The Standard

The latest plans to ‘level up’ the country have just been announced by the Government. The white paper largely addresses inequality between major cities… but what about people in the capital who are struggling? One in four Londoners live in poverty and the unemployment rate is higher than average… it doesn’t seem that ‘level’ here either.Paul Swinney, Director of Policy and Research at the independent think tank ‘Centre for Cities’  explains what this means for London, as well as what he would like to see to help make things more level for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A senior Tory MP's warned Boris Johnson his future is "on hold" while Scotland Yard completes its investigation into ‘partygate’ … does that mean Boris can breathe easy for now?Former chief whip Mark Harper laid out the stark reality for Mr Johnson ahead of the Prime Minister jetting out to Ukraine for diplomatic talks.The Evening Standard’s Political Reporter, Rachael Burford, shares her insight about what’s happening in Westminster, when we can expect the findings of the police investigation into 'partygate' and what this all means for the PM. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new Francis Bacon exhibition at the Royal Academy in London is considered so extreme it’s been given a ‘trigger warning’. ‘Francis Bacon: Man and Beast’ explores the artist’s fascination with animals, their traits, instincts as well as human animalistic behaviours. It’s definitely not one for the faint of heart. We hear from Michael Peppiatt, writer, art historian and curator of the exhibition. He was also a friend of Bacon’s for 30 years. We hear about the inspiration behind this collection as well as his incredible insight into the world of Francis Bacon...  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As another January comes to a close, we're looking back at one of the month's fastest growing trends: Veganuary.Since it started in 2014, when around 3-thousand people signed up to do it, more than 2 million people have taken part in total.It appears to be having an impact on what we see on supermarket shelves and in cafes and restaurants - as Veganuary promotions have boomed in recent years.Now in its ninth official year, we speak with Veganuary founder Matthew Glover, to discuss how it's grown, why it's been so successful, and how London has become the biggest city for vegans in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s big return to the workplace and public transport is continuing apace after Covid restrictions were lifted.How are you feeling about the prospect of the sardine tin commute?We speak to Thalia Eley, Professor of Developmental Behavioural Genetics at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.Professor Eley is an authority on environmental factors affecting anxiety and gives us her advice for getting back into the world.We ask how it’s possible to better cope with new everyday challenges that can fuel Covid-era anxiety.The Leader also talks to Londoners about how they’re feeling as the Tube, trains and buses start to fill up again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s London’s biggest rail project in a long time, eclipsing the Overground upgrade and Jubilee Line extension.We’re promised Crossrail will be up and running in the not-too-distant future this year...and although the powers-that-be are staying schtum over exactly when, there’s suggestion that May’s the month.The central part of the new purple £19 billion Elizabeth Line is now being tested to eventually whizz commuters from Abbey Wood in south-east London into Paddington.As offices grind back into post-Covid life, how busy will the Elizabeth Line be at rush hour, and how much does cash-strapped Transport for London hope to squeeze out of passengers?The Standard’s City Hall editor Ross Lydall went on a test return trip between Paddington and Liverpool Street, and onboard he quizzed Mayor Sadiq Khan, Crossrail CEO Mark Wild and TfL boss Andy Byford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re collectively gritting our teeth with April approaching, preparing for energy bills soaring in a crisis fuelled by surging demand in Asia, Russia-Ukraine tensions and a spike in natural gas prices.But after years of Conservative austerity policies and a drop in life expectancy caused by Covid, the UK’s top health inequalities expert is warning London’s poorest families are going to be hit hardest by the energy crisis.Professor Sir Michael Marmot, a highly-awarded epidemiologist and director of UCL’s Institute of Health Equity has been researching for decades how social factors influence health, particularly the body's cardiovascular system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the hottest new driving manoeuvre you’ve probably only just heard about. But what is the ‘Dutch reach’ and can it help keep the roads safer?The technique is part of new safety rules in the updated Highway Code to help better protect cyclists and pedestrians, although the AA says a third of motorists don’t even know it’s been revamped.It follows many years of safety campaigning by Cycling UK, and we’re joined by their head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, to discuss the changes as legions of commuters get back on their bikes after WFH guidance was scrapped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the success of UK police drama Line of Duty, a new TV show has arrived, promising to shed more light on counter-terror policing.Trigger Point is a new ITV thriller set in London, following the Metropolitan Police’s bomb disposal unit.It has been compared with Line of Duty, in part because it features LOD writer Jed Mercurio as producer, and actor Vicky McClure is the main character, who played Kate Fleming in the drama.We speak with the writer of Trigger Point Daniel Brierley about these comparisons, what the new thriller has to offer, and why we love police dramas in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark its 35th anniversary, the Evening Standard’s ES magazine has undergone a rebrand, starting with a special issue celebrating the milestone.The new-look publication, which originally launched in 1987 as a monthly magazine, has promised to bring ‘an added dimension of living to our great city’.Ben Cobb is the new editor behind the rebrand, and says he wants it to be witty, confident and opinionated.He discusses what has changed for ES Magazine in 2022, what’s to come, and why he loves London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.