The Standard

Paddington the Musical has opened at London’s Savoy Theatre in time for the festive season - and has already proven to be a resounding hit in the capital. Inspired by the beloved children’s books by Michael Bond, as well as the films, it’s directed by Luke Sheppard, the man behind hits such as the Starlight Express, with a music score written by McFly’s Tom Fletcher. So is this the West End’s hottest ever family show? We’re joined by actors Amy Ellen Richardson and Adrian Der Gregorian, who play Mr and Mrs Brown. Plus, theatre critic Tim Bano is here to share his 5-star review of the production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High street pubs, hotels and shops face “catastrophic” hikes in business rate bills that will force widespread closures and job losses, the Government has been warned. Less than a week after Rachel Reeves’s Budget speech, thousands of business owners in the retail and hospitality sector have learned their bills will rise by tens of thousands of pounds from April next year as a result of a “broken business rate system". The damage is being done by a combination of huge increases in rateable values, and the end of 40% relief for the sectors most harmed by the pandemic lockdowns. The Standard’s Business Correspondent Jonathan Prynn is here with the latest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government could soon come close to scrapping the right to trial by jury, it’s been revealed, with Justice Secretary David Lammy proposing to massively restrict this ancient right, as the criminal justice system is on the verge of collapse. There are plans to create a new tier of courts in England and Wales, removing guarantees to a jury trial for all except those accused of the most serious crimes. But could this still result in a fair trial? The Standard’s Courts Correspondent Tristan Kirk joins us to discuss why the jury system is a treasured and historic commodity that fosters a level of trust in our courts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yesterday Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered a Budget that will hike taxes by £26 billion and bring a huge change to personal finances up and down the country.More than 1.7 million people will face paying more income tax after the Chancellor froze thresholds, meaning people will be dragged into paying the tax for the first time or shifted into higher bands as earnings increase. While there is a new “mansion tax” on £2 million homes and above, a pay-per mile charge for electric vehicles, a new national insurance tax on salary sacrifice pension contributions above £2,000 and changes to ISA rules.Some levies placed on energy bills will go - lowering bills for millions of households by £150 a year, the Chancellor said. While the two-child benefit cap has been scrapped. Increased tax rates on dividends, property and savings income by two percentage points will all be introduced.We’re joined by The Standard’s Political Editor Nic Cecil with the latest.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the autumn budget, support for Labour in London is at a record low, according to a new poll, as Rachel Reeves is set to clobber the capital with a wave of tax rises. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has surged to 23 per cent in the capital, ahead of the Tories on 20 per cent, with Labour on 32 per cent. The Chancellor faces a backlash from voters, particularly those on high and middle incomes, ahead of London local elections next May. London has for many years been a Labour stronghold but the party’s support has plunged since the general election last July, according to the latest Savanta poll for Centre for London. The Standard’s Political Editor Nic Cecil is here with the latest.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re tackling one of the capital’s talking points - should kids be allowed in pubs? The William the Fourth pub in Leyton, East London, announced a policy change on social media, barring children from 7pm, saying that the move was necessary to maintain a “comfortable and enjoyable environment” for everyone as it had recently come to “resemble a creche”. The new rules mean the pub will be an “adults-only space” from 7pm onwards.The move has proved somewhat controversial, with comments on the pub’s social media announcement switched off.Whether pubs should ban children has been a long-running debate, and we’re joined by The Standard’s News Reporter Megan Howe, and The Standard’s Food & Drink writer Josh Barrie, to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Mandelson recently made headlines after being caught urinating against a wall, having spent the evening at George Osborne's Notting Hill home. But is it any wonder, when so many public loos are being sold off for profit, for example in West Norwood and the Isle of Dogs?Last year, Age UK’s Lifting the Lid report found that in the last decade at least 97 council-run toilets have shut across the capital, and closures outnumber openings three to one. Seven London councils now manage fewer than ten public toilets in their entire borough. With the public loo under threat, John Darlington, Director of Projects for the World Monuments Fund, joins us to discuss the origins and history of the toilet - and argues that unlike other infrastructure, it still serves a much-needed and essential purpose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give the go-ahead for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead in her Budget next week.London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has described the news as a “win-win” as it will improve transport links in a poorly connected part of south-east London and should “unlock” thousands of new homes and jobs.But what does it mean in practice? Where will the new stations be built, what difference will it make to commutes – and does it mean that other London transport schemes such as the Bakerloo line extension will be less likely to happen? The Standard’s City Hall and Transport Editor Ross Lydall is here with the latest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Darfur, at least twice as many people have been killed than in Gaza since 2023. As the crisis looks likely to worsen, one nation has questions to answer over its links to the atrocities. In this week’s special report, The Standard’s Defence Editor Robert Fox shines a light on the situation in Sudan - and specifically how the United Arab Emirates is involved in its  war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s predicted to be the movie event of the year, and this Friday 21 November, Wicked: For Good is finally released in cinemas - the follow-up to last year’s Oscar-nominated first film, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. We’re joined by The Standard’s Culture Writer India Block, who gave the sequel a five star rating, and said if it doesn’t get more Oscar nominations, she’ll eat her witch's hat! Plus, India is joined by Paul Tazewell, the costume designer behind the epic outfits of the show, who offers a glimpse inside the visual world of Oz…and have you spotted the London destination that has been given a Wicked makeover? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.