanda asylum bill. It came as the Prime Minister saw his public ratings on managing immigration hit a new low in an Ipsos UK survey for the Standard. Analysis with Standard political editor Nicolas Cecil.  Host...

Rishi Sunak won’t like Mondays like this one The Prime Minister will have woken up at Number 10 battling two fronts, as his decision-making is probed at the Covid-19 Inquiry in Paddington before facing a crunch vote on Tuesday over his highly divisive Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. The next two days are arguably the most critical of Sunak’s barely year-long premiership. Insight wi...

This is a special cut down episode from our latest podcast London Love Stories with Katie Strick . A real-life Sliding Doors meet-cute. Host Katie Strick meets Londoners Aaron and Rachel, who fell in love and moved in together just five weeks after a chance encounter on the Tube. Make sure you're following London Love Stories with Katie Strick wherever you get your podcasts to hear more. Host...

Was a 25-year-old ‘bodge job’ to blame? Passengers left without lighting, heating or toilets. Rachel Riley & James Blunt among those stuck. Our Editor-in-chief Dylan Jones describes his experience stranded on the Elizabeth line, and our travel editor Ross Lydall reveals what may have caused the travel chaos.  Follow us on X or on Threads . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...

PM defends Rwanda asylum bill at tetchy emergency press conference. Why the Rwanda deal can’t be ‘pushed’ any further. What will happen if MPs block the PM’s Rwanda bill? Our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil discusses the Prime Minister's future ahead of the crucial vote on the Rwanda asylum bill next week. In this episode: The PM’s immigration policy explained Why did Rishi Sunak seem agitated at...

The former prime minister questioned over 5,000 missing WhatsApp messages. How has Mr Johnson dealt with the questioning so far? Why the Covid Inquiry won’t lead to any form of punishment. Our Health Reporter Daniel Keane discusses Boris Johnson’s first day at the Covid Inquiry. In this episode: Have there been any revelations from day one? The full story behind the missing WhatsApp messages What...

We speak with Tom Hanks and co-writer Christopher Riley about their new show chronicling the Apollo missions of the ‘60s: The Moonwalkers . They tell us why they chose Lightroom in London as the venue for the show and how original footage from the moon was remastered to create the visuals. Plus, Andy Saunders, the man who remastered original footage from the missions explains how he did it. In thi...

Who has caused a stir in the fashion world of 2023? The woman behind the rise of a high street brand at top spot. Why TV show costume designers have made the list. Our Fashion Editor Victoria Moss reveals the names on the Standard’s top 100 fashion power list, and discusses the fashion trends that got them there. In this episode: What’s the criteria for this year’s list? The most surprising names...

Dust off your crystal balls and look to the future of travel: bikini beach holidays in the Baltics, sewage-powered flights abroad, and rail miles instead of air miles? Our sustainable-travel expert Juliet Kinsman talks to Jon Weeks about how extreme weather is already impacting ski resorts and island retreats, how eco-laws can help us help the planet, and why cheaper renewable energy should leave...

The King’s warning over climate inaction . $5 trillion needed each year to “drive the transformation we need”. What was different about Charles’s speech this year? Our Royal Editor Robert Jobson discusses how King’s speech was received, and whether he was distracted by the saga around Omid Scobie’s new book . Plus our Political Editor Nicholas Cecil explains the key points from the speech, and whe...

Without free speech, is it truth that is at stake? Philosopher Sam Harris and Evgeny Lebedev discuss one of the most important questions of our time . As part of The Standard's free speech inquiry, Harris and Lebedev discuss the Israeli-Gaza conflict, the battle with fake news, the future of media, and the importance of free ideas.  This episode comes ahead of Brave New World, a new Standard...

Crime on London’s transport network surges 30% in six months . TfL reports robbery on the Tube is up 107%. Which areas are the worst for crime? Our City Hall & Transport Editor Ross Lydall talks through the TfL data, why we’ve seen such a spike, and how it’s impacting passenger numbers. In this episode: Thefts, abuse, violence and robberies: the crimes explained Tory mayoral candidate Susan Ha...

Patient recovers from the UK’s first confirmed human case of a new strain of swine flu . Health officials track down close contacts to measure spread . Should we be worried about this new strain? Our Health Reporter Daniel Keane explains what has happened, and whether this new strain could lead to the next pandemic. In this episode: Do we know how this person contracted it? Dr Andrew Catchpole’s '...

Ahead of the film's release in cinemas tomorrow. How will Timothee Chalamet’s Wonka compare with Johnny Depp’s and Gene Wilder’s? Film Critic for the Standard Nick Howell’s discusses his expectations for the new movie, how it’ll compare with its predecessors, and what it needs to do to win over British hearts. In this episode: Another Wonka? Go ahead and do it! Is this a Wonka origin story? The al...

In this episode, it's the big question: why do we “need” to travel? Juliet Kinsman and Jon Weeks discuss how travel can significantly support local communities, and even help destinations impacted by extreme weather get back on their feet.   Juliet reveals all about her time spent in Mallorca investigating the behind-the-scenes sustainability of Iberostar resorts, the sponsor of this podcast...

As climate change heats up London and the capital’s population grows, we’re going to need some upgrades to the deepest-level sweaty, stifling Tube carriages. The Piccadilly Line is the first deep-level route - that’s over 20 metres below ground - to get proper air-conditioning in the coming years, as part of a redesign with futuristic new rolling stock. So sweltering commuters on the Heathrow airp...

This is a special edition of the Standard, in support of the Evening Standard and Comic Relief’s Winter Survival Campaign. The cost of living crisis has become so entrenched that for many, Christmas is effectively cancelled. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the number of UK families categorised as destitute has more than doubled in the last five years. In the Rowntree study, 3.8 millio...

Jeremy Hunt reveals his Autumn Statement to MPs in the House of Commons. The Chancellor’s package of economic measures to boost growth, cut taxes and secure the pensions triple lock marked a highly political mid-financial year speech. His key statement was delivered with an eye on a looming general election expected next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to unveil his much-anticipated Autumn Statement - so what do we know, what about those tax cuts and plans for economic growth? Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott has already raised expectations of a easing the tax burden for households, as well as for businesses. In this episode, we examine the Conservative government’s financials and their pre-election polic...

Stars of London’s stage celebrated in Mayfair at the 67th annual Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Tom Hiddleston, Sheila Atim, Hayley Atwell, Jenna Coleman and David Tennant joined Sir Elton John and Boy George among celebrities attending Sunday’s Claridge’s extravaganza. The event was hosted by the Standard proprietor Lord Lebedev with help from Ian McKellen, and presented by Susan Wokoma. Find o...

Are you a fully fledged eco-nomad or merely eco-curious? Do you belong to the B-Corp Bleisure tribe or the 'Greener-Than-Thou Family'? This week our Sustainable Travel podcast series gets personal about what it means to be a more responsible traveller.   Juliet Kinsman and Jon Weeks reveal there is significantly more than one way to engage with sustainability, and the way you do it says much...

Why some critics have given one or two star reviews of Season Six Part One. How The Crown is ‘attempting the impossible’. Did it do Diana’s story justice? Why the Netflix show's better than some critics think. The Standard’s Melanie McDonagh shares her review of Season 6 Part One, and explains why she’s not looking forward to Part Two. In this episode: Elizabeth Debicki’s ‘moving’ portrayal of Pri...

The Standard’s senior feature writer and editor, Katie Strick, reveals what she’s learnt whilst hosting the capital’s newest dating and relationships podcast - London Love Stories with Katie Strick. Katie meets real couples from around the capital, who share their uplifting real stories of romance - along with the dating lessons and relationship wisdom they’ve learnt along the way.  How datin...