The Standard

The UK inflation rate unexpectedly fell slightly to 2.5 per cent in December in a surprise boost to embattled Chancellor Rachel Reeves.Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed a slight drop from 2.6 per cent in November and fell below City forecasts.It comes amid record government borrowing and falls in the pound over the past week.How does this all fit into the wider economic outlook, what might it signal for our shopping baskets - and what about the spectre of ‘stagflation’?The Standard podcast is joined by Jo Michell, professor of economics at the University of the West of England in Bristol.In part two, influencer Adam McIntyre on concerns about the financial impact of a TikTok ban on digital creators and small business ahead of a US supreme court decision on the Chinese ByteDance-owned app’s future in the States mid data security concerns.

Local councils nationwide are preparing to reveal the bad news to residents about this year’s council tax rises.So, why are our rates rocketing, how much more can we expect to pay - and which authorities are impose the biggest hikes?The London Standard’s chief political correspondent Rachael Burford discusses local government finances and policy for the year ahead.In part two, as millions of Britons reach the halfway mark for Dry January, we look at the benefits and challenges of quitting alcohol for a month.We’re joined by Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of the London charity Alcohol Change UK, and The London Standard culture and lifestyle writer Vicky Jessop, who’s now on her third booze-free new year.

The Prime Minister has unveiled the government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan in a bid to make Britain a world leader in the artificial intelligence sector.Sir Keir Starmer’s will take forward all 50 recommendations made by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, who was commissioned by Science Secretary Peter Kyle to identify AI opportunities.It will see the creation of AI “growth zones” to accelerate planning approvals for data centres, build a new supercomputer and - controversially - allow tech firms to train AI on anonymised health data. So far, £14 billion has been committed by tech firms and its forecast the new data centres will create 12,000 jobs - amid growing concerns about the march of AI on roles in many other sectors.In a speech at UCL, Sir Keir claimed productivity could be doubled through using the technology in less than five years as Britain becomes as “AI superpower”.The Standard podcast is joined by Dr Mark Kennedy, associate professor of strategy and organisational behaviour at Imperial College Business School.In part two, The London Standard’s political editor Nicholas Cecil examines why the pound has fallen again as UK borrowing costs hit high - and what its means for the future of Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Welcome to The Standard podcast’s round-up special edition.In this episode:How does Sir Keir Starmer plan to cut NHS waiting lists?Golden Globes 2025: Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana & Adrien Brody among winnersChild grooming gangs: government plans new safeguarding law but no public inquiryWhat must be done about London knife crime after boy, 14, killed in stabbingHMPV: what we know about virus risk, symptoms & spreadLA wildfires: future risks of climate changeWhy did the pound hit a 14-month low & how will it impact me?The London Question: Will the Silvertown tunnel be bad for London?Duchess of Sussex’s new Netflix cookery & lifestyle show With Love, Meghan set for release

London’s £2.2 billion Silvertown Tunnel beneath the Thames is set to open in the spring - but how will this impact traffic flow on the capital’s roads?There are concerns the crossing, set to impose a toll along with the Blackwall Tunnel, could push vehicles to other points along the river as drivers seek to avoid the charge.And what about cyclists? It’s this week’s ‘The London Question’ posed by the Standard in a comment piece by our transport editor and City Hall editor Ross Lydall, who joins us to discuss the mega-project.In part two, we examine what’s known so far about the Duchess of Sussex’s new cookery and lifestyle show titled With Love, Meghan - with The London Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer India Block.

A state of emergency and a toxic air alert have been declared in Los Angeles after huge wildfires killed at least five people and swept through hillsides that are home to many celebrities.Now, 130,000 Angelenos have been forced to evacuate their homes as the city became blanketed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash.Thousands of firefighters are battling to contain the original LA fire in Pacific Palisades, which spread to destroy more than 20 square miles in just two days and is believed to have started in a back garden.The Standard podcast is joined by climate scientist Dr Ella Gilbert, of the British Antarctic Survey and an expert on mountain winds, to discuss the environmental factors fuelling the devastation.In part two, why has the pound slumped to a 14-month low against the dollar - and how will the current financial outlook impact you?We’re joined by Jo Michell, professor of economics at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

The mother of a 14-year-old boy stabbed to death on a London bus fears her son had been groomed by gangs and exposed to drugs before he was killed.Kelyan Bokassa was attacked on a Route 472 double-decker on Woolwich Church Road just before 2.30pm on Tuesday.His mother, Mary, 50, fought back tears as paid tribute to her “polite” and “caring” son, telling MailOnline he had spent time in care and lived rough on the streets for a year, where she feared criminals took advantage of him.Kelyan is thought to have been an aspiring rapper making music on YouTube under the name “Grippa”, releasing a drill track, “Bangers & Mash”, on Christmas Day.Police have launched a murder investigation, however, a motive for the killing has yet to be revealed. We’re joined by The London Standard’s crime editor, Anthony France, to discuss the tragic incident and what more must be done to stop youth violence.In part two, Dr Jahangir Alom, an NHS emergency medicine doctor in north east London, on what we know about human metapneumovirus (HMPV), its risk and precautions to take this winter. 

The government has announced new safeguarding legal guidelines as part of a crackdown on child exploitation in the wake of the grooming gangs scandal.Measures revealed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper include criminal sanctions for professionals working with children if they don’t report sexual abuse claims.The recommendation is among those within Professor Alexis Jay’s 2015 child sexual abuse inquiry - she also told Radio 4’s Today programme “enough of inquiries” and that instead victims need action.  Authorities face allegations that they ignored horrific abuse of thousands of vulnerable, mostly white girls trafficked, groomed and raped by groups of men predominantly of Pakistani heritage - in towns including Rotherham, Oldham, Telford and Rochdale - amid fears of being labelled racist.The government has refused to relent to calls for a public inquiry, despite calls from opposition the Conservatives and an online firestorm fomented on X by the platform’s boss Elon Musk.We’re joined by The London Standard’s courts correspondent Tristan Kirk, who covered many of the scandal’s criminal trials and argues a new inquiry is not the answer to the urgent action needed.

Sir Keir Starmer aims to cut the number of patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment by 450,000 within two years.Amid his hopes of a New Year government reboot, the Prime Minister said by the end of 2026 two thirds of patients would be getting treatment in that timeframe.Latest figures show 59 per cent of patients are currently having to wait longer than 18 weeks.Labour’s Elective Reform Plan, published by NHS England, aims to deliver half a million more appointments a year through greater use of community diagnostic centres, 14 new surgical hubs in hospitals, “freeing up” around a million “non-essential” follow-up appointments by asking patients whether they want them, as well as seeing some people in group appointments.So, how workable is the PM’s plan - and what more resources are needed?The Standard podcast is joined by north London GP Sonia Adesara.In part two, we’re off to Hollywood for the Golden Globes 2025, where there stars were out at the ceremony was dominated by first-time winners, including gongs for The Substance star Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana of Emilia Perez, I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres, and the stars of Shogun.Post-awards analysis with The London Standard’s culture and lifestyle writer India Block.