Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett - News: Why is Middle Class Britain on the rob?

Download News: Why is Middle Class Britain on the rob?

We're doing a new thing on Ready to Talk: News - a short series of three episodes where we find the news stories that really pique your interest and get us all talking.

On this episode - why are some in middle class Britain swiping things from supermarkets and then bragging about their five-fingered discounts? While the former New York Police Chief tells us crime is crime and should be tackled, the man who used to advise Jeremy Corbyn argues this is the consequence of rich corporations making spectacular profits while we all tighten our belts.

And is Britney Spears worse off now she's free of the conservatorship that controlled her life? Does the #FreeBritney movement bear responsibility for her very public problems? We'll hear a defence of the fandom.

Ready to Talk News is a Long Form Audio production for BBC Sounds.

Published on Thursday, 7th May 2026.

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