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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think This Morning was wrong to shame this woman?

313 replies

MrsMattBomer · 07/01/2017 13:09

www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/phillip-schofield-blasts-benefit-scounger--9561308

Sorry, but what business does he have to decide what someone spends their benefits on? So what if she bought a bottle of Prosecco?

He says he doesn't care about the Prosecco but it's so obvious that he does. This is a man worth £2million sitting in his ivory tower and shaming a woman for buying a £4.99 bottle of Prosecco.

Is this what this country has become? A country where we deny people any pleasure or fun because they are on benefits?

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 07/01/2017 14:01

If nobody was prepared to claim to have 20 children and 100 TVs on benefits, the Daily Mail couldn't write articles about scroungers

When have the Daily Fail ever allowed the lack of accurate facts get in the way of a benefits story?!!!

Dawndonnaagain · 07/01/2017 14:01

Im sorry but a ten pound christmas bonus for being on benefits?
Why dont myself and the thousands of other nhs workers get a measley christmas bonus? Or even nicer a pay rise in line with inflation and other professions. The mind really does boggle.
You're complaining that someone on disability benefits or a pension, got a 10 bonus. What hasn't been made clear is that you don't get it on jsa. Perhaps you'd like a re-think?

Original poster
MrsMattBomer · 07/01/2017 14:02

dontbesillyhenry

Oh do get lost.

Most people on benefits don't get the bonus. You only get it on DLA, PIP, contributions-based ESA and some other ones. She gets the bonus because her partner, who she cares for, suffers from health issues from his time in the army and thus he is entitled to Armed Forces Independence Payment.

She also used to be a teacher. Whatever you think, she's paid her dues.

OP posts:
Wdigin2this · 07/01/2017 14:02

If you're on benefits, provided your DC are fed and cared for, you can spend money on what you want....your business! But the way she said 'Cheers taxpayers' , irritated me too! It wasn't a genuine thank you, it was a finger up to the society who pays people to do sod all, and pulls others down, when their trying to make something of theirs, and their family's lives!

daisychain01 · 07/01/2017 14:02

OK Cara, maybe she was being a GF but wouldn't you rather be in your perfect world than her less than perfect one?

Original poster
MrsMattBomer · 07/01/2017 14:03

Oh and dontbesillyhenry presumably you don't have to choose between eating and heating every week, do you? I won't begrudge anyone treating themselves to something costing LESS THAN A TENNER to make them happy for one day in an otherwise miserable year.

OP posts:
dontbesillyhenry · 07/01/2017 14:05

'Get lost'

Sorry I will think twice before discussing somewhat important issues with year 5's in future...

TheNaze73 · 07/01/2017 14:05

I think you're being unfair on Pip.

What he earns is irrelevant, he's as entitled to an opinion, as anyone.

He pays tax (and vast quantities of it too). The woman's attitude was he issue, not the wine

CaraAspen · 07/01/2017 14:07

The point still stands. The interviewer was not being a "twat" nor "nasty".
She was giving those not on Benefits at the moment - and therefore paying taxes - the middle finger. That was nasty. She was nasty. Simple.

CannotEvenDeal · 07/01/2017 14:09

Personally I cannot stand it when people ask AIBU and then pour scorn on those who disagree. Don't ask the bloody question then!

If you want to state your opinion that's obviously fine but it's not fair to ask a question and then make massive assumptions about those who hold different opinions as the OP has done all thread.

CaraAspen · 07/01/2017 14:09

It is NOT about begrudging her her bottle of wine, it is about her nasty attitude. Horrible woman.

amispartacus · 07/01/2017 14:10

presumably you don't have to choose between eating and heating every week, do you

I don't begrudge her spending £10 on wine.

I do worry about the debt she's built up for Christmas.Especially if she struggles to pay for eating or heating. I also have no idea why she was on the show - why was she on there?

MrsMattBomer · 07/01/2017 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

merrymouse · 07/01/2017 14:13

When have the Daily Fail ever allowed the lack of accurate facts get in the way of a benefits story?!!!

True, but they generally like to have somebody to photograph and a name.

Whether or not that person represents anything other than a desire to have their photo in the Daily Mail is another matter.

Dawndonnaagain · 07/01/2017 14:14

The woman's attitude was he issue, not the wine
However, he didn't need to make a further issue of it. Apart from which she has been looking after someone with a serious illness, and whilst being grateful for the fact that we live in a society that does provide some sort of safety net for those in such a situation; we do not need to publicly demonstrate our gratitude for a system into which we have paid for just such an eventuality.

Scoose · 07/01/2017 14:15

I'm sorry but you only have to google woman to see she's completely fame hungry and just wants to be on tv. I think she was trying to be inflammatory and then tried to back track when confronted.

Birdsgottafly · 07/01/2017 14:16

""I also have no idea why she was on the show - why was she on there?""

Possibly because she's now about to be published as an author and did get that in a few times in the interview.

I'm glad that they had someone on, who the benefit system was set up to support and after still facing criticism, she had the skills to argue her case and make it clear that what happened to her, could happen to anyone.

Usually PS and HW carry out the interview with pepino benefits at Jeremy Kyle, level, as in being GFers, knowing that the person isn't capable of defending themselves.

amispartacus · 07/01/2017 14:16

and just wants to be on tv

Yes...but what's the reason for her being on TV?
Did she say something on FB that got picked up?

CaraAspen · 07/01/2017 14:17

"Dawndonnaagain

The woman's attitude was he issue, not the wine
However, he didn't need to make a further issue of it. Apart from which she has been looking after someone with a serious illness, and whilst being grateful for the fact that we live in a society that does provide some sort of safety net for those in such a situation; we do not need to publicly demonstrate our gratitude for a system into which we have paid for just such an eventuality."

He was being a proper journalist, surely? He has already been sneered at here for being no Jeremy Paxman - not that the matter has anything to recommend him.

lottieandmia · 07/01/2017 14:17

YANBU. I didn't see this specific issue discussed.

But I DID see him trying to be an apologist for Jimmy Savile when it all came out about how he's a revolting and shameless sex offender. No decent person could have done that.

amispartacus · 07/01/2017 14:18

Possibly because she's now about to be published as an author and did get that in a few times in the interview

I can see why she WANTS to be on TV. But how did she come to the attention of the media so she could get publicity?

CaraAspen · 07/01/2017 14:19

" Dawndonnaagain

The woman's attitude was he issue, not the wine
However, he didn't need to make a further issue of it. Apart from which she has been looking after someone with a serious illness, and whilst being grateful for the fact that we live in a society that does provide some sort of safety net for those in such a situation; we do not need to publicly demonstrate our gratitude for a system into which we have paid for just such an eventuality."

He was being a proper journalist, surely? He has already been sneered at here for being no Jeremy Paxman - not that that should be a compliment. Lol

Roussette · 07/01/2017 14:21

Of course he's paying vast amounts of tax, anyone who thinks otherwise is totally deluded, green with envy and doesn't know how it all works. So according to you OP... PS 'has all his money offshore'. You've been reading too much nonsense somewhere. I know someone who sorts out tax affairs for some of the rich (and a couple of famous too!) and believe me, the amount a lot of high earners in the celeb world pay in tax is eye wateringly enormous. So, no, PScholfield wont be a non tax payer.

Gary Barlow and a couple of other TT legally shoved some money offshore, it went to court, the Judge ruled against him and they had to repay £50M in taxes because it couldn't be proved it wasn't a tax avoidance scheme, even though it was legal.

I found the benefits woman really quite patronising and I'm not sure what her point was apart from self publicity.

FeralBeryl · 07/01/2017 14:22

Your question isn't relevant to what you are discussing OP. He actually states in the clip that it's fine to spend her money on whatever she wants.
He clearly meant her goady comment. Of course that will antagonise a lot of tax payers. I'm bemused that you don't see this.
To disagree with you doesn't mean that posters want everyone on benefits eating stale bread and flogging themselves-far from it. I'm grateful to live in a country that has a welfare system, shoddy and badly planned though it is.
We are shit at protecting the truly vulnerable here Sad she is not one of them.
It's clear you just don't like PS, that's fine and you're entitled to your opinion on that.
I also think that the woman is generating publicity for her new book.

merrymouse · 07/01/2017 14:23

Isn't there a media requests part of mumsnet where researchers and journalists try to find people who will talk about various topics?

There must be plenty of other avenues on social media for finding people who are prepared to go on TV, particularly if you pay them.