The Standard

The UK’s top health officials have warned that if the rate of coronavirus infections continues unabated, we could hit 50,000 per day by mid October. By mid-November, they say that could mean Britain recording 200 deaths per day. As we’re warned of new restrictions to come, the Evening Standard’s associate editor Julian Glover asks: what can we learn from last time around?And, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to address the nation on Tuesday to outline a new set of measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. Political editor Joe Murphy says he will have to strike the right balance between protecting the health of the nation, and the health of the economy. Meanwhile, London’s mayor Sadiq Khan is keen to introduce measures that’ll stop the virus in its tracks - will the capital be put under a different set of lockdown rules? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heath Secretary Matt Hancock has put the country on notice for a national social lockdown, saying: “I fear more people will die.” But our political editor Joe Murphy says restrictions this time could be a lot different than before, with an emphasis on keeping friends apart. He also tells us about the crunch Downing Street meetings this week, where scientists called for the Prime Minister to force a "circuit break" but the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, warned about the "extremely worrying" forecasts for the economy if we go into any form of extended lockdown. Also, the Coram adoption charity is reporting a massive increase in the number of people looking to take in children during this pandemic. It says numbers are up 24% on last year, and it thinks it's down to people having time to reflect on what's important in their lives. We speak to the charity's Sue Lowndes who says the rising interest has taken them by surprise, but delighted children who feared their chances of finding a new home would be hurt in a time of social isolation. She also gives advice for those who are considering adoption themselves.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The full scale of the Covid testing crisis in London has been exposed by an Evening Standard investigation which found appointments were not available to book online. Our reporter Rachael Burford tried to arrange walk-in or drive-in slots in each of the 32 boroughs yesterday but every time received the message: “No test sites found.” Rachael tells the podcast how she also spoke to the mother of a six year old girl with a temperature who was told to go on a three hour round trip to get a test. Also, Under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, JK Rowling has published her new novel 'Troubled Blood' and walked straight into another row over alleged “transphobia”. An early review claimed its moral is “never trust a man in a dress”. Miss Rowling has been a high-profile sceptic on transgender rights. But the book’s nearly 1,000 pages long, so is it really all about that? We speak to the Evening Standard's Vicky Frost, whose review, available on standard.co.uk, describes the book as "slow and clumsy". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ministers are under pressure to rethink the system of “outsourcing” for processing coronavirus tests as spare capacity in NHS laboratories goes unused. The chaos facing people trying to get Covid checks is understood to be a consequence of log-jams in the Lighthouse Laboratories set up by the Government at arms-length from the NHS to process swabs from drive-through and walk-in testing centres. The Evening Standard's health editor Ross Lydall says problems are being caused by a lack of staff, but the true scale of what's happening is shrouded in "secrecy". Also, the boss of British Airways has admitted the airline is “fighting for survival” as he defended the airline’s decision to cut up to 12,000 jobs in front of MPs. Alex Cruz told the Commons’ Transport Select Committee: “Fewer passengers means fewer flights, and fewer flights means fewer people required to actually service them." We speak to travel expert Paul Charles who says the threat against the UK's biggest airline shows how serious the dangers caused by coronavirus to the industry are, but there could be a way to get things to moving again.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With universities returning, joining the school pupils already back at classes, and the increasing numbers of those going to the office, the UK’s track and trace system is under strain. One expert’s told the Evening Standard it's nowhere near the 70-80% coverage the system needs to be effective and it's only going to get worse as winter arrives. Our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil, says schoolchildren with nothing more than the common cold are adding to the problems, as they're being made to get a test before they can go back to class. Meanwhile, he says the government has a problem with persuading people that it can get the job done. And, our Tech correspondent Mark Blunden tells us about the researchers recreating conditions on Mars at a lab in Dorking. They're part of an international project to send a rover to the planet and search for signs of life. Coming after the news that something may have been found in the atmosphere over Venus, Mark says there's a lot of excitement about what else might be out there.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of lockdown we stood with our neighbours and applauded key workers in the NHS. Now we are being told to report the people next door to the police. Policing minister Kit Malthouse says people should "absolutely" call police if there's a large social gathering in their street. Has the government created a snooper's charter with its new laws? Our court correspondent Tristan Kirk says the regulations have caused a stir in legal circles by banning "mingling" but not defining what that means. And he also says courts are not expecting to see many, if any, people convicted. David Cameron's become the fifth former prime minister to warn Boris Johnson not to break international law as up to 20 Conservative MPs threaten to join a rebellion in the Commons. The former Tory leader says defying the law us “the very, very last thing you should contemplate” and that he has “misgivings” about Mr Johnson’s tactics. Evening Standard political reporter Sophia Sleigh says Mr Cameron's words are more "measured" than those of other critics like John Major and Tony Blair, but the rising tide of rebellion appears to have Downing Street worried.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson's facing two significant revolts from within his own ranks over coronavirus and Brexit. Some backbenchers want under-12s exempt from the new 'rule of six' regulations on social gatherings. But our political editor, Joe Murphy, says it's the second rebellion that's causing the most problems for the PM: Major figures in the Tory party, like Lord Howard and Theresa May, are calling for a re-think over a bill that would overwrite a treaty already signed with the EU. We hear how that's making some MPs nervous, and why pressure from politicians in the US is also bearing down on the Cabinet. Also, we hear from an Oregon woman whose home town is being ravaged by wildfires. Half a million people have been evacuated in the State, and at least 10 have died. Vanessa Lamers describes how flames are destroying the area she grew up in, and why the air is becoming toxic. She also says that even when people return, there may not be much left for them to come back to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson's "moonshoot project" would see billions of pounds spent on testing kits that can deliver results that day, but his optimism has been met with scepticism and some scientists say the tech doesn't exist. Columnist Ayesha Hazarika tells us she thinks the scheme sounds like a fantasy, and what people really want are the hard facts. A former government advisor herself, she says Downing Street's communications are confusing the public, and it's time to get real. Also, the Evening Standard's deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil explains why a government minister's telling students to "take responsibility" in the bedroom during Freshers' Week. Health minister Lord Bethell's given the warning as universities open their doors, amid concerns it could lead to a further spike in coronavirus cases. But the NUS says students are being made "a scapegoat".  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the Evening Standard revealed the government's bringing in restrictions to limit social gatherings to six, it's now reported pubs may have a 10pm curfew. Meanwhile, the foreign travel quarantine rules, which vary across the United Kingdom, are still confusing passengers and putting people off holidays. Our associate editor Julian Glover says the situation has got too complicated for everyone, including ministers, and it's time for a reset... but he wonders if there's anyone in the cabinet who can do it? Also, last year Amazon’s revenues in the UK went up from £10.9bn to £13.7bn.  It's tax bill on all those billions is £293m pounds. MPs like Labour’s Margaret Hodge say that’s unacceptable. Evening Standard business journalist Mark Shapland explains how the company's accounts actually work, and why Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, who is worth around £150bn himself, is getting little sympathy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson's warning against “complacency” about Covid-19 among young people as he prepares the ground for a major crackdown on people holding parties in defiance of social distancing. The Standard understands that minsters are deeply concerned about gatherings held by young people, particularly as students head back to university in coming weeks. Our political editor, Joe Murphy, says Mr Johnson may announce moves to cut the legal maximum size of a gathering from 30 to possibly as few as six.Also, a stage adaptation of the cult classic film Back To The Future is set to open in the West End — with original film actor Christopher Lloyd helping launch the show by picking up a copy of the Evening Standard. Back to the Future, The Musical will open at the Adelphi Theatre in The Strand on May 14 next year. We ask the show's producer, Colin Ingram, if Marty and Doc Brown can save the day for London theatre? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.