The UK’s growing heatwave problem. Plus: Would a social media ban actually work?

About this episode

Ali and guest Ros Taylor discuss the UK's heatwave problem and the implications of a social media ban while covering recent political scandals.

Ali is presenting from Makerfield today, but he’s joined by Ros Taylor, writer, journalist and podcaster to cover the top stories of the week. The Week Unwrapped: Former SNP Chief, Peter Murrell, Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Party Funds Earlier this week, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. Murrell, who is also the estranged husband of previous first minister Nicola Sturgeon, used illicit party funds to purchase luxury goods including jewellery, two cars and a motorhome . Ros and Ali discuss how the SNP have survived the scandal , whether Sturgeon deserves to be scrutinised and some of Murrell’s questionable purchases.  Robert Kenyon’s Old Social Media Accounts Exposed Last week, Reform UK announced local plumber, Robert Kenyon, as their candidate in the Makerfield by-election. However, several social media accounts linked to Kenyon have come under scrutiny , after a series of historic posts resurfaced online. Some posts attributed to the account appear to express controversial views on issues including Covid vaccines and immigration as well as degrading comments about women…

People in this episode

Host: Ali

Guest: Ros Taylor

Topics covered

• UK heatwave
• SNP scandal
• social media scrutiny
• political vetting
• Labour party
• current events

Keywords

• heatwave
• Peter Murrell
• social media
• Reform UK
• SNP
• politics
• Labour party
• controversial views

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Reform UK, Scottish National Party

Books & works: Soft Power

More episodes of Politics Uncensored

• The UK Defence Secretary Resigns. Plus: Violence in Belfast and Albania’s Backlash Against a Jared Kushner Backed Hotel Development · June 11, 2026 · 49 min
• Footage of Henry Nowak’s murder sparks national outrage. Plus: The rising level of youth unemployment · June 4, 2026 · 48 min
• Is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor the Ultimate Nepo Baby? · May 21, 2026 · 48 min
• Andy Burnham Paves the Way to Challenge Keir Starmer for Labour Leadership. Plus: The Politics of Eurovision · May 14, 2026 · 48 min
• Local elections day: Why Local Politics Matters and Nigel Farage's £5mil Crypto "Gift" · May 8, 2026 · 50 min
• Local elections day: Why Local Politics Matters and Nigel Farage's £5mil Crypto "Gift" · May 8, 2026 · 50 min