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Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has made history with the successful launch of his New Shepard rocket in West Texas. Among those onboard with him was the flight pioneer Wally Funk, who at 82 has become the oldest person to ever venture into space. On the Leader podcast her biographer Sue Nelson tells us how it’s been a lifelong ambition for the woman who was once told she’d never be an astronaut because “you’re a girl”. Sue reveals the extraordinary story and determination of a true innovator who holds every kind of pilot’s license available... now including the one that takes her out of the atmosphere.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard's political editor, Nicholas Cecil, tells us how the response to 'Freedom Day' has been more muted than ministers expected. Although nightclubs opened up at one minute past midnight, when most social distancing restrictions were lifted, a mass return to work hasn't happened.    Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's being criticised for initially not self-isolating following Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirming he has coronavirus. And some experts are warning of the "biggest wave yet" of Covid-19 being just around the corner.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Health editor Ross Lydall tells us why health chiefs in London are so concerned about the lack of young people coming forward to get the coronavirus vaccine. With ‘Freedom Day’ approaching, an enormous effort’s underway to encourage older teens and twentysomethings including the Tate giving up its Turbine Hall for a vaccine event with a DJ. It comes as Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says the pandemic is far from over, and the country could get into “a lot of trouble very quickly” if people don’t take care as lockdown is lifted. A further 48,553 confirmed Covid cases were announced on Thursday, including 5,743 in London.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard’s Jack Kessler tells the podcast why Transport for London fares are set to rise by around 5 percent from January, and what that could mean for efforts to bring people back to the city centre. Normally TfL fares are set each year by the Mayor. But the terms of its third bail-out, agreed by Sadiq Khan with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in May, state: “TfL will continue with its existing plan to increase fares in line with their business planning assumption of an overall fares increase of RPI+ one per cent on fares under the Mayor’s control in January 2022.” Jack says some experts believe it will put people off returning to the commute, a bill many haven’t had to pay since the pandemic began last year – but there’s little chance of a u-turn.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you need to wear a face mask on a train in London or not from July 19th? Our city hall editor, Ross Lydall, says it depends on what train you’re on and even which station you’re arriving at. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is changing the conditions of carriage for TfL services that will make a covering mandatory. But he doesn’t have the power to enforce that on other operators running services into the capital. Meanwhile, it’s emerged the new rule could also be flouted as it is a condition of travel but will not be enforced by police unless Mr Khan introduces a by-law.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard’s Nicholas Cecil joins the show as the Prime Minister is criticised by scientists over ‘mixed messages’ ahead of lockdown restrictions being lifted. Boris Johnson’s ditching mandatory face coverings on public transport and in enclosed public spaces, but telling the public he ‘expects’ them to wear them anyway. Meanwhile, some nightclub owners are flatly refusing to ask customers to show ‘covid passports’ before they’ll let them in, despite government advice to do so. Nicholas says leading scientists fear the dangers of Covid-19 will spiralling “out of control” with a third wave peak which could last six weeks – but he’s not expecting the government to change course.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard’s Jonathan Prynn was at Wembley for the England v Italy Euro 2020 final. He tells the podcast there was a “dark atmosphere” even before the game began and it was clear there were more people than seats in his area, suggesting a security lapse. Gareth Southgate has been praising his players, saying the team was a ‘beacon of light’ that ‘brought the country together’. But the FA’s condemned racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka who all missed their penalties in the 3-2 shootout loss. Meanwhile, police arrested 49 people in the aftermath of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final as officers confronted “volatile crowds”. Nineteen officers were injured during violent scenes outside Wembley stadium and in central London.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our Home Affairs editor Martin Bentham joins the show to explain how new powers to stop children as young as 12 will work. They’ve been announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel and will allow the courts to ban children from having knives and impose restrictions on their movements and use of social media. Ignoring an order could carry a sentence of up to two years, but critics says the use of the power on those with no convictions will risk criminalising young people.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ross Lydall takes us 42 metres underground as TfL unveils its gigantic new Crossrail station beneath Liverpool Street Station. We also hear from London Underground’s MD Andy Lord and Crossrail’s Chief Executive Mark Wild who tell us how the huge engineering project was completed, and when it might be opening. And Ross reveals plans to minimise the cost of using the line to get to and from Heathrow, with airport passengers benefitting from fare capping if they make additional journeys on the Tfl network.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard's political editor Joe Murphy tells us what's happening now 'freedom day' looks set for July 19th. There's already a row over the use of face masks with the legal requirement to wear them being lifted, despite doctors saying it "makes no sense"? The Mayor of London's also opposed and could insist on their use on public transport, but Joe tells us why he's not likely to do that.  Also, whatever happened to 'Covid passports'? At one point the idea of being able to prove you're double-jabbed or infection free seemed popular but appears to have drifted away. Joe says they may yet make comeback when winter arrives and infection rates start to go up.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our political reporter Sophia Sleigh examines the fallout from Labour’s narrow victory in the Batley and Spen by-election. The party threw everything it had into holding onto the seat, with rumours Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership was at risk. But even he admits they secured the win by just 323 votes because some traditional Conservative supporters switched sides. Is that because of the resignation of former Health Secretary Matt Hancock? Sophia looks at the evidence.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Evening Standard health editor Ross Lydall speaks to the Mayor of London who says “remarkable” progress with the vaccine roll-out has put London in prime position to reopen safely on July 1. Official NHS England figures suggest that, at current rates of 42,000 jabs a day, London could fall short of the Prime Minister’s national target by about 1.5m jabs. But Mr Khan’s insisting the official tally of 8.7m first and second jabs by the end of Tuesday was an under-estimate due to “data lag”. And he says London’s performance should be judged against cities such as New York, which have similar challenges in terms of vaccinating a younger, more diverse population.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Evening Standard’s revealed health workers and volunteers on the front line of the vaccine roll-out in London are being physically and verbally abused by anti-vaxxers. Council leaders and the capital’s top nurse shared details of a number of incidents in the wake of the attack on Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, at the weekend. Our health editor Ross Lydall says these range from vaccine buses being targeted by anti-jab protesters to online abuse and threatening calls to council call centres. He also says he’s heard claims of protesters pretending to be going for a vaccine, and then harassing staff inside centres.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Around 375,000 pupils in England were at home last week because someone in their school bubble had tested positive for coronavirus. From that number, the Department for Education says just 4% of those affected had the infection. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders, tells the Leader podcast it’s time to re-consider how we manage coronavirus in classrooms. He explains how damaging the disruption to young people’s education the current system could be if it continues, and suggests what improvements could be made. He also talks about the appearance of Sir Kevan Collins before MPs on the Education Select Committee. The man who quit as the education recovery commissioner says the government’s response to helping pupils “catch up” on missed schooling has been “feeble”.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Political editor Joe Murphy joins the show to look into the questions mounting following the resignation of Matt Hancock as health secretary. He tells us senior Conservative and Labour MPs are calling for answers over how often Mr Hancock used a private email account, and whether he used it to discuss NHS business with family members and a friend who went on to win public sector contracts. And he says the heat’s also turning on the Prime Minister, as MPs on all sides protest that Downing Street is failing to uphold high standards in public officer, or discipline senior ministers who fall short.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.