The Standard

Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda Bill was today brought into stark focus following the deaths of at least five migrants - including a child - who were packed into a small boat with more than 100 people trying to cross the English Channel. French police and coastguard said the fatalities included three men, a woman and a seven-year-old girl. The Channel tragedy came after late-night votes in Parliament, as Sunak finally saw his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill getting voted through, which will set in motion plans for deporting asylum seekers who entered the UK "illegally" to east-central Africa . But what’s next, what are the legal hurdles - and what happens to the legislation if Labour wins power? With the latest from Westminster, Mark Blunden is joined in the House of Commons by the Evening Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mayor Sadiq Khan started the week in hot water over river safety - after his manifesto stated he planned to make the capital’s waterways, including the Thames, so clean they would be “swimmable” within a decade. At the same time, Thames Water, which is battling a budget black hole, warns customer bills could rocket by almost half. The Standard podcast is joined by Evening Standard business editor Jonathan Prynn and former lifeguard Brendon Prince, founder of Above Water, a water safety and drowning awareness charity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s bonus episode is from our How to be a CEO business podcast. David Marsland meets with Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handcock. To hear the full episode search How to be a CEO wherever you find your podcasts, or hit this link. Ruth will also be appearing at the Watercooler Event, which is being held alongside the Evening Standard’s SME Expo at Excel London on the 23rd and 24th of April. Tickets are free. Click the links to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s less than two weeks to go until Londoners cast their ballots and a new exclusive YouGov poll for The Standard has revealed the gap is closing between Sadiq Khan and Susan Hall. The Tory contender is on 27 per cent, up three points from February, and her Labour rival is on 46 per cent, down three points. Ross Lydall, our City Hall Editor & Transport Editor, explains the significance of the polls and discusses the candidates' latest announcements as election day draws near. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An exclusive poll by Ipsos for The Standard has revealed Rishi Sunak’s rating as Prime Minister has slumped to the worst ever for a leader of a major party. It comes as pressure piles on the PM to call a date for the next general election, with the survey finding more than half of Britons want one held by the end of the summer. Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos, explains the key findings from the poll and gives his analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year marks the 33rd edition of the awards, with categories ranging from best house and best flat, through to best regeneration projects and low carbon homes. The longest serving judge on the panel, Stephen Lee, explains what the awards are all about, which categories he’s most looking forward to this year, and describes some of his favourite entries from previous years. You can enter this year’s New Homes Awards here. Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A high court judge has ruled that a prayer ban at one of the highest-performing state schools in England - run by ‘Britain’s strictest headteacher’ - was not unlawful. Following the decision, Katharine Birbalsingh, who founded Michaela Community School, a free school in Brent, posted on social media saying it was a "victory for all schools". It comes on the same day that primary school places are announced. Almost 10,000 children failed to get a place at their first choice primary school despite a drop in applications partly caused by families fleeing London. The Evening Standard’s Education Editor Anna Davis shares her insight & analysis. Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sadiq Khan’s expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone out to the capital’s outer roads is one of his most controversial policies. The Mayor says the charging scheme will improve air quality and health, but critics claim it's a stealth tax on Londoners hampering their choice to drive. In this episode of the Standard’s series focussing on the 2024 race for City Hall, Hamish MacBain explores both sides of the argument at two of London’s busiest traffic locations. Hear interviews with Imperial College London pollution expert Professor Frank Kelly by the A501, Marylebone Road, and motoring journalist Shahzad Sheikh - AKA YouTuber the BrownCarGuy, by the A10, Shoreditch High Street. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special episode taken from our business show, How to be a CEO, the Evening Standard's business editor Jonathan Prynn speaks with 2011 The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau, whose business is thriving, 13 years later. To hear the full interview just search How to be a CEO wherever you find your podcasts, or via this link: lnk.to/TAWjEL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Independent candidate Andreas Michli evicted from hustings. Disruption halts debate for 20 minutes. Sadiq Khan & Susan Hall’s feisty exchanges. Our City Hall Editor Ross Lydall explains the drama at the first hustings in the race for City Hall, and discusses which of the candidates came out on top. Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this preview edition of our Brave New World series, Evgeny meets Wim Hof to learn more about the Dutch athlete’s ‘Method’; a combination of breathing and cold-water immersion that he claims can have health and psychological benefits. Rita Ora also joins the show and talks about her own experience using Wim’s techniques as part of her wellness routines. To hear the whole show, and listen to previous episodes, search 'Brave New World Evening Standard' in your podcast provider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Report finds children have been let down by NHS care and have been receiving treatment that’s not based on evidence. Dr Hilary Cass calls for long-term research into use of hormone treatments. How Dr Cass received abuse from both sides during the review. Our Health Reporter Daniel Keane explains the Cass Report’s key recommendations for the NHS. In this episode: the Cass Report Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The foreign secretary’s ‘surprise’ visit to see Donald Trump. Calls for $60billion of extra aid for Ukraine. What else is Lord Cameron hoping to achieve in the US? Our Deputy Political Editor Jitendra Joshi discusses the foreign secretary’s plan to secure more cash for Ukraine, and what else he plans to gain from his trip over the pond. In this episode: Follow us on X or on Threads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of Who Wants to be a London Mayor, Hamish Macbain heads to a London Renters Union rally to look at the capital’s ongoing housing crisis. Londoners face fierce competition for accommodation and endlessly soaring rents, the waiting lists for social housing is in the hundreds of thousands, and there’s widespread poor conditions even if you manage to secure a home. Can the next Mayor of London do more to tackle these issues? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taken from our How to be a CEO podcast, here's an extract taken with solo round the world sailor Pip Hare. To hear the whole interview just search How to be a CEO wherever you find your podcasts, or via this link: lnk.to/TAWjEL. Pip’s going to be appearing at the Watercooler, a two day event about workplace wellbeing being held alongside the Evening Standard’s SME Expo on April 23rd and 24th at Excel London. To register and get FREE tickets to the Watercooler go to watercoolerevent.com, and and to learn more about the SME Expo, head to smexpo.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This edition of The Standard podcast examines the current state of London’s property market - from the top of the ‘prime’ action, to areas attracting first-time buyers. What factors are impacting decision-making, and is it possible to negotiate anything resembling a bargain right now? The latest Halifax figures show an average UK drop in property prices of almost £3,000 per transaction - but in London, Nationwide says prices are up 1.2 per cent. Why? We’re joined by Alex Goldstein, managing director of Alex Goldstein Property Consultants, and India Block, deputy editor of the Standard’s Homes & Property section. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this preview of our Brave New World series, Evgeny Lebedev talks to Jonathan Haidt. Together they look at the impact of tech and social media on the child and adolescent brain. Jonathan's new book, 'The Anxious Generation' is available now. To hear the whole interview, search 'Brave New World Evening Standard' on your podcast provider. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Standard podcast is in Westminster as we focus on the critical pound in our pocket. The Evening Standard’s reports that disposable income for households in the capital is set to rise by a meagre £110 on average this year’ with National Insurance cuts and stealth taxes. But South East England will be the hardest hit by the combination of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s fiscal changes. Plus, Professor Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, warns the Tories risk a “near death experience” in London following a shock poll showing the party having zero post-election MPs in the capital. For the latest political and economic insights, Mark Blunden is joined by Evening Standard political editor Nicholas Cecil at Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London’s ‘Superloop’ spans some 85 miles of road - just 30 miles shy of the length of the M25. Now, a new south London section of the capital’s orbital bus network is being proposed by Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan - but his Tory rival, Susan Hall, says Khan should focus on delivering an unfunded £10 billion Bakerloo line extension. It comes as commuters brace for days of fresh travel misery as a wave of train and Underground strikes were announced. For the latest, Mark Blunden’s joined on this episode aboard a route SL1 bus, linking Walthamstow Central and North Finchley, by the Standard's transport editor, Ross Lydall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mayor Sadiq Khan’s critics say he’s failed to get a grip on London’s knife crime epidemic - so, what more can be done? In this episode of Who Wants to be a London Mayor, Hamish MacBain is joined by Evening Standard crime correspondent Anthony France. Their discussion includes the Labour mayor’s record on law and order, his Tory rival Susan Hall’s policies, police numbers, and the effectiveness of stop and search. We also feature a special investigation and film commissioned by ES Magazine focussing on Londoners impacted by the capital’s knife crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.