Tower Block of Commons

[MeggiesandCarasmum]

Has anybody been watching this? It's on Mondays C4 9pm. It's about MPs going to live with families/individiuals on several Council estates all over Britain. One of them is the towerblocks by the A13 in Dagenham, the red and grey ones. Anyone who has ever driven that way will know the ones I mean. Anyway I have found it really interesting so far. I can't believe how some people are made to live, it's really opened my eyes. I naively thought that a family of four would not be left to live in a one bedroom flat by the Council but it appears I am wrong. I swing from shock at the conditions people have to live in to annoyance at some of them when I see one woman spending £42 of a £150 weekly family budget on cigarettes!! However it is good to see MPs being asked how they could justify their expenses claim though. Wonderful (irony here) to see the Labour MP refuse to live on jobseekers allowance because aparently it's not about him struggling! Er, that's the point, moron!

I have probably rambled here and no one is watching it lol.

[sheeina]

I agree. it was a change of feeling the whole way through.
but some people do play the system.
i know for sure if i had no money to put carpet on the floor or connect my gas cooker buy the children a base for the bed i wouldnt be smoking a fag, a joint or have the internet and a computer. but on the same level its not fair that these children are brought up in these conditions.
i know people have to have a outlet but really i coked on my tea when she said you have a budget of £150 for nappies food etc and when he got it in on budget she blew the whole amount on fags, surely the shoes that her daughter wears but cant play in rain as her feet get wet need to be replaced before her habit???? (but the little girl said "im happy to get these for my birthday" THEY HAD A HOLE IN THEM!!!)but what on earth is that women moaning about him claiming for 2 irons when she claims a house. tax, money and some other stuff??? they are both living off the working class.
MP and the goverment must notice a trend in some paterns with some families? if this is the case why are they aloud to claim JSA for 2 years? work at macdonald!!!!! its the fact they are better of not working. free house, free council tax, milk tokens, grants. but on the flip side the women who lost her house becasue they stopped her housing benefit really should not have been put in the postion after 15 years. they wreaked her life because a changed in policy????
im sure people have the same feeling of thats not right but omg you really think that while watching this.

[Jenn]

OOOhh! sounds interesting? Is it a series then? Will look out for it!

[nubs]

I watched this last week but missed this weeks, I thought that the MP that went to Dagenham that week really put himself out whereas a couple of the others are not putting the effort in as they are going back to their posh pads. I understand what you are saying Sheeina, my kids have everything they need before I put my hand in my pocket for myself, I have never been unemployed even when I moved to Northern Ireland without a job to go to I was on holiday with my previous employer and got a job the next day of arriving and started the day after that, and when I moved back I done the same and was employed within 2 weeks. I think that their are some people on benefits who abuse the system and they know how to play the game to get what they need. I often think that history repeats itself a lot of the time, and if an impressionable teenager sees their parents sitting at home drinking and smoking not making the effort then they can often think well I will do the same.

I just wish that the government would start to help their own or those who have paid into the system rather than those who come into the country seeking asylum, surely there must be a limit, The work I have been doing this morning pratically everyother person was of no fixed abode and foreign meaning no payment for treatment received.

[XxjacksmummyxX]

Ohh yeah we have been watching this, really opens your eyes.

[rachel jane]

I have been watching it aswell! I don't really like to judge people on benefits because i know people in that situation and some people can't help it and they feel bad about it. I also know people who are taking the pi** with benefits and i am sure they will get in trouble its just a matter of time.

[sheeina]

i fully agree with you rachel. some people cant help it! and its a shame sometimes lives are ruined because of the system.
but it does always seem the cheeky buggers who claim for things that they shouldnt never get caught out while if i was to claim free school dinners id surly be court out. lol.
i think its only on for one more week Jenn

[Jeanette]

I haven't seen the programmes but will look out for he repeats. Sounds interesting.

[artyfartymack counting down the hours till bedtime]

I havn't watched it but it sounds up my street. I live on a council estate and see families squeezed into unsuitable accomodation all the time and yet other smaller families coming in from abroad are getting brand new housing association accomodation, something is totally wrong with this country. I also see kids hanging around street corners in grotty clohes making trouble for hemselves whils heir pares sit on their arses smoking and drinking their benefits away. This countries benefis sysem is totally up the creek.

[Kelly1983]

I havn't watched it but it sounds up my street. I live on a council estate and see families squeezed into unsuitable accomodation all the time and yet other smaller families coming in from abroad are getting brand new housing association accomodation, .

Yeh same where i am