The Standard

Millions of people are being urged to avoid getting close to others as doctors say the coronavirus outbreak is now likely to become a pandemic . In the UK, the number of confirmed cases remains at 13, but the Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned MPs in the Commons that the number is ‘expected’ to rise. Does the government have a plan to deal with Covid-19 if it starts to spread in the UK? Mr Hanco...

An official report has concluded that politicians and institutions at Westminster ‘turned a blind eye’ to sex abuse against children for decades to protect their own reputations. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse say’s there’s ‘ample evidence’ of abusers linked to Westminster carrying out crimes – and that ‘nobody seemed to care about the fate of the children involved’. It also descr...

A fifth person has died in Italy from Coronavirus , South Korea reported more cases over the weekend, billions have been wiped off stock markets around the world. Despite global prevention measures, Covid-19 is continuing to spread, and cause damage to both health and the economy. In the UK, Downing Street insists the country is 'well prepared' and the risk to individuals 'remains low'. But for ho...

Britain’s top spy, Sir Alex Younger, has told the Evening Standard how teenagers are being recruited to MI6 as it battles to stay ahead in a new technology race. The agency’s lowering its recruitment age from 21 to 18, and appealing to the “best talent” from all social backgrounds in the UK. Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil talks to the Leader Podcast about his exclusive story, including...

Germany fears the rise of the far right after a neo-Nazi gunman killed nine people in drive-by shootings. Tobias R also killed his mother before taking his own life, and left behind a video and note expressing “extreme” views on immigrants. The Leader speaks to the Evening Standard’s Allan Hall in Berlin, who tells us this is the latest in a series of killings connected to the far right, and...

The government says its proposed points-based immigration system is “firm and fair”. Business leaders warn it’s “a disaster”. The Leader speaks to the Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn to find out what the plans actually involve , and what their true impact on the UK and its economy could be. Will events like Wimbledon really be hit by a shortage of workers? The National Theatre's new season: When...

Can UK banks survive in the era of the US megabank? There are worrying signs with HSBC announcing 35,000 job losses , just days after a similar move at RBS. The Evening Standard’s business news editor Alex Lawson explains why it’s so important the UK negotiates hard with Europe for the city to remain the region’s finance capital. Has Sadiq Khan found a backdoor to EU Citizenship? London Mayor Sadi...

The US and Australia are among countries that have now vowed to get their citizens off a cruise ship moored off Japan, with coronavirus on-board. So far, the UK government’s not committed to the same action, but the Evening Standard’s deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil tells ‘The Leader’ British diplomats are scrambling to help the 80 British nationals on the Diamond Princess. Meanwhile, anoth...

There’s a worrying warning from grassroots lobbying group The Doctors’ Association UK that London’s hospitals are under-prepared for tackling a spread of coronavirus. Evening Standard features writer Sam Fishwick’s been investigating what would happen if the illness caused a pandemic in the city. He also advice for people to avoid the disease: do facemasks work?   Also,the head of the British...

Sajid Javid has resigned as Chancellor amid reports of a row between him and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. What really happened behind closed doors in Downing Street? The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy’s been finding out about the extraordinary battles between numbers 10 and 11, and reveals the nickname the PM’s advisors are said to have given Mr Javid. Also, city journalist Mark S...

Coronavirus has been given a new name by the scientists trying to defeat it. In today’s podcast, we talk to Evening Standard deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil about why the World Health Organisation has decided to re-label the disease as ‘Covid-19’. We also look at the steps being taken by London Fashion Week after hundreds of Chinese buyers, stylists and models pulled out of Friday’s launch...

25 foreign national offenders are still in the UK after being pulled from a deportation flight that was supposed to take them to Jamaica. The Evening Standard's Home Affairs Editor Martin Bentham explains how a legal row over mobile phones led to the Court of Appeal ruling the convicted prisoners had to stay. Also, it's over budget and behind schedule but HS2 has finally been given the go ahead by...

A British businessman is being linked to 6 Coronavirus cases in the UK and 4 more in other countries. The Evening Standard's Health Editor Ross Lydall explains how the so-called 'super-spreader' has been identified , and what action the British government is taking to stop the spread of the illness. The Health Secretary's declared it a "serious and imminent threat to public health" . What does tha...

There are more than 30,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus around the world, but the number could much higher. Right now there’s a global race to produce a vaccine, as the death toll rises towards 700. Today’s podcast is about that effort. Featuring contributions from the scientists leading the pack , this special episode explores where the virus came from in the first place - and the obstacles doc...

Coronavirus is spreading fast with over 30,000 cases confirmed, and with a third case confirmed in the UK. UK health secretary Matt Hancock chaired a Cobra meeting to explain what the government are doing to help block the spread in the country. UK ministers are considering banning Chinese arrivals .   The World Health Organisation have appealed for more funds to help countries battle the dis...

There’s all-out war between Republicans and Democrats in Washington, and Donald Trump appears to be winning. Nancy Pelosi may have ripped up the print-out of his State of the Union address, but the President’s approval ratings are at an all-time high and the impeachment trial against him is likely to end in his acquittal. Emerging from the debacle of the Democrats’ botched Iowa Caucus however, is...

Boris Johnson has pledged that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned by 2035 – bringing the government target forward by a full five years. But on Tuesday sacked environment minister Claire O’Neil accused the Prime Minister of ‘not getting’ climate change. Can the government meet the ambitious goals outlined today? The Evening Standard’s Associate Editor Julian Glover joins The Lea...

Another terror related incident took place on Streatham High Street yesterday, the second in London in the last three months. How do we stop these attacks becoming “normal”?   The attacker has been named by police as Sudesh Amman and the Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the stabbing attack. Sudesh was recently freed from prison where he had been incarcerated after possessing...

How do you sum up Brexit in one image? That was the challenge set to the Evening Standard’s cartoonist Christian Adams .   To achieve it, he has delved into the archives, to take inspiration from one of the greatest illustrators in all newspaper history, Sir David Low and his iconic wartime ‘Very Well, Alone’ picture .   This episode of the Leader follows Christian’s journey from sketch...

The last British Airways flight out of China landed in Heathrow on Wednesday night carrying some very relieved passengers. But an estimated 200 Brits remain trapped in Wuhan . The UK have sent a plane to get them but Beijing will not give it permission to land because they don’t want non-British people getting on it. This is splitting up families who wish to return to the UK together. The Lea...

Today British Airways announced they are suspending flights to and from mainland China while they assess the coronavirus situation. The British government has said all  repatriated citizens will be placed in quarantine  on their return from China, and big brands such as  Toyota and Starbucks have closed  stores in the country. All attempts to hinder  the spread of a virus...

After a crunch meeting Boris Johnson has said that Huawei should be allowed a limited role in the new UK 5G infrastructure – despite lobbying from the Trump administration against Huawei’s involvement. Boris Johnson has now been warned that a US-UK trade deal could be blocked in Congress. Huawei have always denied having connections with the Chinese government. Amelia Heathman the Evening Standard...

11 million Chinese people are currently locked in the Coronavirus-struck city Wuhan, along with other international citizens. Advice to American and French people within the capital is that to evacuate and they have been offered assistance to do so immediately. The UK government however have not yet offered the same advice and some British citizens feel left in the dark. Columnist Stephen King rec...

The death toll in China rose to 25 today and cities surrounding Wuhan – where the disease was first reported - have been locked down. Effectively 33 million people are now in quarantine. Chinese New Year brings concerns across Europe that the disease could travel further. The Evening Standard’s health editor Ross Lydall advises on what will happen if Coronavirus is found in the UK. Londo...

The World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem is the largest diplomatic event in Israel’s history. Marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, leader from countries including Germany, France and Russia are attending. The UK is being represented by the Prince of Wales, who gave a powerful, and prescient, speech reminding us of the lessons we must still learn from the Holocaust. Julia...