The Standard

As Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calls for the UK government to reveal a lockdown exit strategy, the podcast looks at one country already lifting some restrictions. In Denmark, children up to the age of 11 are returning to school after a month out of the classrooms. The country was one of the first in Europe to impose self-isolation and boasts one of the lowest infection rates on the continent. But is it moving too fast? We speak to Aarhus University’s Ida Wentzel Winther, who has been studying the effects of the lockdown on families.Donald Trump, himself beleaguered by criticism for his response to the coronavirus pandemic, has announced the US will cease payments to the World Health Organisation. The president said the international body - to which the US pays around $400m per year - had mismanaged the coronavirus pandemic, and accused it of a ‘cover up’. The Evening Standard’s US correspondent David Gardner joins The Leader podcast to explain why the president’s actions are ‘classic Donald Trump’ - and what it means for the international effort to fight Covid-19. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures show the death toll from coronavirus could be much higher than previously thought. Data from the Office for National Statistics exposes a difference of up to 50% between the reported figures and the true death toll - that’s thousands of additional deaths across the UK. The Evening Standard's health editor Ross Lydall tells The Leader podcast why there's such a big disparity, and why some health officials fear the UK will end up being the worst affected in Europe. Food insecurity A YouGov survey for the Food Foundation has found that 8 million people in the UK are facing food insecurity, with up to 3 million going hungry since the coronavirus lockdown. Investigations Editor David Cohen joins The Leader podcast to discuss why so many are struggling, and how the Evening Standard’s ‘Food for London Now’ campaign is helping.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is entering a bank holiday, with potentially record temperatures expected, and the government's begging people to stay inside.Downing Street says it's "critical" the public doesn't give up on self-isolation, but there are concerns some people fed up with quarantine won't be able to resist a day in the sun. The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn says one London council is so worried about crowds, it's asking golf courses and private schools to open up their grounds and take pressure off parks. And he warns doctors he's spoken to are terrified of what might happen if the public gives up on self-isolation now. A bank holiday at home doesn’t have to be dull. From virtual vineyard tours to live theatre and Easter Sunday services, there is plenty to do. The Evening Standard features team joins The Leader podcast to share the best of what’s on to keep the whole family entertained - at home - on what may be the hottest Easter bank holiday on record. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is no end in sight for lockdown in the UK. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy has been watching closely and tells The Leader podcast that the signals all point to this continuing for an extended period of time. Meanwhile the Evening Standard’s editorial column says there should be a greater united global effort against the virus.Also, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee of the ‘Feel Better, Live More’ podcast explains what he’s learned about isolation from speaking to prisoners who have experienced long periods of solitary confinement. Dr. Chatterjee shares some tips to help us all survive lockdown with a happier and healthier mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Boris Johnson has now been in hospital for a couple of days, and there’s no word on when he’ll be coming out. The government says he’s “stable and in good spirits”, but he’s suffered breathing difficulties and received what Downing Street calls “standard oxygen treatment.” Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is in charge for the moment – but what if this goes on longer? We speak to Lord Owen, the former foreign secretary under James Callaghan, to ask how governments work without a Prime Minister, and what lessons we can learn from history? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Her Majesty is being praised for an address to the nation that inspired memories of the united efforts the UK made to get through the Second World War. The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover says she gave the country a sense that people remain in charge, and we can get through this crisis. A new Labour leader:On Saturday Sir Keir Starmer was announced as the new Labour leader with a decisive 56 percent majority. Under normal circumstances the new opposition leader might be expected to begin with a confident broadside against the government. Instead one of Sir Keir’s first acts was to speak to the Prime Minister and promise to work with him to get the country through the coronavirus crisis. Clearly these are not ‘normal circumstances’ so how does an opposition work during a pandemic? Ayesha Hazarika, former Labour speechwriter and Evening Standard Londoner’s Diary editor, joins the Leader podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s newest hospital, NHS Nightingale opened today after a heroic nine-day build. The field hospital, housed in London’s Excel Centre, will be the world’s largest critical care unit.NHS Nightingale opened with 500 beds with capacity for 3,500 more. It will be used to treat patients who have been transferred from intensive care units across the capital. Up to 16,000 staff could be working at the facility. These will include NHS nurses, doctors and volunteers from St John Ambulance.Prince Charles opened the hospital via video message from home, where he is himself recovering from coronavirus symptoms. He said, “Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp, brought hope and healing to thousands in their darkest hour. In this dark time this place will be a shining light." More hospitals are expected to be built across the UK in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Today’s special edition of The Leader: Coronavirus Daily tells the story of this heroic project, with contributions from our reporters who have been inside the new Nightingale hospital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As NHS England announces a record 561 deaths with coronavirus in a single day, the government faces relentless pressure to fix its testing ‘fiasco’. On Thursday the UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced his five-point plan to “press the accelerator” on coronavirus tests. But is it enough, and can the government make good on their promises? The Evening Standard’s Health Editor joins The Leader podcast to discuss what the government’s plan means, and why increased testing is so vital.Big Issue MagazineA week ago, the government ordered local councils to house rough sleepers within 48 hours in response to the coronavirus crisis. But many are still living on the streets. Big Issue founder Lord Bird joins The Leader podcast to discuss why, despite the complexities that authorities now face, this could be the moment we end rough sleeping the UK for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s National Health Service has reached its “hour of need”. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has issued an appeal to businesses and organisations across the capital to lend vehicles, hotel rooms, and spare medical equipment. The NHS is under pressure for beds and staffing and people are starting to help. The London Fire brigade have offered staff as ambulance drivers and thousands of people have signed up to be NHS volunteers. Even 5* hotels such as Claridge’s are offering their beds and hot meals to doctors, nurses and other key workers. The Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy speaks to The Leader podcast on how vital it is that more of us provide support to those who ceaselessly care for us.UK pollution has fallen to its lowest levels during the coronavirus lockdown. The public are driving less, public transport services and commercial flights have either been reduced or cancelled. Data from the London Air Quality Network, run by Kings College, compared the current pollution levels with the average.  The Leader podcast speak to Simon Birkett, founder of Clean Air London, to find out how much of a difference there is and what the long term impact might be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Metropolitan police have made hundreds of arrests after raiding homes of criminals in self-isolation. The Evening Standard's crime correspondent Anthony France tells the Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast, it's an example of a police force acting properly, at a time when others are being criticised for clamping down on people going for walks or "driving to relieve boredom".There is no cure for coronavirus, but that doesn't stop some people from offering alternative medications. The Evening Standard's Liam Coleman tells us about the London church leader selling 'divine plague protection' for £91 per kit. It’ll be a while before you hear a choir in full swing again, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t groups still going. Through online meet-ups people are enjoying singing with total strangers – in some cases hundreds of them at the same time. The Evening Standard’s Katie Strick’s been joining in, and tells the podcast why it's so popular.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.