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| What happens when the Queen dies? Our live look at the week | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.23pm GMT | |
| 14:23 | |
| The secret plan for the days after the Queen’s death | |
| Jonathan Shainin | |
| The idea for this week’s big long read – on the spectacularly detailed plans for the days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II – was first discussed last November. Every month or two, the long reads editors meet with a few of our regular writers for lunch at a pub near the office – a chance to chat over future ideas, and plot long-term projects. | |
| When our conversation at this particular lunch turned to the question of how the media would cover the eventual death of the Queen, and how many organisations had elaborate plans already in place, we quickly realised there was a much bigger story here. | |
| The bigger story is not just the elaborate and detailed plan held by the palace, decades in the making, but the taboo about discussing it. As Sam Knight writes: | |
| And yet this taboo, like much to do with the monarchy, is not entirely rational, and masks a parallel reality. The next great rupture in Britain’s national life has, in fact, been planned to the minute. It involves matters of major public importance, will be paid for by us, and is definitely going to happen.Of course, we were concerned that some people might see the simple act of publishing an article about the death of the Queen as a provocation. But Sam spent months reporting this story, digging in archives and interviewing dozens of broadcasters, government officials, and former palace staff who had worked on “London Bridge”, as the funeral plans are known – and readers seem to have responded, above all, to the astonishing level of care and detail in an extraordinary piece of reporting. | |
| What do you think? Is there anything more you wish we had added? | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.29pm GMT | |
| 2.02pm GMT | |
| 14:02 | |
| Our photos of the week | |
| Joanna Ruck | |
| We always love the Holi festival on the picture desk, it provides us with such a range of bright, joyful images, and at least we don’t have to wash that paint out of our clothes. | |
| Continuing the colourful theme, it’s been a bright week for frogs as researchers in South America have discovered the first case of natural fluorescence in a tree-frog. | |
| After a long week, the weekend is almost in touching distance | |
| 2.01pm GMT | |
| 14:01 | |
| Sarah Marsh | |
| It’s great to see everyone so enthralled by Osborne’s latest career move. I encourage you all to keep chatting about it below the line. We are going to move on though as we’ve got lots of other great stuff lined up. | |
| 1.47pm GMT | 1.47pm GMT |
| 13:47 | 13:47 |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| One reader points out that Osborne will have a lot on his plate: | One reader points out that Osborne will have a lot on his plate: |
| Just so I've got this straight... Osborne is working: | Just so I've got this straight... Osborne is working: |
| - four days a week on the Standard as a Londoner through and through - one day a week for Blackrock - at least five days a week as MP for his beloved northern constituents - on a weighty tome - in a senior role for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership - in some capacity for the John McCain Partnership - as a regular on the speeches circuit | - four days a week on the Standard as a Londoner through and through - one day a week for Blackrock - at least five days a week as MP for his beloved northern constituents - on a weighty tome - in a senior role for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership - in some capacity for the John McCain Partnership - as a regular on the speeches circuit |
| He's also married with two teenaged children. I'm going out on a limb here, perhaps, but I suspect they're not getting all that much quality time with their father. Unless - heavens forfend! - Osborne's not actually intending to devote himself fully to his work commitments, for instance as an MP. | He's also married with two teenaged children. I'm going out on a limb here, perhaps, but I suspect they're not getting all that much quality time with their father. Unless - heavens forfend! - Osborne's not actually intending to devote himself fully to his work commitments, for instance as an MP. |
| 1.22pm GMT | 1.22pm GMT |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| George Osborne is shock choice for Evening Standard editor | George Osborne is shock choice for Evening Standard editor |
| Martin Belam | Martin Belam |
| I’m guessing that Osborne has been hired along the lines of a permanent guest editor of the Today programme. It’s a good publicity stunt, and he’ll vaguely direct the kinds of lines and features he wants, and then the people under him will have to keep the newspaper operation running along as normal. Certainly it is an early start to get a paper out for lunchtime in the capital, and I’m unconvinced that Osborne will be able to be that hands-on first thing in the morning. His new colleagues didn’t look exactly thrilled at the prospect. | I’m guessing that Osborne has been hired along the lines of a permanent guest editor of the Today programme. It’s a good publicity stunt, and he’ll vaguely direct the kinds of lines and features he wants, and then the people under him will have to keep the newspaper operation running along as normal. Certainly it is an early start to get a paper out for lunchtime in the capital, and I’m unconvinced that Osborne will be able to be that hands-on first thing in the morning. His new colleagues didn’t look exactly thrilled at the prospect. |
| Hurricane George hits the Evening Standard. pic.twitter.com/65MVdGPRya | Hurricane George hits the Evening Standard. pic.twitter.com/65MVdGPRya |
| The appointment also illustrates a broader point about meritocracy in our society. An already rich white man, with one of the most expensive educations you can get in the UK, being parachuted into a prominent top job with no prior experience. And yet, time and time again, when you ask people why they can’t employ more women, or people from a more diverse ethnic background, you’ll hear the excuse that there is “a problem with the pipeline”, that there “just aren’t enough qualified candidates”. We could do with there being a problem in the pipeline for mediocre white men. | The appointment also illustrates a broader point about meritocracy in our society. An already rich white man, with one of the most expensive educations you can get in the UK, being parachuted into a prominent top job with no prior experience. And yet, time and time again, when you ask people why they can’t employ more women, or people from a more diverse ethnic background, you’ll hear the excuse that there is “a problem with the pipeline”, that there “just aren’t enough qualified candidates”. We could do with there being a problem in the pipeline for mediocre white men. |
| It also raises the question of the relationship between our politicians and the media that are meant to hold them to account. Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, and now George Osborne have all to a greater or lesser extent combined a career in politics with a bit of window dressing of being a journalist. The move makes it just that little bit easier for populists to tar media and politics with the same “elites” brush, and argue that you can’t trust either of them. | It also raises the question of the relationship between our politicians and the media that are meant to hold them to account. Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, and now George Osborne have all to a greater or lesser extent combined a career in politics with a bit of window dressing of being a journalist. The move makes it just that little bit easier for populists to tar media and politics with the same “elites” brush, and argue that you can’t trust either of them. |
| Still, on a personal note, the move has been an inspiration. I’ve always been a bit shy of pitching Leyton Orient stories to our sport desk at the Guardian, fearing that as a season-ticket holder and vocal fan on Twitter, I had compromised my impartiality. But if George reckons you can be a sitting Conservative MP, a paid advisor to a finance company, and a newspaper editor without a problem, maybe I should relax. | Still, on a personal note, the move has been an inspiration. I’ve always been a bit shy of pitching Leyton Orient stories to our sport desk at the Guardian, fearing that as a season-ticket holder and vocal fan on Twitter, I had compromised my impartiality. But if George reckons you can be a sitting Conservative MP, a paid advisor to a finance company, and a newspaper editor without a problem, maybe I should relax. |
| 1.08pm GMT | 1.08pm GMT |
| 13:08 | 13:08 |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| It’s great to hear all your comments on Osborne’s new job. Here are a selection of some of them: | It’s great to hear all your comments on Osborne’s new job. Here are a selection of some of them: |
| Oh dear, oh dear. The man who made such an inept job as Chancellor appointed as editor of the London Evening Standard. I guess there is no point asking just how he is qualified for this role since he was clearly unqualified for his previous job. This will not end well and whatever reputation for accuracy and honesty in that publication will quickly go down the tubes. | Oh dear, oh dear. The man who made such an inept job as Chancellor appointed as editor of the London Evening Standard. I guess there is no point asking just how he is qualified for this role since he was clearly unqualified for his previous job. This will not end well and whatever reputation for accuracy and honesty in that publication will quickly go down the tubes. |
| Interesting comments from Hugh Muir. Very succinct points. It does make me wonder if Osborne can last as the editor of a cosmopolitan city such as London. | Interesting comments from Hugh Muir. Very succinct points. It does make me wonder if Osborne can last as the editor of a cosmopolitan city such as London. |
| Londoners rejected a Conservative government. I think it important that Londoners also reject a conservative editor in charge of one of the most widely distributed London based newspapers. | Londoners rejected a Conservative government. I think it important that Londoners also reject a conservative editor in charge of one of the most widely distributed London based newspapers. |
| 12.52pm GMT | 12.52pm GMT |
| 12:52 | 12:52 |
| Is this a sign Osborne plans a bid for mayoralty and City Hall? | Is this a sign Osborne plans a bid for mayoralty and City Hall? |
| Hugh Muir | Hugh Muir |
| It’s not often that cream of British journalism is taken completely but surprise but it happened today with the unveiling of George Osborne as the new editor of the London Evening Standard. It has been clear in recent days that the former chancellor would not settle for a quiet life on the backbenches. There was much discussion about his £200,000 a year contract with Black Rock and the fortunes he has been making as an after dinner speaker. But few would have predicted a detour into daily journalism. | It’s not often that cream of British journalism is taken completely but surprise but it happened today with the unveiling of George Osborne as the new editor of the London Evening Standard. It has been clear in recent days that the former chancellor would not settle for a quiet life on the backbenches. There was much discussion about his £200,000 a year contract with Black Rock and the fortunes he has been making as an after dinner speaker. But few would have predicted a detour into daily journalism. |
| So once again, Osborne is the story and he once again becomes the subject of thorny questions. Can the MP for Tatton also edit a daily publication without short changing both constituents and readers? Can the newspaper maintain any hope of political objectivity with a former Tory big beast at the helm? It’s worth remembering that the Standard was sharply criticised for its highly partisan coverage of the mayoral campaign between the Tory Zac Goldsmith and Labour’s Sadiq Khan. At a time when Khan is demanding more resources and powers from a Tory government, will the Standard - run by a Tory backbencher subject to the Tory whip - support him? Will Osborne be sufficiently in tune with a largely liberal readership in London? The Standard at the outset of the Lebedev proprietorship, felt obliged to apologise to its readers amid the perception that the paper under Veronica Wadley’s leadership had done too much to ape the Daily Mail and lurched to far to the right. And then, there is the bigger question. Osborne is a big fan of powerful city and regional mayors; might this – with Westminster prominence now denied him – be a platform for a future tilt at the mayoralty and City Hall? | So once again, Osborne is the story and he once again becomes the subject of thorny questions. Can the MP for Tatton also edit a daily publication without short changing both constituents and readers? Can the newspaper maintain any hope of political objectivity with a former Tory big beast at the helm? It’s worth remembering that the Standard was sharply criticised for its highly partisan coverage of the mayoral campaign between the Tory Zac Goldsmith and Labour’s Sadiq Khan. At a time when Khan is demanding more resources and powers from a Tory government, will the Standard - run by a Tory backbencher subject to the Tory whip - support him? Will Osborne be sufficiently in tune with a largely liberal readership in London? The Standard at the outset of the Lebedev proprietorship, felt obliged to apologise to its readers amid the perception that the paper under Veronica Wadley’s leadership had done too much to ape the Daily Mail and lurched to far to the right. And then, there is the bigger question. Osborne is a big fan of powerful city and regional mayors; might this – with Westminster prominence now denied him – be a platform for a future tilt at the mayoralty and City Hall? |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.52pm GMT | at 12.52pm GMT |
| 12.35pm GMT | 12.35pm GMT |
| 12:35 | 12:35 |
| Guardian readers | Guardian readers |
| Lots of you are sharing some rather fascinating views on our plastic bottle problem below the line, here’s a few: | Lots of you are sharing some rather fascinating views on our plastic bottle problem below the line, here’s a few: |
| I live on the coast, I am always upset to see the amount of plastic discarded. | I live on the coast, I am always upset to see the amount of plastic discarded. |
| A deposit scheme certainly wouldn't hurt. | A deposit scheme certainly wouldn't hurt. |
| I have lived in Central Africa, there was a shortage of glass bottles, the bottles and contents had about the same value, did you ever see a empty bottle lying around, Nope never. Plus when you were broke at the end of the month, you could take a dozen empties back to the shop and get 6 full ones in exchange. | I have lived in Central Africa, there was a shortage of glass bottles, the bottles and contents had about the same value, did you ever see a empty bottle lying around, Nope never. Plus when you were broke at the end of the month, you could take a dozen empties back to the shop and get 6 full ones in exchange. |
| If London only recycles 15% of it's plastic bottles does the same equate for other recycling, glass/paper/cans etc? | If London only recycles 15% of it's plastic bottles does the same equate for other recycling, glass/paper/cans etc? |
| What's the issue with Londoners? | What's the issue with Londoners? |
| If London is really at 15% it the reason why we're missing our EU target. | If London is really at 15% it the reason why we're missing our EU target. |
| Something for Khan to take a look at. | Something for Khan to take a look at. |
| More needs to be done upstream in the production of plastic, rather than target consumers with advice around recycling. Manufacturers need to incorporate environmental impacts and targets for plastic production, and governments need to introduce better legislation for industry around recycling and types of plastics which can be used. Schemes such as recycling plastic which rewards the consumer that have proven successful elsewhere should be introduced. Most recycling efforts are targeted at consumers, which misses a huge part of the problem - production. | More needs to be done upstream in the production of plastic, rather than target consumers with advice around recycling. Manufacturers need to incorporate environmental impacts and targets for plastic production, and governments need to introduce better legislation for industry around recycling and types of plastics which can be used. Schemes such as recycling plastic which rewards the consumer that have proven successful elsewhere should be introduced. Most recycling efforts are targeted at consumers, which misses a huge part of the problem - production. |
| 12.28pm GMT | 12.28pm GMT |
| 12:28 | 12:28 |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| In a move that’s shocked many, George Osborne has been appointed as the new editor of the London Evening Standard. Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the daily paper, announced the appointment on Twitter, saying he was “thrilled” at the news, and described the Cheshire MP as “London through and through”. Osborne, who has no significant journalistic experience, plans to continue as MP for Tatton. | In a move that’s shocked many, George Osborne has been appointed as the new editor of the London Evening Standard. Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the daily paper, announced the appointment on Twitter, saying he was “thrilled” at the news, and described the Cheshire MP as “London through and through”. Osborne, who has no significant journalistic experience, plans to continue as MP for Tatton. |
| What do our readers think? Share your views and comments with us | What do our readers think? Share your views and comments with us |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.28pm GMT | at 12.28pm GMT |
| 12.24pm GMT | 12.24pm GMT |
| 12:24 | 12:24 |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| We will be moving on shortly to the surprise news that George Osborne is the new editor of the Evening Standard. Would be great to get readers thoughts on this? | We will be moving on shortly to the surprise news that George Osborne is the new editor of the Evening Standard. Would be great to get readers thoughts on this? |
| 12.08pm GMT | 12.08pm GMT |
| 12:08 | 12:08 |
| What can we do about plastic bottle waste? | What can we do about plastic bottle waste? |
| Susanna Rustin | Susanna Rustin |
| No one knows exactly how many plastic bottles get thrown away in the UK each year, but estimates suggest around 10 billion – or 500 per family. Just half of these get recycled – that is, shredded and melted down into polyester or more plastic containers. The rest are a menace. By 2050, plastic could outweigh fish in the sea. | No one knows exactly how many plastic bottles get thrown away in the UK each year, but estimates suggest around 10 billion – or 500 per family. Just half of these get recycled – that is, shredded and melted down into polyester or more plastic containers. The rest are a menace. By 2050, plastic could outweigh fish in the sea. |
| Other countries do much better, partly thanks to “deposit return schemes”, where shoppers get some money back when they return their empties. Last month Coca- Cola delighted campaigners in Scotland by agreeing to support a pilot there. Now a committee of MPs is investigating what the government should do. | Other countries do much better, partly thanks to “deposit return schemes”, where shoppers get some money back when they return their empties. Last month Coca- Cola delighted campaigners in Scotland by agreeing to support a pilot there. Now a committee of MPs is investigating what the government should do. |
| This is great news, as British recycling is a complete mess. We are doing less, not more of it (43.9% at the last count), with England the worst offender. Wales, at 61%, has already overtaken the EU’s target of 50% by 2020). | This is great news, as British recycling is a complete mess. We are doing less, not more of it (43.9% at the last count), with England the worst offender. Wales, at 61%, has already overtaken the EU’s target of 50% by 2020). |
| In London, where I live, the rate is as low as 15%. Blindingly obviously, something must be done. I suggest streetside plastic bottle banks, a government ad campaign (surely it’s not a hard sell, with all those poor turtles and sea birds being poisoned and strangled to death?), and – call me a dreamer – public drinking-water fountains in stations, leisure centres, libraries and parks. | In London, where I live, the rate is as low as 15%. Blindingly obviously, something must be done. I suggest streetside plastic bottle banks, a government ad campaign (surely it’s not a hard sell, with all those poor turtles and sea birds being poisoned and strangled to death?), and – call me a dreamer – public drinking-water fountains in stations, leisure centres, libraries and parks. |
| 11.55am GMT | 11.55am GMT |
| 11:55 | 11:55 |
| Welcome to our social | Welcome to our social |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| It’s time for our weekly social, where we discuss the week’s news and comment articles with readers. Is there anything you want to discuss in particular today? If so, then let us know below the line or drop an email here: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com. Look forward to getting started after a week that has brought up much to talk about in the realm of politics and a new line-up of GBBO presenters. | It’s time for our weekly social, where we discuss the week’s news and comment articles with readers. Is there anything you want to discuss in particular today? If so, then let us know below the line or drop an email here: sarah.marsh@theguardian.com. Look forward to getting started after a week that has brought up much to talk about in the realm of politics and a new line-up of GBBO presenters. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.56am GMT | at 11.56am GMT |