
UK Meningitis outbreak and Starmer’s abortion policy shame
From Planet Normal by The Telegraph
March 19, 2026 · 1h 10m
About this episode
The episode discusses the UK's meningitis outbreak, energy crisis, and a controversial abortion policy while featuring guest Linden Kemkaran on illegal migration issues.
You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QVXFsa07Rpo In this week’s dispatch from the sanctuary of sweet reason, co-pilots Pearson and Halligan examine a growing sense of national insecurity as Britain faces a perfect storm of energy, military, and financial fragility, and the unfolding meningitis outbreak. With oil climbing back above $100 a barrel and the Strait of Hormuz remaining shut, Liam argues that it is time for the government to junk the ‘Net Zero virtue signalling’ and urgently greenlight drilling in the North Sea. Allison discusses her recent column on a controversial clause in the Crime and Policing Bill that would effectively ‘decriminalise’ abortion up to birth. Labelling the move ‘legalised infantcide’ she and Liam explore the ethical implication of late-term viability, drawing on Allison’s moving personal experiences and her observations from a neonatal ICU. The duo are joined in the rocket by Linden Kemkaran, the Reform UK leader of Kent County Council. Representing the ‘border county’ at the forefront of the small boats crisis, she discusses her decision to declare an ‘illegal migration emergency’ and her demand for the government to…
People in this episode
Hosts: Liam, Allison
Guest: Linden Kemkaran
Topics covered
- meningitis outbreak
- abortion policy
- energy crisis
- military fragility
- financial insecurity
- illegal migration
Keywords
- meningitis
- abortion
- energy crisis
- illegal migration
- Crime and Policing Bill
- North Sea drilling
- Linden Kemkaran
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Reform UK, Kent County Council, The Telegraph
Books & works: Crime and Policing Bill
Places: Britain, North Sea, Strait of Hormuz
More episodes of Planet Normal
- Civil unrest will only get worse if people’s concerns remain ignored · June 10, 2026 · 1h 3m
- 10 years on from the Referendum, have we even had Brexit yet? · June 3, 2026 · 1h 12m
- Blair is talking sense on this Lefty Labour Party, and Starmer should listen to save them · May 27, 2026 · 1h 2m
- Labour drags us further to the '70s and Burnham stokes the psychodrama · May 20, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Is Starmer’s Labour drama as fleeting as Streeting’s bid for PM? · May 13, 2026 · 1h 3m
- Inflation threats to consumer prices and Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough! · May 6, 2026 · 1h 4m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Planet Normal podcast page.