Taking a trip down Benefits Street

Since Benefits Street hit the screens on channel 4 there has been uproar amongst the public, many complaints have ranged from ‘poverty porn’ to ‘old Victorian freak show’ and channel 4 aren’t backing down. They have defended themselves and the program itself by telling everyone exactly what it is, it’s a documentary and its real life, what’s there to apologise for?

If Britain is really that uneducated that it believes that everyone on benefits mirrors that of James Turners Street then clearly the issue isn’t channel 4’s documentary, but rather a lack of social class understanding and the way the world works.  Many have argued that the program portrays everyone on benefits as those who are shown on the program and that channel 4 is mocking the residents of the street. I think what’s really important here is to clarify that channel 4 and the production company ‘Love Productions’ have worked constantly with the people on James Turner Street for 2 years and have gone in depth into their lives and really researched these people. It hasn’t been a camera crew turning up for a few weeks, getting the dodgy bits and then buggering off.

Throughout the complaints there has been a high volume of Labour supporter’s and MP’s who have really shown their disapproval of the program. Now, we can all judge and say that it’s the peoples fault and yes to a degree it is. However, these people are earning more money on benefits than they would if they were working because of these ridiculous 91% tax rates that would be slammed on them if they were to get a job. I am in no way supporting the fact that they do not work but the Labour government has let people do this and earn more on the welfare system and now there’s a price to pay. What needs to happen is change, and if anything this program will do something about it or at least push MP’s further in the right direction. This is because a lot of viewers who are watching this program have never seen this depiction of the British in this way before. Don’t you think it is right that it’s shared with the country, rather than hiding it?

Despite the complaints, the program racked in 5 million viewers last Monday which is the highest they’ve had for any program this year! And I’m sure more will tune in tomorrow.  There are stories of single mums, thieves, immigrant workers and just your ordinary families and how they cope on benefits. It could be a love hate watch; you hate it so much that you just have to see what happens. Channel 4 has delivered once again and the program is what it intended to be, a good watch. Moreover for my last point, many have also argued that this is a poor representation of the working class. This statement could not be further from the truth. The program films the ‘non-working class’, and it by all means doesn’t even represent that – it’s just one street.  Just one street, where the majority of people are on Benefits.  This is something which people need to understand.

Do you agree?

I know that this is a really irate topic at the moment so I would really like to know your opinion. Thanks for reading,  J