The Standard

Currently, more than a third of children leave primary school overweight or obese. The government is about to start a consultation on reforming school meals. Will having salad bars in schools make a difference?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Nika Pajda, Head of Policy and Research at Bite Back. Together they discuss whether banning deep fried foods from school canteens will have a significant impact on children's health, as well as the lurking influence of Big Foods in schools.Photograph: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sickfluencers are everywhere right now — but what are they actually doing, and why has it turned into such a political flashpoint?In this episode, Martha Tipper digs into the row over social media creators who post tips on claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — from step-by-step guides to broader advice on navigating a system many people say is notoriously hard to “crack”.A new report from centre-right think tank Policy Exchange claims this kind of online coaching could fuel economic inactivity and put more pressure on the health and disability benefits system — and the report’s sponsorship by Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has only cranked up the heat.But there’s another side to it: plenty of people with genuine — and often invisible — disabilities say this content is a lifeline, especially when legal aid and specialist support are hard to access, and rejection rates are high. So is this really about fraud… or is it about a benefits system that’s confusing by design?We also look at ideas being floated for reform — from means testing to more in-person assessments, and even vouchers or other targeted support — and why the practical reality may be messier than the headlines.Plus: what the DWP says about fraud levels, and why “people getting advice on the internet” might be the least shocking part of all this Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the recent closure of Corsica Studios, it felt like the right moment to revisit this episode — because the big question hasn’t gone away: can London actually keep its nightlife alive, or are we slowly watching it get priced and policed out of existence?There will be no major clubs left at all in the UK by 2030 if venue closures continue at the current rate, according to the Night Time Industries Association. Will Sadiq Khan’s London Nightlife Taskforce be able to preserve the capital’s late-night scene?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric and chair of the Independent Nightlife Taskforce. They discuss the recommendations from the taskforce’s latest report, the city’s evolving club culture, and Cameron’s outlook for London’s night-time economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elephant and Castle, tucked beneath London’s Southbank, is set for a major transformation. Long defined by its busy gyratory system and ageing brutalist buildings, the area is now at the centre of a £4 billion regeneration aiming to transform it into a desirable destination in its own right.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick is joined by The Standard’s business editor Jonathan Prynn to explore the development plans, the changes that are already in place, and whether this long-awaited “glow up” will be enough to attract visitors to the area. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK’s leading performing arts union, Equity, is raising concerns about the role of the London Nightlife Task Force, saying that workers’ voices are being overlooked in decisions shaping the capital’s night-time economy.In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Standard journalist Megan Howe to unpack Equity’s latest survey findings, before hearing from drag artist Le Fil, who shares their first-hand experience of working in London’s late night economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Easter falling early this year, what should home cooks reconsider, and which restaurants are serving the best festive menus?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to the London Standard’s Going Out Editor and resident food critic, David Ellis, for tips on how to snag tables at great restaurants over the long weekend, plus festive recipes that you can prepare ahead of time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the release of Louis Theroux latest investigation, Inside The Manosphere, discourse has turned to a particular detail from the documentary — that the alpha male influencers had absent fathers. So, why has the focus shifted to single mothers?In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to Rebecca Cox, author of How To Be a Happy Single Parent, who argues that single mothers are being unfairly labelled as ‘toxic’ in the debate surrounding Louis Theroux’s new documentary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the early hours of Monday morning, arsonists set fire to four ambulances run by a Jewish charity in a synagogue car park in North London. The attack has shaken British Jewry, amid growing concerns over the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK. In this episode, host Tamara speaks to the CEO of Campaign Against Antisemitism, Gideon Falter, about the attack and its lead up. She also speaks to Rabbi Sandor Milun, the managing director of a Jewish volunteering charity, Gift UK, about the attack that took place in the car park of his synagogue.Photograph: Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.