The Edition: Britain’s fraying social contract – and what comes after Starmer?

The Edition: Britain’s fraying social contract – and what comes after Starmer?

From Best of the Spectator by The Spectator

April 30, 2026 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Britain's social contract, the rise of shoplifting, and the future of the Labour party after Starmer.

In this week’s podcast, William Moore is joined by The Spectator ’s economics editor Michael Simmons, assistant editor Isabel Hardman and Times columnist and Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips.  The panel unpacks Mary Wakefield’s cover story on the rise of shoplifting – and what it reveals about’ shameless Britain’. After a Morrisons manager was reportedly sacked for stopping a thief, they ask whether petty crime, fare-dodging and everyday rule-breaking are eroding the social contract. Also on the episode: Tim Shipman’s latest piece on Labour after Starmer. With Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband said to be thinking about what comes next, they debate whether the Prime Minister has lost authority – and whether Labour can choose between what its party wants and what voters want. And finally: after Green MP Hannah Spencer criticised Parliament’s drinking culture, the panel asks whether Westminster has a booze problem – or should we cut MPs some slack.  Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: William Moore

Guests: Michael Simmons, Isabel Hardman, Trevor Phillips

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour, Westminster, Sky News, The Spectator, Morrisons

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