The Standard

European lorry drivers appear to be rejecting the UK’s offer of 5,000 temporary visas to help the country out with its fuel crisis. We ask European Transport Workers’ Federation boss Livia Spera why? She tells us the situation is far more complex than simply resentment over Brexit (although that’s playing a part). There is also a shortage of delivery drivers across the continent, where pay and con...

Recorded at a petrol station in East London, we look at the fuel crisis including why London has been so badly affected. Associate Editor Jonathan Prynn tells us how cabbies fuelling up at the first sign of trouble weakened an already fragile fuel ecosystem in the capital, which has a higher driver per pump number than anywhere else in the UK. We also look at how frustrations have been boiling ove...

Evening Standard political reporter Rachael Burford joins the podcast as some petrol forecourts appear to be getting busier and others are closed altogether due to shortage of fuel. The government’s urging people to “shop normally” when filling up cars, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is also not ruling out bringing the army in to help with deliveries and training. Some are blaming Brexit, ot...

As ES magazine prepares to auction its historic NFT front cover, we speak to art academic Acacia Mei and tech journalist Monty Munford about how digital code is transforming campaigning. 'Brave New World' features black non-binary model Kai-Isaiah Jamal, and Acacia tells us why they believe it's a milestone moment for marginalised groups. Monty explains how NFTs have become sought after...

Netflix is stepping into the gloriumptious world of Roald Dahl with the acquisition of the company which licences the author’s works in its biggest-ever content deal. Our deputy business editor Joanna Bourke and columnist Melanie McDonagh join the show to look at what new tv shows, movies, musicals and video games might come out of the contract. We also discuss the author's enduring legacy, lookin...

Once cast as rivals from opposite sides of the political divide, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden appear to have smoothed over differences and become, as one US TV journalist described them, 'peas in a pod'. Diplomatically there are signs that the US and UK are becoming closer. There's the nuclear sub deal with Australia and America's allowing double-vaccinated tourists from Britain back in. But t...

There are two new stations on the world famous Tube map. Together Battersea Power Station and Nine Elms make the first extension to the Northern Line for 80 years. In this special programme, we speak to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and others as the first passengers got on-board. We hear how the £1.1 billion project is seen as the catalyst for the wider redevelopmen...

One hasn't even launched, the other appears to be struggling to get off the ground but a new TV rivalry is beginning that could change the face of broadcasting in the UK. GB News has just lost its Chairman and lead presenter Andrew Neil, who now admits he quit because he was in "a minority of one" over the direction of the channel which critics say is becoming more right wing.  That's co...

ES Magazine has made history as the first UK publication to print an NFT, or non-fungible token, in a ground-breaking piece of moving digital artwork. We speak to deputy art director Jessica Landon who reveals how the piece was created by two of Bjork's collaborators using 160 cameras to create a Matrix-like effect. You can also find out how to bid for the NFT, featuring model and activist Ka...

The Evening Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to discuss the cabinet reshuffle. Gavin Williamson’s out as Education Secretary, Dominic Raab’s been shifted from the Foreign Office to Justice Secretary – although he’s also been made Deputy Prime Minister. Nicholas reveals why the thinking behind some of Prime Minister’s decision making, and the reasons the shake-up’s happenin...

Another downpour, another day of chaos on London. An estimated 25mm of rain fell in the city, causing disruption to commuters, the closure of a tube station, even the flooding of Tower Bridge.  We speak to hyrdrologist Dragan Savic and ask why the Capital appears to have developed an increasing problem with flooding? We ask what threats there might be to the city if more isn’t done to deal wi...

Our deputy political editor David Bond joins us as speculation mounts about how the government plans to get the country through the next few months as doctors warn of another Covid peak. Will we, as rumoured, face a “firebreak” lockdown if the NHS becomes overwhelmed with cases? Will facemask mandates and other restrictions make a comeback? Is the vaccine passport really dead? We also talk about t...

Frozen the Musical has finally opened in London after a long delay caused by the Covid pandemic - But is it any good? The Evening Standard’s theatre critic, Nick Curtis, tells the podcast the production is hampered by sticking too closely to the movie. We also talk about the £60 million refurbishment of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which is hosting Frozen, and the return of big productions to London...

The Evening Standard's revealed holidaymakers paid out more than £1 billion for compulsory Covid tests this summer from an industry being investigated for a “laundry list” of bad practices. It follows research by travel expert Paul Charles, of the PC Agency, who joins the podcast to explain how the testing sector has exploded in just a few months, and remains almost unregulated, allowing "cow...

The Evening Standard's Susannah Butter joins the show to talk about her interview with the Education Secretary that set Twitter ablaze. During their chat Gavin Williamson appeared to confuse footballer Marcus Rashford with rugby player Maro Itoje. The cabinet member's name was trending on the social network, with Rashford himself among commenters saying: "Accent could have been a giveawa...

The Evening Standard's Jack Kessler takes a look at the numbers as the Prime Minister announces a 1.25% increase in National Insurance to, Boris Johnson says, fix social care and the NHS following the devastation of the pandemic. The government says the move will raise £36bn, but it breaks a manifesto commitment not to raise taxes and some in the Conservative party have said they're opposed t...

Evening Standard reporter Rachael Burford joins the show to talk about how tens of thousands of Londoners have finally started returning to the office. She's been at London Bridge talking to commuters, some of whom haven't been back at their desks for 18 months or more. But is this the start of a long-term return to tubes and busses, or will we see the numbers tailing back off again as t...

Arts correspondent Robert Dex joins us to talk about ABBA’s reunion concert in London next year. The band are building their own venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and the gig will use digital versions of Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Ingrid that have been dubbed “Abbatars”. We also talk about the two new songs that have been released and the pioneering steps ABBA have taken to keep their name in...

It looks like London is going back to the office, but it's far from everyone and it's certainly not every day. Our consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us how another initiative to encourage people back to their desks by reminding them of nights out with colleagues. But with Friday appearing to be a popular work from home day, how effective will that campaign be? Also, alth...

Throughout this week, schools across London are re-opening after the summer break but can they avoid the shutdowns that blighted last year? Our education editor Anna Davis takes us through what steps are being taken by teachers and pupils to keep Covid-19 at bay, even though face masks aren't mandatory and 'bubbles' are no longer in use.  There's also uncertainty about lessons thems...

The Evening Standard's political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the podcast following the departure of the final US soldier from Kabul airport, and the Taliban taking total control of Afghanistan. He tells us why "more speculation than usual" is surrounding the Foreign Secretary's position, as Dominic Raab faces more criticism over his handling of the crisis. And we also learn that Boris Jo...

As the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden writes for the Evening Standard to persuade Londoners to spend money at attractions in the city, our Business Consumer Editor Jonathan Prynn tells us why. He says this weekend is the last chance tourist traps that have been shut for the last 18 months have to bring in cash before everything closes again for the winter. We also discuss the dire straits of Thea...

The Evening Standard’s defence editor Robert Fox joins us following an explosion and gunfire at an entry gate into Kabul Airport. He tells us how the US and UK have been worried about “yet another thing” hampering efforts to get people out of the country, but warns advice to head to the border may be the wrong action to take. He also tells us about ISIS-K, an offshoot from the original Islamic Sta...

A plea from Boris Johnson and other world leader for the US to extend its deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has been rebuffed by Joe Biden. To explain what’s happening, the Leader podcast spoke to Dr Julie Norman, deputy director of UCL’s Centre on US politics. She tells us that the White House’s decision is the first example of Biden’s foreign policy in action, in which he wants to...

As McDonald’s admits its run out of milkshakes across the UK, a group representing the freight industry’s warning Christmas could be hit by serious shortages. The podcast is joined by Natalie Chapman, from Logistics UK, who says a shortage of drivers has been caused by the “perfect storm” of Brexit, Covid and longer-term recruitment issues. The group’s claiming the situation is only getting worse...