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Hello and welcome to the edition, a spectator. We discussed three of the top stories in the week's magazine with the writers behind them.

I'm Katie Balls. This week, I found out how the capital can rebuild after the pandemic.

Also, Alex Massey explains how the new Tory leader in Scotland, Douglas Ross, can keep the United Kingdom together.

Finally, I speak to Francis Pike about why the looming conflict between India and China and the Bay of Bengal should matter to the West.

First, in this week's cover story, economist Gerard Lyons, says that with coronavirus cases in London down to 75 a day

and the city accounting for nearly a quarter of the country's total GDP, the capital needs to get moving again.

He joins me now alongside Simon Jenkins, author of a short

history of London and former editor of the Evening Standard. Gerard, in your cover piece this week,

you ask where London can survive. What are the unique challenges that the capital is facing as a

result of coronavirus? In terms of London, there's a whole host of issues.

I think the particular importance is London's significance to the UK economy.

London accounts for almost one quarter of the economy.

Therefore, in an economic recovery, what happens in London is vitally important.

But also, as I mentioned in the piece, it's not only London in its own right, but as the

GLA itself has highlighted a number of times in recent years, it's the interconnection between

London and the rest of the economy.

So as London recovers, it helps other parts of the economy.

That being said, clearly leveling up is very important.

That is, we need to not just focus on London, but we need to highlight the imbalances in the economy.

Naturally, they're not linked to this virus, but it's not a case of looking at London at the expense

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