The Standard

As the UK commemorates the 75th anniversary of VE day , are we living through this generation's defining moment? Evening Standard columnist Matthew D'Ancona reflects on what can be learned from not just the moment of victory in Europe, but the struggles the country faced after it. With Boris Johnson expected to ease some lockdown rules next week, he believes we face our toughest challenge yet, and...

Professor Neil Ferguson, one of the UK's leading Covid-19 experts , has resigned from the government's SAGE advisory panel after getting caught breaking his own lockdown rules. Critics say he couldn't continue in the face of accusations of hypocrisy as the general public continues to self-isolate. But how does his stepping down make the country safer? The Evening Standard's associate editor J...

The Government’s furlough scheme has been a lifeline for businesses and individuals during lockdown - but it can’t continue forever. Taxpayers are meeting the wages of 6.3 million people at a cost of around £8 billion. The Evening Standard has revealed the government’s now looking at ways to taper off the subsidy , starting with reducing it from 80 percent of an employees wage to 60 percent....

The UK government appears to be getting ready to put the country back to work - but how can that be done, and when will it happen? As a tracing app goes live on the Isle of Wight this week, it's understood Boris Johnson is preparing a speech for Sunday that will outline his strategy to lift the lockdown. The Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy tells The Leader podcast it will involve re...

In what could be a decisive move against coronavirus, full-scale tracking and tracing of new infections is planned by the end May. It will see people using an app, and the government deploying tens of thousands of officials to chase down fresh outbreaks. It comes as testing is ramped up across the UK. The Evening Standard's political editor, Joe Murphy, explains how the system will work,...

London mayor Sadiq Khan joins us on the podcast to talk about the future of the city after lockdown. He's written an opinion article for the Evening Standard, outlining the challenges being faced by the people, transport and businesses. He's calling for financial support from the UK government, including extending furloughing "long into the future" but how will that be paid for? We also ask i...

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of their son .  Born in the early hours of the morning at a London hospital, the pair have thanked their “fantastic NHS team” . After a busy few months and being struck down with the virus, it is unlikely for the Prime Minister to take any more time off.  The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Stand...

Deaths from coronavirus in England, Scotland and Wales have risen to tragic new heights. The Office for National Statistics says they've increased by 633, bringing an end to the downward trend that had been seen recently. The Prime Minister and Chancellor joined the nation in holding a minute's silence for key workers killed in a pandemic that shows little sign of going away. But the Eve...

Boris Johnson's gone back to work with an attempt to seize control of the government's faltering lockdown strategy, and a warning that the UK faces its "moment of maximum risk." He appeared at the lectern outside Downing Street to ask families and businesses to be patient and not "throw away the sacrifice of the British people." But was it effective? We ask the Evening Standard's associate editor...

It’s thought around 34 percent of people with covid-19 in the UK come from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background. Those communities make up 14 percent of the population in England and Wales. The government has tasked NHS England with looking at the issue, but now Labour is launching a rival review, headed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.  In this episode of The Leader podcast, we spea...

The economic figures are in, and they’re grim . A new survey by IHS Markit, watched by the markets, reveals the devastating effects of covid-19 on both service and manufacturing sectors. It describes the effect as “previously thought unimaginable” - leading to predictions of an economic slump worse than the 2008 financial crisis. The Evening Standard's consumer business editor, Jonathan Prynn, joi...

The UK's parliament has returned, with a very different Prime Minister's Questions. Dominic Raab was there, standing in for Boris Johnson and faced off with Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons. But most MPs were still in their homes, taking part via video conference software. Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika tells us the 'virtual parliament' worked better than many expect...

The Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, shortage is a massive crisis affecting our entire NHS , and care providers. In this special edition of the Leader: Coronavirus Daily, we’ve spoken to some of a small but growing army of volunteers who are using 3D printers to do what they can to help out. As the Government drafts in the London Fire Brigade to deliver PPE to NHS workers, and the government...

Doctors are hoping a sharp drop in the number of covid-19 cases in London means the worst has passed in the city. They've fallen by almost 1,000 in a week, after six successive daily reductions. One hospital has two vacant wards. The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn's been talking to frontline medics who say the stress they've been under has "evaporated", but are warning the recovery could t...

Harry and Meghan have been filmed on CCTV secretly handing out meals to the needy in LA . It's the first time the couple have been seen in the city since moving there. Meanwhile, Meghan's giving her support to the Evening Standard's Food for London now appeal . Insider editor Lucy Pavia tells the podcast how the Duchess of Sussex has been battling food poverty since before the coronavirus pandemic...

When will the UK come out of coronavirus lockdown ? The government has extended restrictions for a further three weeks , but given no hint of an exit plan. Demands for Downing Street to reveal a strategy have grown stronger after Germany became the latest country to detail how it will lift self-isolation rules starting from next week. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy says Boris J...

As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calls for the UK government to reveal a lockdown exit strategy , the podcast looks at one country already lifting some restrictions. In Denmark, children up to the age of 11 are returning to school after a month out of the classrooms. The country was one of the first in Europe to impose self-isolation and boasts one of the lowest infection rates on the continent....

New figures show the death toll from coronavirus could be much higher than previously thought. Data from the Office for National Statistics exposes a difference of up to 50% between the reported figures and the true death toll - that’s thousands of additional deaths across the UK.  The Evening Standard's health editor Ross Lydall tells The Leader podcast why there's such a big...

The UK is entering a bank holiday, with potentially record temperatures expected, and the government's begging people to stay inside. Downing Street says it's "critical" the public doesn't give up on self-isolation, but there are concerns some people fed up with quarantine won't be able to resist a day in the sun.  The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn says one London council is so worried ab...

There is no end in sight for lockdown in the UK. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy has been watching closely and tells The Leader podcast that the signals all point to this continuing for an extended period of time. Meanwhile the Evening Standard’s editorial column says there should be a greater united global effort against the virus. Also, Dr. Rangan Chatterje...

 Boris Johnson has now been in hospital for a couple of days , and there’s no word on when he’ll be coming out. The government says he’s “stable and in good spirits”, but he’s suffered breathing difficulties and received what Downing Street calls “standard oxygen treatment.” Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is in charge for the moment – but what if this goes on longer? We speak to Lord Ow...

Her Majesty is being praised for an address to the nation that inspired memories of the united efforts the UK made to get through the Second World War. The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover says she gave the country a sense that people remain in charge, and we can get through this crisis.  A new Labour leader: On Saturday Sir Keir Starmer was announced as the new Lab...

London’s newest hospital, NHS Nightingale opened today after a heroic nine-day build. The field hospital, housed in London’s Excel Centre, will be the world’s largest critical care unit. NHS Nightingale opened with 500 beds with capacity for 3,500 more. It will be used to treat patients who have been transferred from intensive care units across the capital. Up to 16,000 staff could be working...

As NHS England announces a record 561 deaths with coronavirus in a single day, the government faces relentless pressure to fix its testing ‘fiasco’. On Thursday the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced his five-point plan to “press the accelerator” on coronavirus tests. But is it enough, and can the government make good on their promises? The Evening Standard’s Health Editor joins...

London’s National Health Service has reached its “hour of need” . Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has issued an appeal to businesses and organisations across the capital to lend vehicles, hotel rooms, and spare medical equipment. The NHS is under pressure for beds and staffing and people are starting to help. The London Fire brigade have offered staff as ambulance drivers and thousands of people...