The Leader | Evening Standard daily

With mounting anger from the public, and criticism from within the Tory party, is the education secretary's job at risk following the exams crisis? Gavin Williamson's being attacked by some for taking too long to resolve the problem, with two ministers among those raising concerns over how it's being dealt with. Our political editor Joe Murphy says Mr Williamson has Boris Johnson's support for now, but there are rumours a cabinet re-shuffle is on its way sooner rather than later.  And, Al Murray joins the podcast to tell us about how he and Jayde Adams compered the first major comedy gig to be held indoors since lockdown began. The show in Camden's been described as "magical" in the Evening Standard's review, but how was it put together and did acts like Shappi Khorsandi have any material after spending so long in their houses?   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

More than 150,000 holidaymakers are scrambling back to Britain from France before tough new quarantine restrictions come into force. From 4am om Saturday, the new rules mean anyone returning from the UK's second most popular holiday destination must stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days. We speak to Abigail Thomas who has cut short her holiday in Avignon and is in a car, trying to get to Calais as quickly as she can in the hope of catching a ferry home. The Evening Standard's Naomi Ackerman examines why the decision's been made, and what advice there is for travellers. Also, Rishi Sunak's issued an appeal to millions of Londoners to “do our bit” to revive the capital’s powerhouse economy while remaining on guard to keep coronavirus at bay. Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Chancellor's urging more people to return to offices or other workplaces and enjoy the capital’s restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as get back into shops. Our deputy political editor, Nicholas Cecil tells us ministers are hopeful lower coronavirus rates will give the city the courage to get out of the house again.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Headteachers from across the country are scrambling to launch thousands of appeals against “unfair” A-level results as a storm over the exam system grows. Many students have been left distraught after about 280,000 entries were downgraded from teacher assessments. But the Evening Standard's education editor Anna Davis says the appeals will have to wait because authorities can't agree on how the procedure should work. Meanwhile, universities are being urged to be lenient towards applicants, but it looks like many hopefuls won't get the places they wanted. Anna tells us what's gone wrong, and the desperate efforts to put it right. Also, the world famous Oxford Street Christmas lights could sparkle a little earlier this year. Businesses in the West End are considering an October switch on to encourage people back to the shops. Jace Tyrell, the CEO of the New West End Company, which represents 600 firms in the area, says it "could be the earliest Christmas ever" but it's needed after coronavirus virtually wiped out trading in the summer.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After an exam result shambles in Scotland, it's England's turn - but lessons don't appear to have been learned. The government's u-turned on using a similar algorithm to standardise marking A-levels and GCSEs that caused chaos north of the border. Yet, the so-called "triple-lock" guarantee is only causing more confusion. How will the tests be graded, and what can pupils who have already had a year of disruption do if they think they've been treated unfairly? We talk to Evening Standard columnist, and senior editor of the The Economist, Anne McElvoy whose own 15 year old is waiting for their results. And, who is Kamala Harris have we really all been pronouncing her name wrong? The former California prosecutor's just been picked by Joe Biden to be his Vice President in what's shaping up to be a brutal US election this November. The chair of Democrats Abroad UK, Inge Kjemtrup tells us why she thinks Ms Harris will be the decisive factor in the race to the White House. And also explains how so many people have been saying the candidate's name wrong.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After 102 days with no locally transmitted infections, coronavirus is back in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed four cases have been found in Auckland, the country's biggest city, which has now been put into lockdown. Restrictions are being increased in the rest of the country, with people being asked by the government to wear masks for the first time. Radio New Zealand host Karyn Hay joins the podcast and tells us how shops had to shut their doors to protect their staff after panic buyers descended on them almost immediately after the news broke. Also, almost three quarters of a million jobs have been lost in the British economy since the start of the coronavirus lockdown. The Office for National Statistics says  730,289 fewer people were receiving a wage from an employer in July than in March, when Boris Johnson issued the “stay at home” order. The Evening Standard's consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn says the figures are the worst since 2009, and could get higher still as the furlough scheme comes to an end.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson says the country has a "moral duty" to get children back in school this September. But with scientists debating the safety of it, how does the government plan to re-open classrooms without increasing the risk of coronavirus spreading? The Prime Minister says he has a plan, but there doesn't seem to be much detail being released to the public. Our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil reveals what ministers have been telling him, and how encouraging more pupils to walk or cycle will be a key part of the strategy. Also, one of Britain's finest actors Simon Callow's written for the Evening Standard about the loss of live performance and the tragedy of theatres being wiped out by covid-19. He joins the podcast to tell us why London will not be the same without its vibrant performing arts sector. Also, on the day four of the city's major pantomimes say they won't be going ahead this year, Simon explains how panto is essential to bringing young people into theatres and developing a life-long love of the stage.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A special Evening Standard investigation has found thousands of vulnerable young people weren’t visited by children's services during lockdown. In the three months to June 30, face-to-face visits by children’s services plummeted 75 percent in some boroughs compared with the same period last year. Our investigations editor David Cohen tells us how serious the risk is to these services when they can’t physically meet with at-risk children. And, an exclusive Ipsos MORI survey for the Evening Standard has found that if US President Donald Trump and his democratic rival Joe Biden were going head-to-head in the UK, Mr Biden would win by a landslide. But of those surveyed, far fewer think he’ll actually reach the White House. Our deputy political editor Nic Cecil tells us how this compares with the last election race.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What is the legacy of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bomb attacks? 75 years on, survivors have contributed to an oral history of that's being exhibited at the Imperial War Museum, with a message that governments must to do more to ban nuclear weapons. We speak to nuclear strategy expert Sophie McCormack, who tells us how modern missiles are much more powerful today, and explains what could happen if one fell on London.  Also, Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism chief has told our home affairs editor Martin Bentham how lockdown has made it harder to catch terrorists in London. Commander Richard Smith says confinement's meant people at threat of being radicalised aren't being spotted by those who could notice the change. He also reveals they're investigating 800 leads into possible plots.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There's anger on the streets of Beirut after an explosion with a quarter of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb's power ripped apart the port area of the city. From there, journalist Nada Homsi tells us blame appears to be focusing on a welder who may have ignited a fire that reached thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate being unsafely stored in a warehouse. She says people have been holding protests outside a government building, furious it could be allowed to happen. Meanwhile, Save the Children's Ahmed Bayram tells us about the recovery operation that's underway, and how he thought an earthquake had hit when the blast rocked the building he lives in.  Also, Tik Tok may be looking at London to build a new global headquarters. The social media platform's thought to be looking for a base outside the US, where it's been threatened with a ban because of its Chinese ownership. Evening Standard tech journalist Amelia Heathman says the UK could make a good home for the company, but Britain is having problems of its own with Beijing.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump's opponents have seized on a television interview in which the US President struggles to defend the country's record on coronavirus. He's also been criticised for dismissing civil rights leader John Lewis' legacy, and trying to explain why he wished Jeffrey Epstein's former partner Ghislaine Maxwell "well". The Evening Standard's Londoner editor Ayesha Hazarika, a former adviser to Labour, tells us why Mr Trump didn't look like he'd done enough prep, and why politicians even put themselves in front of interviewers at all.  Also, the Evening Standard's consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us why there's just four weeks to save summer for London after lockdown. He's seen figures showing that last week there were 63 per cent fewer people in the West End than last year, during what is normally the peak of the tourism season with central London full of visitors and office workers. He tells the podcast businesses will need a huge Christmas to get through the year, but there's little sign of that coming.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The World Health Organisation's Dr David Nabarro's told the Evening Standard London is "at a critical time" in its battle against coronavirus. He's spoken to our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil, who says the warning comes as infection rates rise in two thirds of the city's boroughs. Meanwhile, the government appears to be considering strict lockdown procedures if there's another spike, including closing off the Capital inside the M25. Nicholas tells us doctors still hope it won't come to that, but they're worried about people getting complacent with social distancing.  Also, Rishi Sunak's Eat Out to Help Out is launching in restaurants across the UK. But will the discounts of up to 50% be enough to save an industry that's been almost crushed by the pandemic? We speak to Ed Sandeman, from the Made of Dough Pizzerias, who tells us how they're readying to relaunch their two sites, and says he's nervous that despite bookings no-one will turn up.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson has cancelled major moves out of lockdown including the reopening of wedding parties and casinos in response to a rise in coronavirus cases. The Prime Minister called a press conference to announce that he was “squeezing the brake” on the reopening of the economy and society in order “to protect those we love”. It follows the health secretary imposing lockdown on parts of the north, saying people weren't following social distancing. Our political reporter Sophia Sleigh tells us how the move came as a shock, with just three hours notice.  Also, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple have revealed their financial results, showing all of them made big money during the pandemic lockdowns across the globe. The figures come after bosses from the tech firms appeared before the US congress, where they were grilling on their size and influence. We speak to New York-based tech expert Joshua Lowcock, who says the industry needs a regulator.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain suffered the worst excess death rate in the whole of Western Europe during the coronavirus pandemic. Official statistics lay bare what many experts suspected, that the UK’s mortality rate was raised cumulatively higher by the end of May than even Italy and Spain, which were hit earlier. The details come as health secretary Matt Hancock announces an extension in how long people with the bug in England will have to self-isolate. Our political editor Joe Murphy tell us why.  Also, police are vowing a new clampdown on dangerous drivers who put the cyclists’ lives at risk on London’s roads. Officers are encouraging cyclists to wear head cameras to help prosecute motorists who drive over the speed limit, aggressively, too close or overtake in hazardous places. Home affairs editor Martin Bentham tells us how the Metropolitan force expects the use of cameras to be "game changing" as the number of people taking to the roads on two wheels surges following the pandemic.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ministers are on standby to impose quarantine measures on more countries amid fears that a second wave of coronavirus cases could undermine the reopening of schools in September. But is the government making up its Covid-19 counter-strategy "on the hoof" and possibly in danger of losing the public's trust? Travel journalist Simon Calder tells us about the chaos that flip-flopping over quarantine rules is causing for holiday makers and airlines.  Also, comment editor Susannah Butter joins us to explain why she thinks the Instagram #ChallengeAccepted trend is just "selfish narcissism". Women are being encouraged to post black and white photos of themselves in the name of female empowerment. But is it a powerful statement, or just an excuse to show off a nice picture?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will a £50 bicycle repair voucher, or even one on prescription from your GP, be enough to get you cycling? Boris Johnson's calling his £2bn package to get people onto two wheels "the most ambitious ever" but campaigners say it pales in comparison to the money going on roads. We speak to London Cycling Campaign's Simon Munk, who's welcoming the investment but warns it's not enough to lure people away from cars.  Also, Design Museum director Tim Marlow tells us why there's "always pressure to put on a banger" as it re-opens with a blockbuster exhibition charting the history of electronic music. He explains how they've recreated the nightclub atmosphere at a time when clubs are closed, and why the stakes are higher when making a comeback after the coronavirus shut down. The Evening Standard's given the exhibition a five star review, calling it a "rallying cry for clubbing."   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.