This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary were forced to intervene after Martin Lewis and Nick Ferrari clashed during a fiery on-air debate about shoplifting.
During Thursday’s show, Hammond and O’Leary kicked things off by explaining that shoplifting figures are at an all-time high.
Former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James responded by saying that, as England is one of the richest countries in the world, no-one should be living in an environment where they are forced to steal baby formula to feed their child.
James also noted that shoplifting is down to gangs, but that poverty is a huge factor.
LBC host Ferrari disagreed with Ashley's stance, saying: "Most of it is down to gangs. To Ashley's point, I totally disagree. No one needs to steal. That is incredibly rude to people who are watching this and who are counting every penny.
“They don't go out and feel the need to steal, they find a way to balance the books."
He added: "There is no possible justification to break the law."
Resident money expert Lewis, was not having any of it however.
"Where I need to pick you up Nick, where you are factually incorrect, is the idea that most people find a way to balance the books,” he said.
"The statistics currently show that over 50 percent of people who go to citizens advice bureau for money and debt help, even after they've had the expert professional advice there, are still deficit budgeting at the moment."
"Martin, does that mean they can nick," the veteran broadcaster interjected. Lewis continued: "In other words, their minimum expenditure is higher than the income they have."
Ferrari countered: "So they can nick from Tesco and Sainsburys can they?" Lewis reiterated that Ferrari’s point about balancing the books was factually incorrect, adding: "It's a massive tragedy in this country, we have a real issue with poverty."
Providing an example, Lewis proceeded to tell a story about a woman who was forced to steal a loaf of bread because she wasn't able to feed her children. The woman then returned the following week and left an envelope with the money and a note explaining why she stole it.
Unconvinced, Ferrari replied: "But briefly, Martin, do you support people who nick the loaf of bread and don't send the money back in an envelope?"
Lewis shot back: "I don't support a society that enables people to be living in the level of poverty where they don't have enough food to feed their children."
It was then down to Hammond and O’Leary to try and defuse the situation by cutting the debate short and sending the daytime programme to an ad break.
