The Leader | Evening Standard daily

Sadiq Khan called for a rethink on cannabis laws and policing today, to cut violent street crime. This follows a report showing that 63 per cent of Londoners think the Class B drug should be legalised for recreational and medicinal use for adults. So with opinions changing, David Cohen our investigations editor tells us why this conversation is so important. A report by the coroner on the inquests into the London Bridge attack came out today, we discuss how we can learn from these attacks to protect and react better if these attacks happen again. C’mon England! Our boys have battled the might of the All-Blacks and the forces of nature for their place in the Rugby World Cup final against South Africa. Will McPhearson joins us again from Tokyo to look at their story so far.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s the 31st of October and we haven’t left the EU. But Boris Johnson is not ‘dead in a ditch’. In fact despite Brexit delays the Conservative government are still far ahead in the General Election polls – a scary Halloween prospect for Jeremy Corbyn. Can the Labour Party make up enough ground before December the 12th to win? Our political editor Joe Murphy’s been going through the figures from the Evening Standard’s own poll and joins The Leader podcast from his Westminster office.   Also: when the occupant of an unassuming apartment in Notting Hill died, he left behind an extraordinary collection of his own art. Now the owners of that building want to clear it out and move someone else in. We speak to our Arts and Features writer Melanie McDonagh about what the house is like, and why we think they should leave it alone.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the start of the year we predicted that we’d end 2019 by heading to the polls. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen on December 12th. A “culture war, already simmering here in the UK, could explode in this election” says today’s Leader. We speak to associate editor Julian Glover about what this election will really be about.  The Londoner editor Ayesha Hazarika talks about today’s Prime Minister’s questions, and why politics has become 'incredibly toxic' And Deputy Political Editor Nicholas Cecil briefs us on how Trump’s upcoming visit will impact campaigning.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The report into the Grenfell Tower fire has taken two years to prepare, and will be published in full tomorrow. The report will be dominated by one key finding: The London Fire Brigade’s lack of preparation and poor advice cost lives.   Investigations Editor David Cohen has spent the last two years speaking with survivors and victims’ families, and speaks to The Leader about their reactions to the report’s findings.   City Hall editor Ross Lydall and Courts reporter Tristan Kirk also join the podcast to discuss what London Fire Brigade must learn from the Grenfell disaster, and what will happen next in the process to find the truth. Read the full Leader column here  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Has Boris Johnson done the right thing by trying to hold a December general election? In today’s episode assistant editor Julian Glover and Londoner editor Ayesha Hazarika sit down to explain what this means across parliament and the UK, as well as for those who have supported (in huge numbers) the People’s Vote Campaign – and who were only just marching and rallying a week ago.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prince Charles has made a call in the Evening Standard for big businesses to put “trillions” of pounds into environmental projects, and we think he’s right. The Standard’s Jonathan Prynn breaks down what this really means.  The Ultra-Low Emission Zone – or ULEZ – charge is six months old. And one driver owes 13 thousand pounds – we’ve got more on that and five other things we’ve learned about the scheme. We’re excited for tomorrow’s match between England and New Zealand, we speak to our rugby correspondent Will Macpherson in Tokyo on whether or not we are likely to win, and we sit down with our feature writer Katie Strick to find out what’s making people so excited.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The death of 39 Chinese migrants found in the back of a lorry in Essex is a tragedy of massive proportions. And if the international community doesn’t act in response to our changing world, it may happen again. We ask Home Affairs editor Martin Bentham what must be done to avoid the loss of more innocent lives. The British Red Cross announced today that they will no longer be providing first-air care at public events due to the costs. We think they should change their mind, raise the money and keep it running. Thamesmead was supposed to be connected to the London tube network, but it never happened. Apparently, there wasn’t a demand. However with 11,500 new homes being planned it’s time to rethink, and build. City Editor Ross Lydell join The Leader to tell us more.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If life in London is getting you down then you aren’t alone, according to data published today by the Office of National Statistics. The study shows that Londoners are some of the most unhappy people in the country… although we are slowly getting happier. Jonathan Prynn our business editor joins us in the studio to discuss the research in more detail. Tutankhamun is visiting London for the first time in more than a decade, in an exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery. The Evening Standard thinks it’s an unmissable show, so for a sneak peek we speak to the exhibition curator Tarek El Awady and the Evening Standard’s Nick Curtis.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode: Boris Johnson has done a lot of manoeuvring to get his hands on the PM crown, he is determined for it to stay that way too. Our associate editor Julian Glover explains how politics has always been about the exercise of power, and why Boris is going nowhere if he can help it. A new report from the Office for National Statistics shows that UK borrowing is increasing because of Brexit. This is storing up for trouble for the future of our finances. We believe that the UK should stop borrowing – or we’ll all pay the price. A final trailer has been released for Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker. We sit down with deputy features editor Phoebe Luckhurst and our arts editor Will Moore to find out if the force is strong with JJ Abrams’ finale to the epic saga.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After ‘Super Saturday’ in which Parliament voted to hold on a Brexit vote until legislation had been passed, and thousands marched on Westminster to demand a People’s Vote, Boris Johnson has been forced to take something of a detour from his planned roadmap. In today’s episode of The Leader, Ayesha Hazarika describes the view from the stage at the People’s Vote protest and discusses how the Letwin Amendment will change things for the Prime Minister and the Brexit process.   After last week’s shocking racism during the England v Bulgaria international, more alleged racist behaviour broke up a match closer to home this weekend. An FA cup qualifier between Haringey and Yeovil Town saw the match abandoned following alleged racist abuse of Haringey players – who left the pitch in protest. Football correspondent Dan Kilpatrick joins the podcast to discuss what this means for English football.   Plus a new bridge may be installed in Hammersmith to help make easier commutes across the River Thames – the Evening Standard thinks it’s worth considering.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s episode: While parliament prepares to vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal - sitting on a Saturday for the first time since 1982 – protesters are putting the finishing touches to what they hope will be a massive march in support of a second referendum. Political editor Joe Murphy discusses whether ‘super Saturday’ will unite the nation at last. US Style “Family therapy” is coming to East London to help tackle gang crime. We’re welcoming it. Rugby correspondent Will Macphearson joins us from Japan ahead of tomorrow’s England v Australia match.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson announced his “great” Brexit deal this morning, and Jean-Claude Juncker has said this is it – no extensions.   The DUP say they won’t support it, and the Prime Minister doesn’t appear to have the numbers to get it through parliament, who are sitting on Saturday for the first time since 1982 to vote on what to do next.   On today’s podcast Julian Glover and Ayesha Hazarika discuss whether Mr. Johnson will be able to extricate himself – and the UK - from what seems like a Brexit trap.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today’s podcast:   Deal or no deal, our Associate Editor Julian Glover says despite Boris Johnson’s ‘do-or-die’ insistence, there’s no end in sight to the Brexit horror show.   Donald Trump has met with the grieving parents of British teenager Harry Dunn. But the President’s treatment of them was “flamboyant cruelty”.   And Royal Editor Robert Jobson joins the podcast from Pakistan where he’s been following the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their tour of the country. He discusses how the royal visit is helping establish British-Pakistani relations in preparation for life post-Brexit.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

James Olley our chief football correspondent witnessed the racism during last night’s football match between England and Bulgaria. He joins The Leader podcast on the phone from Sofia to discuss how UEFA can send a strong message to racist fans. Joe Murphy our Political Editor tells us about the new Environment Bill, which promises a green UK after Brexit. And finally, we celebrate 750 years of London’s most extraordinary building, Westminster Abbey.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our associate editor Julian Glover and editor of The Londoner Ayesha Hazaraki, react to the Queen’s speech and its impact – or otherwise – on Brexit. We also look at the catastrophic mess in Syria and whether three orphan children from an Isis camp should be allowed home. And finally, after we feared the demise of Pizza Express, has one of London’s favourite pizza chains been saved?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.