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The Government's defence of the national emergency alert. This is Why
Posted
August 17, 2026
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August 17, 2026
2,731
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18:14Now PlayingWhere were you at 7pm on Friday? Wherever you were, it’s likely you heard a loud alert activated on millions of mobile phones.
It was the biggest use yet of the government’s emergency alert system, warning of the dangers posed by wildfires across England and Wales.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the use of the measure, encouraging the public to take it seriously. But was it more red herring than red alert?
Should the system only be used if there is an imminent threat to life? Did it expose vulnerable people to potentially more danger? And what does it tell us about the way the Burnham government communicates?
Niall is joined by Jo Tanner, a former adviser to Boris Johnson and now a director at PR firm Rud Pedersen.
Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
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