The Leader | Evening Standard daily

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds have announced the birth of their son.  Born in the early hours of the morning at a London hospital, the pair have thanked their “fantastic NHS team” . After a busy few months and being struck down with the virus, it is unlikely for the Prime Minister to take any more time off.  The Leader podcast speaks to the Evening Standard’s ‘Londoner' editor Ayesha Hazarika on the latest from Downing Street. We ask her whether the gender of a prime minister makes any difference when their child is born?   Restaurants remain to stay closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The simple pleasure of dining out with loved ones will not be the same for at least a couple of years. But how can restaurants come back from this? There isn’t yet a government led guideline in place. The Leader podcast speak to Michelin star chef Jason Atherton and ask how he plans to reopen – and still succeed – in a post lockdown world.  Can a restaurant really survive with social distancing for another two years?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Deaths from coronavirus in England, Scotland and Wales have risen to tragic new heights. The Office for National Statistics says they've increased by 633, bringing an end to the downward trend that had been seen recently. The Prime Minister and Chancellor joined the nation in holding a minute's silence for key workers killed in a pandemic that shows little sign of going away. But the Evening Standard's Health Editor, Ross Lydall, says in amongst all the statistics there are signs of hope. In its most ambitious campaign ever, the Evening Standard has set a target of raising £10 million to keep London fed through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. We've teamed up with the Felix Project, which is distributing 100,000 meals a day to the poor and elderly who cannot afford food or are stuck at home, as well as NHS staff. Our Food for London Now appeal has already raised £3 million in just over a month but our proprietor, Evgeney Lebedev, tells us the situation will get worse once the lockdown is lifted so more help is needed. You can donate at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/FoodforLondonNOW  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson's gone back to work with an attempt to seize control of the government's faltering lockdown strategy, and a warning that the UK faces its "moment of maximum risk." He appeared at the lectern outside Downing Street to ask families and businesses to be patient and not "throw away the sacrifice of the British people." But was it effective? We ask the Evening Standard's associate editor Julian Glover. What happens in London after lockdown? The newspaper's running a series of sustained reporting looking at how the city will recover once the social isolation restrictions are lifted. The Leader podcast speaks to Lord Heseltine to get his view on how regeneration should begin, and we learn what happened when he was first told about the BSE crisis while in government.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s thought around 34 percent of people with covid-19 in the UK come from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background. Those communities make up 14 percent of the population in England and Wales. The government has tasked NHS England with looking at the issue, but now Labour is launching a rival review, headed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.  In this episode of The Leader podcast, we speak to infectious disease physician Manish Pareek to discuss the complexities of investigating this issue - including the fact that until recently the ethnic backgrounds of covid-19 victims have not been recorded. We also meet lawyer and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu to ask whether we really need two investigations. Olivia Colman helps feed the hungry in London Actor Olivia Colman has been helping prepare meals for the needy with the Felix Foundation. The charity is a partner with the Evening Standard’s Food for London Now campaign, which today announced donations have passed £3 million. Evening Standard investigations editor David Cohen joins The Leader podcast to explain why coronavirus is exacerbating the issue of food poverty in London, and how the generosity of Evening Standard readers is making a difference.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The economic figures are in, and they’re grim. A new survey by IHS Markit, watched by the markets, reveals the devastating effects of covid-19 on both service and manufacturing sectors. It describes the effect as “previously thought unimaginable” - leading to predictions of an economic slump worse than the 2008 financial crisis. The Evening Standard's consumer business editor, Jonathan Prynn, joins the leader podcast to discuss the fallout. William Shakespeare never wrote a play about pandemics, but there were plenty of them around during his time and he may have even had a brush with bubonic plague himself. On the anniversary of his birth, The Leader podcast asks Shakespeare expert Professor Emma Smith how sickness influenced his work, and what lessons he has for us today.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UK's parliament has returned, with a very different Prime Minister's Questions. Dominic Raab was there, standing in for Boris Johnson and faced off with Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons. But most MPs were still in their homes, taking part via video conference software. Evening Standard columnist Ayesha Hazarika tells us the 'virtual parliament' worked better than many expected, and gives her verdict on Sir Keir's debut at the podium.  It's unknown when we'll get to travel abroad again. Many have spent days trying to refund pre-booked holidays for summer 2020. The travel industry has been frozen due to the coronavirus, so how are travel companies preparing for travel post-lockdown? We speak to Simon Calder who reveals what we are likely to expect, and when the industry may take off again.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE, shortage is a massive crisis affecting our entire NHS, and care providers. In this special edition of the Leader: Coronavirus Daily, we’ve spoken to some of a small but growing army of volunteers who are using 3D printers to do what they can to help out. As the Government drafts in the London Fire Brigade to deliver PPE to NHS workers, and the government wrestles to get a shipment of masks delivered from Turkey, a group of design and technology teachers are going back into their schools to fire up 3D printers and create PPE for medical staff. They’re co-ordinated by weeks-old groups such as 3DCrowdUK. Using their website individuals can registering requests for equipment, which will then get made by independent printers and shipped to NHS trusts.  Elsewhere, private care providers are facing their own shortages and say they are being forced to compete against the NHS for vital equipment. One provider’s solution: to create their own supply chain using an independent network of volunteer makers. This is a story of the heroes rising to meet a vital need in dangerous times. To sign up as a volunteer, or to register a request for PPE, visit 3Dcrowd.uk To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/3dcrowd-emergency-3d-printed-face-shields  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Doctors are hoping a sharp drop in the number of covid-19 cases in London means the worst has passed in the city. They've fallen by almost 1,000 in a week, after six successive daily reductions. One hospital has two vacant wards. The Evening Standard's Jonathan Prynn's been talking to frontline medics who say the stress they've been under has "evaporated", but are warning the recovery could take longer than the treatment.  Educators, experts and celebrities from David Attenborough to Danny Dyer have answered an unprecedented call to help teach the UK's children. As the Easter holiday ends and the summer term begins, they're mucking in with online classes for parents still educating their kids at home. 'Horrible Histories' historian and 'You're Dead to Me' podcast host, Greg Jenner, is among those taking part, and he tells the podcast it's a call to arms unheard of in the history books.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Harry and Meghan have been filmed on CCTV secretly handing out meals to the needy in LA. It's the first time the couple have been seen in the city since moving there. Meanwhile, Meghan's giving her support to the Evening Standard's Food for London now appeal. Insider editor Lucy Pavia tells the podcast how the Duchess of Sussex has been battling food poverty since before the coronavirus pandemic, and why it's becoming a major issue for her in a post-royal life. Lucy also discusses Prince William and Kate's support for a new NHS mental health campaign.  Football’s gone. Wimbledon’s been cancelled. Not even the Olympic games could survive the spread of coronavirus. But one sport is still standing: Darts. For those missing their live fix of competitive action, almost all of the game’s biggest stars will be taking part in the PDC Home competition – being broadcast from their own homes. Could this be the start of more live-streamed sporting events? The Leader podcast is joined by Talk Sport Darts correspondent Ian Danter.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When will the UK come out of coronavirus lockdown? The government has extended restrictions for a further three weeks, but given no hint of an exit plan. Demands for Downing Street to reveal a strategy have grown stronger after Germany became the latest country to detail how it will lift self-isolation rules starting from next week. The Evening Standard’s political editor Joe Murphy says Boris Johnson’s continued absence could be one of the reasons why the UK is delaying. New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, has said from Friday the public will be ordered to wear face masks in public - and he's willing to impose civil penalties for anyone breaking the rules. However, messaging from the scientific community on the efficacy of face masks appears divided. The Leader podcast speaks to Dr Babak Javid from Cambridge and Tsinghua Universities - should the UK follow New York and enforce the wearing of face masks?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out 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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.