Hi everyone. On our cover this week is Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. A lot of people don’t like Kemi, but I admire her. Any black woman who grew up in Nigeria in an era of severe economic instability, with no running water or electricity, sometimes taking her own chair to school, who makes it to the top of a political party is to be applauded. I like how forthright and plain-speaking she is.
Dylan Jones, who interviews her, doesn’t think she’ll make it to the next election. He might be right, but I don’t think she should be underestimated.
It’s a privilege to put this paper together for you every week, curating an incredible encyclopaedia of all the best London has to offer. There are so many ideas in these pages on how to get the most out of the world’s most interesting capital city — I often find myself noting down tips by our contributors, whether it’s Yotam Ottolenghi’s favourite Malaysian restaurant or the best antique shops on Pimlico Road, plus of course what to watch, what to read, what to book.
Don’t miss our special report on Youth Demand, the militant climate group threatening to take down London this summer.
And as always, online and in print, we have so much more. Let me know what you think @annavanpraagh
The London Standard is available for free pick-up across the city from Thursday to Monday or you can read the digital edition online.
