£2000-a-month benefits mum hits back: ‘My eight kids would be lost without welfare’

Marie Buchanan was slammed on This Morning for giving birth to children she 'can't afford'

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by Kayleigh Dray |
Published on

David Cameron​ has vowed to reduce the annual benefits cap from £26,000 to £23,000 if the Conservatives are re-elected in the upcoming general election.

And one person who is against this idea is mother-of-eight Marie Buchan.

Marie, who claims her family struggle to survive already with benefits being slashed, sat down with Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley on ITV's This Morning.

"I didn't choose to be left alone"

She explained to the duo - and viewers - how she is now being forced into finding part-time work to make ends meet.

Arguing that she is costing the state less money by not working, Marie said: "I didn't choose to be left alone.

"I have an interview tomorrow at the job centre… I’ve been told if I get 16 hours work I would be entitled to full rent, full council tax, and child care costs, so I’d be taking a lot more from the state than what I’m claiming now if I was to go back to work… because I have eight children to look after.”

During the show, This Morning ran an online poll which 4,000 people took part in.

It asked viewers thoughts on whether the benefit’s cap should be reduced from £26,000 to £23,000 - 60% said YES and 40% said NO.

Via ITV

However Phillip made clear that these results were not reflected in the comments that the programme received from viewers, explaining that they are ‘overwhelmingly against’ with the majority asking ‘how dare you have eight children and expect us to pay for them?’

Marie responded by saying: “That’s a very hard question.

"I didn't choose to be left on my own.

"I’m bringing up eight children on the benefit I’m getting now so that money coming out the pot now to raise eight children, and my children will go to school, go to college, go to university, get the best jobs and will be then putting back into the system. Hopefully.”

"Most mothers work; whether they're single mother or married mother, they go out and work… because that is the right thing to do"

Phillip said: “But there could be eight more benefit claimants…?”

Marie finished: “Hopefully not. And by the time they all grow up I bet you benefits [are] gone. Without a doubt.

"It’s getting to that point where nobody will be able to get benefits and in a way, should it happen, it will open people eyes and you’ve got to go to work.

"And I’m eager to work, and they said ‘no’ because my face is known [from the papers], they wouldn’t employ me.”

Via ITV

Marie was joined on the sofa by Julia Hartley-Brewer, who believes the caps are a good thing and you shouldn't have children if you can't afford to bring them up from your own finances.

She slammed Marie's attitude, saying: "You made the choice to have each one of those children.

"You and your partner broke up, two kids ago. You chose to have two more kids as a single mum on benefits.

"You could have gone, 'do you know what? I'm on benefits. I can't afford the kid - I've got the rest of the country is paying for this kid.

"'Do you know what? Most mothers work; whether they're single mother or married mother, they go out and work… because that is the right thing to do.'"

What do you think - should the annual benefits cap be reduced? Should mothers only give birth to children they can afford to pay for themselves?

Let us know via the comments box below now.

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