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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think it is ridiculous that a woman with 11 kids is getting a £400,000 house for nowt

999 replies

angelos02 · 19/02/2013 09:59

Especially when most working people couldn't never afford to live somewhere costing that much?
Link: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280385/Home-fit-dole-queen-Mother-11-gets-BRAND-NEW-400-000-house-built-council-shes-struggling-current-homes.html

OP posts:
PearlyWhites · 19/02/2013 12:14

Maybe you could buy her a goat as a housewarming gift.

countrykitten · 19/02/2013 12:14

mrsjay what a weird suggestion! Tenants may change over time - is flatbread to refurb every time this happens? Her property, her choice I would have thought.

This debate is simlilar to those over immigration - voice any concern and one is automatically branded a racist. I do think that political debate is 'growing up' with the immigration thing and it can be mentioned in public now without the debate being shut down completely. Maybe debates about the benefit culture will follow suit but on MN it appears that one cannot express concern about the way in which this person lives funded by the state whilst also caring about what happens to the children involved. Express concern and be branded heartless. It is a bit juvenile really.

Catchingmockingbirds · 19/02/2013 12:16

flatbread because social housing tenants will be in their property for longer than someone in a private let as it is a secure tenancy.

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:16

mrsjay what a weird suggestion! Tenants may change over time - is flatbread to refurb every time this happens? Her property, her choice I would have thought.

I dont think it is so weird i cant imagine refurb every year or so if you have a secure tenant then why not ask for their input

slug · 19/02/2013 12:16

Ask yourself what choices a woman who had her first child at 14 has? This is someone who, by virtue of her age when she had her first child, was a victim of sexual assault. She was a child. And she continued to have children while still a child.

Rather than blame her for choices which, in retrospect, she didn't actually have, should we not be questioning the system that allowed a 14 year old to have a baby then keep on having babies? I don't imagine she had much in the way of an education, nor I suspect, many employment prospects once you get to 18 with 3 or more children already. But I guess it's easier to blame a woman who was pregnant repeatedly before she was at the age of consent than to blame the "men" who took advantage of a vulnerable girl.

gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2013 12:16

no people are asking for alternative solutions - no sensible ones are forth coming - ergo housing her 11 kids in decent accommodation seems fair ...

thebody · 19/02/2013 12:17

Joey Maynard managed 11 children and added one adopter and 4 wards.

Easy peasy!!! Sorry in the chalet school again!!

alemci · 19/02/2013 12:17

she is a silly irresponsible woman with badly dyed hair. I feel sorry for her children with a role model like her. Her only 'talent' seems to produce children.

Yes it is unfair on people who cannot afford to have a bigger family due to rent/mortgage concerns but I don't think I would want her lifestyle and small children under my feet.

she is being given her moment of fame and is saying stupid things which make her look big, worthy and important which she certainly isn't.

Auntmaud · 19/02/2013 12:17

But chatty

" She's not single she has a partner living with her. Surely one could work and still claim part benefits. Of course these stories get people's backs up there are 5 (6 if you include the 16year old) who could be working you can't tell me 4 working adults could not afford to support and provide for the whole family"

There are NO jobs, not anywhere, not at all, not ever. FGS, how can you not KNOW this?? wring hands and weeps for the goats

gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2013 12:18

people with silly hair get free goats shocker Hmm

MrsDeVere · 19/02/2013 12:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/02/2013 12:19

Bloody Daily Fail.

I am sure it will change very soon though as benefits are going to be capped to 3 kids.

I really worry about these families when this comes in as it's the children who will suffer.

countrykitten · 19/02/2013 12:19

There are plenty of people about with badly dyed hair...relevant?

EllieArroway · 19/02/2013 12:20

Express concern and be branded heartless. It is a bit juvenile really

Quote the post where anyone has been "branded heartless". You've been asked what your alternative suggestion is to giving this woman a big enough house for her children to live in.

It's all very well going off on one about the benefits culture (and/or immigration) but unless you're suggesting viable alternatives then it's nothing more than a rant, is it? Now that is what is juvenile.

angelos02 · 19/02/2013 12:21

Schro well the families will have to, shock horror, provide for their OWN kids.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 19/02/2013 12:22

"so rent - you have the same choices as her - if your income is low you can claim housing benefit"

Do you really think it is that simple?

Most private landlords do not accept Housing Benefit.

My stepdaughter and her child have been living in a shithole of a DSS bed and breakfast for nearly a year now because she is not classed as a priority for being housed. No doubt if she got pregnant again she would go higher up on the list for getting a place, but she is capable of using contraception and would rather not bring another child into the world for someone else to support.

Also, how many of those 11 children that the woman in the article has will go on to put much back into society? My guess would be none. They will follow in their mothers footsteps and keep the ever increasing drain on the economy going.. perhaps if being rehoused every time you recklessly have another child was stopped and you had to live in an overcrowded house, some people might think twice before having more children than they can afford.

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:23

I was a wee bit bored so I read the article it is hardly a mansion is it, there is houses like that near me normal 3/4 bedroom houses hers just has another few rooms and bathrooms can you imagine 1 bathroom for 11 children Shock

Flatbread · 19/02/2013 12:23

Bloody hell, Lougle, that is a sweet deal indeed!

I would love to have someone pay me to extend my property and add a conservatory...

I am happy for you though Grin

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/02/2013 12:24

Angels What kind of job do you think you would need to support 11 kids? A fucking good one and there's no way this person will be able to do that.

Can you imagine the childcare costs of working?

It's not the kids fault she can't keep her legs shut.

AmberLeaf · 19/02/2013 12:25

As a social housing tenant she wont have housing benefit paid to her directly.

secretofcrickleyhall sorry, are you saying you actually don't yet have children/nursery fees to worry about? I read it at first as you being weary and fed up with the expense?

squeakytoy · 19/02/2013 12:26

"Rather than blame her for choices which, in retrospect, she didn't actually have, should we not be questioning the system that allowed a 14 year old to have a baby then keep on having babies?"

Contraception?

Of course she had choices. She could have chosen not to keep getting pregnant.

angelos02 · 19/02/2013 12:26

schro I couldn't afford to have 11 kids, so I don't have them. Odd that.

OP posts:
RedwingOnFire · 19/02/2013 12:26

And why can't working people afford something costing that much? Because we're getting squeezed for every last penny by the rich and powerful time and again, but yes, let's focus on the little things that are used as a smokescreen.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/02/2013 12:27

But the damage is done, she's had all those kids in a system that will support them. If the cap had been there before she might not have had them but now it's the children who will suffer.

littlemisssarcastic · 19/02/2013 12:28

Well either the mother or her partner are going to have to find work before long.
I'm not sure it's possible for this family to live on £500 a week without the DC suffering a lot. Sad