The Standard

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 with the issue, and whether there are any ways to protect crucial services like the tube and underground stations?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the Prime Minister’s £650bn push to boost the economy with a promise to deliver 425,000 new jobs a year over the next four years, though the investment is partly reliant on the private sector.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 with Cinderella already open and Back to the Future to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 "cowboy operators" to infiltrate it. He says the government needs to intervene as travel operators say the eyewatering costs of the tests, along with the hassle of doing them, is causing people to be put off taking flights, making the sector's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic even harder.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 giveaway". Susannah tells us what happened when Mr Williamson made the gaffe, and also talks about some of the other parts of the interview including his "transitioning" tarantula and the moment he realised he may have accidentally insulted the Queen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 to the move. We ask Jack why the PM's taking a gamble, exactly what the proposals actually mean, and whether or not it'll pay off the PM? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the new post-pandemic world begins.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 headlights despite not producing any new music for 40 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, although public transport is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, alarming figure show car use in the city centre is higher than it was before Covid-19. Is all the work to discourage cars on the commute being unravelled?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 themselves, with teachers saying that, despite government assurances, they don't know if there will be exams held at the end of the school year or how they will be assessed if they are.  And Anna tells us about the mental health issues that some school heads are concerned about, with warnings support services are coming under increased pressure as teenagers return to the classroom and problems from the lockdown emerge.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.