
‘Bring back shame!’ – is Britain’s social contract broken? | with Trevor Phillips
From The Edition by The Spectator
April 30, 2026 · 43 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the erosion of Britain's social contract through issues like shoplifting and political authority within the Labour party.
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. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more. For more Spectator podcasts, go to…
People in this episode
Host: William Moore
Guests: Michael Simmons, Isabel Hardman, Trevor Phillips
Topics covered
- social contract
- shoplifting
- petty crime
- Labour party
- Westminster drinking culture
- political commentary
Keywords
- Britain
- shame
- shoplifting
- social contract
- Labour
- Westminster
- politics
- crime
- commentary
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Morrisons, Sky News, The Spectator, Parliament, Westminster
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