The Standard

 A new antibody test for covid-19's been called a "game changer" by the Prime Minister, but is he overstating its impact? It can tell if someone's had the virus, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're immune. One of the UK's top scientists, Professor Danny Altmann from the British Society for Immunology, tells the podcast the public shouldn't raise its hopes too high. Circus tents and festival marquees are among suggestions being made by architects to help schools get going again. They're being recommended as headteachers work out how to hold classes while keeping children two metres apart. The Evening Standard's education editor Anna Davis says the ideas could help teachers who are alarmed about an education gap they fear is growing between children whoare being home-schooled and those who are not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are some people so badly affected by Covid-19 while others barely notice they're sick at all, and how can we use that to fight the virus? That's what teams of scientists are trying to find out as they attempt to map the genomes of 35,000 people who have been through the disease. Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, head scientist at Genomics England, tells us what they're doing and how you can get involved He also warns the UK could be just "a week to ten days" away from a second peak. London commuter ‘I don’t feel safe at all’ on return to work:Buses were standing room only and some train carriages packed as people returned to work with lockdown restrictions being eased. What's it like to be one of those venturing out after weeks inside, and how safe do people really feel? We speak to Janine Lowy, an interior designer with asthma who is trying to avoid public transport, but can't get away from the traffic jams.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country is being told to get ready to go back to work, but no-one seems to know how people are supposed to get there. Social distancing appears impossible on trains, cycling or walking is impractical for many, and although the Prime Minister is encouraging cars he has no suggestions on where to park. The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover says commuting in the new world needs new rules, and someone has to take responsibility for writing them. International Nurses DayOn International Nurses Day The Leader podcast speaks to the director of the Florence Nightingale museum, David Green, to discover how the Lady of the Lamp's work is influencing the world's response to the coronavirus pandemic. He also tells us how the museum itself is struggling during lockdown - and is perilously close to shutting down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is facing a backlash after changing its coronavirus messaging from "stay at home" to "stay alert”. But could ministers really have done any better? Marketing consultant Neil Taylor, who counts coming up with the name 'Ocado' in his credits, tells us how the country is entering a much more complicated phase of the coronavirus strategy that needs more nuanced public messaging. He also argues even Lord Kitchener's WW1 message "Your Country Needs You" would have been criticised on social media today for being too vague. French holidays:Fancy a trip to France this summer? The governments of the UK and France have signed a deal to encourage travel between the two countries without the need to quarantine on the return trip. Shanghai’s Disneyland has just reopened - with social distancing measures - so could Disneyland Paris be next? The Leader podcast spoke to the Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn to find out if we should start dusting off our passports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 future generations will judge us on our decisions. Hotels are hoping to re-open before the end of the summer, and welcome in those who have been desperate for a break since social isolation began. But the Evening Standard's consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn says the experience is going to be very different, with receptions scrapped and restaurants closed in favour of room service. With the Bank of England also warning of the sharpest recession on record heading the UK's way, how many people will be in a position to rent a room anyway?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Julian Glover argues he should have held his ground , and the UK needs to accept flawed people can make good decisions. Rory Stewart has dropped out of the London mayoral race claiming pandemic restrictions in the city make it "impossible" to campaign for an already delayed election. He announced the decision with an article in the Evening Standard, and hasn't yet given any other candidate his endorsement. Our City Hall editor Ross Lydall breaks down what the move means for the rest of the runners, including how Sadiq Khan could be the one with the most to gain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. What will this mean for small businesses? Craig Beaumont from the Federation of Small Businesses joins the Leader podcast.In order to lift the lockdown, the UK must pass five tests: does the NHS have enough capacity; has there been a sustained and consistent fall in daily deaths, is the rate of infection decreasing, is there enough PPE to meet demand, is there a risk of a second peak? So how close are we? The Evening Standard’s deputy political editor has been running the numbers, and joins The Leader podcast to share what he’s found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 relaxing the two metre rule for social distancing, a reduction in hot-desking, and a ban on borrowing other people's pens. If the offices are going back, what about the schools? There's no confirmed date for pupils returning to classes, but headteachers all over the country are starting preparations, with some expecting lessons to resume in July. We speak to Charles Fillingham, head of Francis Holland School in Regent's Park, on how they'll be handling social distancing, and whether he expects all the children to come back on the first day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, and also discusses his exclusive interview with Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer. US President Donald Trump is undermining his own intelligence service with a claim he's seen evidence Covid-19 broke out of a lab in China. The office of the National Intelligence Director says there's nothing to suggest the virus is "genetically modified or manmade," and most scientists think it was transferred to humans from animals. But the President's approval ratings have been falling as infections increase in the US. So is this more about winning the election in November than investigating the origins of the outbreak? We ask US politics expert Dr Rubrick Biegon from Kent University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 if the tube and busses are ready for commuters returning to work, after the London Strategic Co-ordination group warned the network could be "rapidly overwhelmed" because of social distancing needs. Colonel Tom Moore has celebrated his 100th birthday. To mark the occasion, he was treated to a flypast by Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, and yesterday received a promotion for his efforts which have raised more than £30 million for NHS charities. The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds on Colonel Moore’s journey into the limelight - including being the first centenarian to feature on a Number One single - and why he has become so dear to our hearts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.