The Standard

Boris Johnson’s meeting Joe Biden face-to-face for the first time since the US election as the G7 summit gets underway in Cornwall. The two have much to discuss, and disagree and several areas, but they’re united in their vows to tackle climate change. For the Leader podcast, we’re joined by Nick Mabey who is the chief executive of climate change think tank E3G, an advisor to London mayor Sadiq Kh...

The Evening Standard’s royal editor, Robert Jobson, tells us what’s been happening at Buckingham Palace and in LA as Harry and Meghan threaten legal action over a story about their daughter’s name. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are hitting back at claims they had not asked the Queen before naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. A fresh war of words between the couple and the BBC broke out a...

A cabinet minister’s advising people to “holiday at home,” following the rush to get Brits back from Portugal when that country was downgraded to amber from the UK’s green list. Environment secretary George Eustace says he won’t be leaving the country for a break this summer and he doesn’t expect many others will either. But our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil says that’s not official gover...

As our exclusive poll shows the public wants the coronavirus inquiry to start early, we speak to our political editor Joe Murphy and ask if the chaos in Portugal’s airports will add to the pressure. He tells us that anything that increases people’s “sense of unfairness or resentment” could turn into pressure “in multiple ways” including demands for that inquiry to start this year. Currently, it’s...

Securing the future sources of our food, especially in cities, sprouts some critical issues: cost, pesticides, genetically modified crops, delivery miles and ensuring children can access nutritious, fresh fruit and vegetables. During lockdown, a trip to the farm seemed a flight of fancy for many city-dwellers, and a team of volunteers at the Felix Project is helping deliver farms’ surplus to chari...

On March 12th 2020, the cast and crew of Six were preparing to debut their West End smash on the Broadway stage: then the New York governor closed all the theatres to stop the spread of Covid. Now, the show’s made a triumphant return to the Lyric Theatre in London, with plans to re-open in the Big Apple in September.  Co-writer/director Lucy Moss joins the show to tell us what it’s like...

Joe Biden is heading to the UK next week for the G7 conference, in his first foreign trip since becoming President. Boris Johnson was the first person Mr Biden called when he picked up the keys to the White House, but there have been questions over whether the US/UK relationship is under strain. Controversies include Brexit, Boris Johnson’s support of Donald Trump, and the now Prime Mini...

Channel 5’s new Anne Boleyn drama’s launching with black actor Jodie Turner-Smith playing the doomed second wide of Henry VIII.It’s another example of colour-blind casting in period dramas, following Bridgerton and the Great, but this time the character is a real, very well known, person.  The Evening Standard’s Katie Rosseinsky tells us why producers are increasingly hiring diverse casts for...

A leading scientist has told the Evening Standard people should enjoy “life that looks vaguely normal” this weekend as temperatures rise for the bank holiday. Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University, says he’s confident vaccines are working against the Indian variant of Covid-19, but is warning people to remain cautious. That would lead to the government being able to lift...

The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show to look at the impact of Dominic Cummings’ appearance before MPs on the health and science select committees. The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, has hit back against the former No10 senior adviser who on Wednesday delivered a devastating verdict on the Government’s handling of the pandemic. Boris Johnson, who faced claim...

Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika discusses Dominic Cumming’s extraordinary evidence to MPs on the Commons Health and Science committees. The former advisor to Boris Johnson claims the Prime Minister offered to be injected with coronavirus on TV to show how it was harmless and got distracted by his fiancée “going crackers” over a newspaper story about their dog. He also says Health Secret...

A Cabinet minister has told people “don’t travel to and from Hounslow” and seven other areas in England - unless it is an essential journey - to stop the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey also appeared to suggest people living in the borough should consider whether a half-term holiday abroad "really is essential".    The Evening Standard's...

The government doesn't want people going to Spain on holiday, but figures obtained by the Evening Standard suggests they are anyway. Jonathan Prynn tells us how bookings for flights to the popular destination have rocketed even though it's still on the amber list. It follows Spain officially lifting restrictions for UK travellers, with visitors no longer needing to take a PCR Covid-19 te...

The Evening Standard’s Royal Editor Robert Jobson tells us about the reaction inside Buckingham Palace following a report that found Princess Diana’s 1995 Panorama interview was obtained through “deceit”. He explains why it was Prince William who recorded the royal family’s statement on the Dyson inquiry, and not his father Prince Charles. But Robert also tells us he disagrees with William over th...

Travel journalist Simon Calder joins us from Clapham Junction to break down how a massive overhaul of train services will affect commuters and travellers. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a new publicly-owned body, Great British Railways, which will bring trains and track under one roof, set prices and mark the end of the franchise system. Simon tells us the new system should see act...

The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy tries to explain the government’s conflicting advice over countries on the coronavirus amber list. Some ministers say you shouldn’t go to them for holidays, while others say it’s more of a guideline than a rule. Meanwhile, thousands of people are snapping up bargain flights to places like Greece, which is on the amber list. Also, arts co...

The Prime Minister’s urging everyone eligible for a coronavirus vaccine jab to get one, as the Indian variant continues its spread in parts of England. The government doesn’t appear to be ruling out local lockdowns to stop the mutation, and Boris Johnson would only say he’s still looking at the data when asked if the June 21st “freedom” date could be delayed. Meanwhile, there’s confusion over the...

Some of the Evening Standard’s top culture, restaurant, bar and travel critics join the podcast to give their advice on where people should go in London as lockdown restrictions are eased further.  Nancy Durrant tells us what the Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s doing to entice people back with not just a show, but an all day experience.  Suzannah Ramsdale says some of the city’s best hotels h...

Deputy Political editor Nicholas Cecil joins the show as it’s confirmed four people in the UK who had the Indian variant of Covid-19 have since died. He discusses how concerned public officials are about the bug which appears to be capable of spreading faster than the Kent mutation which fuelled the second wave in Britain. We also look ahead to the planned next stage of the re-opening of the...

St Paul’s Cathedral is in financial dire straits, with its Dean, the Very Rev Dr David Ison, admitting “very big decisions” are needed. The nearly 400-year-old building relies on international tourists to raise the cash needed for the millions of pounds worth of renovations and repairs required to keep it open . The Evening Standard’s arts correspondent Robert Dex says during the pandemic those vi...

Showbiz reporter Lizzie Edmonds was among the 4,000 to be at the Brit Awards, the biggest live event since the pandemic began. She tells us how organisers managed to get so many people into the O2 arena safely, and the exhilaration of seeing real performers on a stage again. We also talk about the on-stage calls for more support for NHS workers, and was it a good idea to open the largest “live” mu...

The Evening Standard’s Jack Kessler breaks down the Queen’s Speech from tax rises for the better off to those controversial voter ID plans. What does the government actually mean by “level up” and will it hit cities like London in favour of shoring up the Conservative’s new found votes in former ‘Red Wall’ Labour heartlands like Hartlepool. We also discuss how the great ceremonial tradition behind...

Our city hall editor Ross Lydall’s spoken to Sadiq Khan who has now been signed in as mayor of London for the second time at a ceremony in the Globe Theatre at the Southbank. They talk about his priorities for a new term in office, including the “Let’s do London” campaign which is encouraging people to staycation in a capital desperate to get visitors back into its attractions. Ross also gives us...

The Brit Awards will be held on May 11th with a live audience of 4,000 heading to the O2 arena to watch acts like Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Pink on stage. And no-one will be wearing a face mask. How are they going to do that safely? We speak to Genarro Castaldo from the BPI, which organises the annual showcase, who takes us through the enormous logistics of putting together a massive live event under...

Don Thompson, President of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, tells us how the French blockade of St Helier harbour could lead to the island running out of food and fuel within two days. Tensions are escalating between the UK and France, with Britain sending two Royal Navy vessels to the Channel island to keep watch over the protest. Paris has responded by sending the military ship Athos to the h...