The Leader | Evening Standard daily

Shops are reopening across Britain but with a new look. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed, caps on the amount of people allowed through the doors have been imposed. During lockdown, the Office for National Statistics shows non-food shops have been losing £1.7 billion a week and now they’re trying to draw customers back in. But how will they innovate to survive post-pandemic? The Evening Standard’s Lizzie Edmonds was at Oxford Street this morning to witness the re-opening, and tells us what shopping’s "new normal" feels like. And, in lockdown, London’s parks have become the capital’s replacement for pubs. While at first people were using the spaces to reconnect with nature, now with the sun out and eased restrictions, every weekend they’ve become the home of impromptu festivals. Hackney mayor Philip Glanville tells us council’s are doing what they can to make parks welcoming for all, but ultimately, it's up to visitors to do the right thing.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain’s crippled lockdown economy smashed all records in April when the nation’s output plummeted by more than a fifth. The remarkable 20.4 per cent dive in GDP — even deeper than most City forecasts — came in the month when Boris Johnson’s strict “stay at home” order was in force for all 30 days. But our consumer business editor Jonathan Prynn tells us there is some hope for a recovery as the number of covid cases in the country starts to fall.  And, the Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council tells our digital fashion and beauty editor Chloe Street how London Fashion week is transforming itself into an online event because of the pandemic. How hard has the industry been hit by covid-19, and what's happening to help?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After months of pleading from restaurants, bars, theatres and cinemas, the government could be about to reduce the two metre social distancing rule. Communities minister Simon Clarke's been giving interviews suggesting it's under review. Some other countries have set the distance to as little as one metre, so why can't the UK? Restaurateur Jack Stein, son of celebrity chef Rick Stein, tells us how cutting the gap by even just half a metre could make the difference between successfully re-opening and going bust.  Also, as UK singles get ready for their "social bubble" time this weekend, we look at how Holland saved sex during the pandemic. Dutch writer Linda Duits talks to us about the way lockdown rules there encouraged people to find "sex buddies", and the difference that made to the country.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Coronavirus has never been so prevalent. Although cases are dropping in Europe, they're soaring in both north and South America, while Africa is struggling to control the infection. Data suggests the peak of the global pandemic is still to come. Among those battling Covid-19 across borders is Save the Children. Their executive director of global programmes Gwen Hines tells us about the challenges being faced in places like Yemen, where a civil war is hampering efforts to keep people safe.  Prince Philip's turned 99 with a celebration at Windsor Castle with the Queen. A new photograph of the couple has been released to mark the occasion. We ask the Evening Standard's Insider editor Lucy Pavia what else the Duke of Edinburgh will be doing on his special day. We also ask if it's true, as one royal commentator has claimed, that lockdown's meant he's never spent this much time alone with his wife before.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The government's announced all primary school children in England will not be sent back to classes before the summer break. It follows a backlash from teachers and unions who warned it would be impossible due capacity issues, staff shortages and social distancing requirements. In this episode of the Leader Podcast we look at an alternative to using classrooms for pupils with the launch of a new forest school in London, where children are taught outside.  London Mayor Sadiq Khan's ordered a commission to review statues, street names and public buildings that may have a connection to slavery. It could lead to places like the Tate and Sloane Square getting a name change. But should we tear down our past? The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover argues it's better to reset the balance by finding ways to remember the history people have forgotten.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New Zealand is declaring itself covid-19 free and lifting almost all of its lockdown restrictions. It follows the recovery of a woman in her 50s who was the last known person in the country to have the infection. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admits she "had a little dance" when told the virus appeared to have cleared, 101 days after the first case was reported. We speak the New Zealand Herald political journalist Amelia Wade to find out how the country did it?  Met police commissioner Cressida Dick has written for the Evening Standard to describe the "disgraceful criminality" during Black Lives Matter demonstrations that led to 49 of her officers being injured, several seriously. There were more than 60 arrests at the protests in London which saw statues defaced and government buildings damaged. The Evening Standard's home affairs editor Martin Bentham tells us about the difficulties of policing a mass protest during a pandemic.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why has it taken the UK so long to introduce mandatory face mask wearing on public transport? In this special edition of the Leader podcast, we speak to a physician who has been campaigning for the change since the pandemic began, Dr Babak Javid. The Evening Standard's health editor, Ross Lydall, tells us how the law will be enforced, and we hear from Kerry Macphee, the Commonwealth Games competing cyclist who has joined a cottage industry of face mask makers around the United Kingdom.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Police have identified a new suspect in the disappearance. The man, known only as Christian B, is currently in jail in Germany for the rape of a woman in the same Portuguese resort where Madeleine vanished when she was just 3 years old. Her parents have welcomed the development. The Evening Standard's home affairs editor Martin Bentham tells us how the new suspect was identified, and why it's taken so long.  As Chernobyl, the drama based on the nuclear plant explosion in 1986, has been nominated for 14 Bafta television awards we look at how TV audiences have been affected by the pandemic lockdown. We ask our digital showbiz editor Rachel McGrath if the judges were influenced by current events when making their decisions, and what sort of shows viewers are turning to at a time when there's not much else to do.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Despite thousands packing into Hyde Park organisers of the Black Lives Matter protest tried to enforce social distancing measures, aware of concerns about the virus' spread in a mass gathering. Yet, around the UK many appear to be ignoring the rules, with a poll suggesting one in five gave up on them after the Dominic Cummings affair. Labour says the government is losing the people's trust. Meanwhile, the Home Secretary has announced her much-criticised international quarantine laws. We speak to Chris Goater from the International Air Transport Association who says they won't be effective and will hurt an already wounded airline industry further.   How did Zoom go from a tiny start-up with barely $200,000 in profit, to a global video conferencing giant projecting revenue of $1.8 billion? The Evening Standard's Mark Shapland tells us that great design, and failures by rivals like Skype, led to an enormous success story during a pandemic that's sent other companies to the wall. We also reveal the Evening Standard's offering up to £150,000 for great start-up ideas in London.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are concerns US police tactics against George Floyd protesters is increasing the risk of coronavirus infecting demonstrators. The use of tear gas on mass gatherings is being highlighted, because it causes coughing which can spread the bug. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's threatening to send the army into cities to "dominate the streets". Evening Standard columnist Philip Delves Broughton is in New York, where the Governor's warning people to take care, but not stop protesting.  Public Health England has published a review which has confirmed that black, Asian and minority ethnic people are more likely to die from Covid-19. It found that those of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death than those from a white British background. We speak to Dr Chandra Kenneganti, chair of the British International Doctors Association, who tells us the figures only confirm what they already knew, and what's needed is swift action.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Schools are re-opening for more pupils in England, but many classes are all but empty. It's thought around half of parents have decided to hold off on sending their children back to their teachers. That's despite schools implementing social distancing measures, including keeping desks apart and enforcing more hand washing. Warnings from some scientists that the lockdown is being lifted too early may have put some people off, but our education editor Anna Davis says it's expected the number of kids going to classes will rise over the week.  The UK’s quarantine laws were only announced last week and are supposed to come into force on Monday. But already the Evening Standard has learned a rebellion by MPs has seen Downing Street aides draw up plans to ease them. It follows the aviation and tourism industries saying the rules as they stand would ruin any hope of recovery during the summer. Jonathan Prynn tells us what's wrong with the laws, and whether they'll be scrapped soon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has written in the Evening Standard warning the UK needs to “massively speed up” its coronavirus testing system. He says it needs to be a 24 hour turnaround time, it’s currently of median of 48, and he’s been told a care home in his constituency had to wait a week for results for some of its residents. It comes as the country prepares to ease out of lockdown with new rules allowing up to 6 people to meet in open spaces. Our comment editor Susannah Butter asks if the UK's ready to leave the house, and where is the world-class testing Boris Johnson promised us? The National Trust is to begin re-opening some of its parks and gardens, although you won't be able to go into any of its stately homes just yet. The Trust had to furlough 80 percent of its staff and reportedly faces a £200 million deficit because of the pandemic. Its spokesman Simon Toomer joins the podcast to tell us what's involved in opening up the spaces, and what people will and won't be able to do.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dominic Cummings "might" have broken lockdown rules when he visited Barnard Castle, according to Durham Police. They're not taking any further action for what they're calling a "minor breach", but their conclusion is fuelling further calls for the Prime Minister's adviser to resign or be fired. Downing Street says that's not going to happen, but our deputy political editor Nicholas Cecil says there's already a swell of senior Tory MPs who think Boris Johnson should take action before the affair undermines efforts to keep the UK safe from coronavirus.  Live music is returning to the UK. The BBC's announced the Proms will go ahead, with a mix of archived and live performances which could see at least a small audience at the Albert Hall. The Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover says it's a huge boost for a country that needs cultural events to come back, and the government should give music as much attention as it does football.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson calls it the “whack-a-mole” strategy. An enormous operation to test and trace everyone in the UK showing symptoms of coronavirus, as well as those they have been in contact with. Our political editor Joe Murphy tells us how it’s supported by an army of 50,000 doctors and data gatherers, and why the government changed the name from “track and trace”. But the Evening Standard’s editorial asks how it can work if no-one knows what the self-isolation rules are anymore? It was predicted that the lockdown would lead to great works of literature, or at least the DIY getting done. But figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed what the UK public have really been up to.  The Evening Standard’s Naomi Ackerman has been reading the report. She joins The Leader podcast to tell us what the top activities have been - and who’s been doing the most housework. She also discusses what she’s been up to, including launching her own podcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a rose garden Downing Street press conference, Dominic Cummings remains a special adviser with the backing of Boris Johnson. But now approval polls show the public is unhappy with the Prime Minister, and a junior minister's resigned, can the architect of the Conservatives' election win really hold on much longer? In this special edition of the Leader podcast, the Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy reveals his conversations with Tory MPs who fear public anger is only going to grow. And the Evening Standard's Londoner editor, Ayesha Hazarika, tells us how Labour could take advantage of Boris Johnson's apparent vulnerability.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.