Residents of the street made famous by Channel 4's Benefits Street have delivered their verdict on Rachel Reeves' financial blueprint for Britain, with opinions sharply divided between those welcoming a cash boost and others condemning the plans.
Mixed Reactions on James Turner Street
Inhabitants of James Turner Street in Winson Green, Birmingham, found themselves back in the political spotlight this week after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the Chancellor's proposal as "a Budget for Benefits Street".
The programme that first brought the street to national attention aired over a decade ago, featuring memorable characters including White Dee, Black Dee and Fungi, and reportedly showed a community where 90 per cent of residents claimed benefits.
The Budget measures included increased welfare expenditure and the abolition of the controversial two-child benefit cap, changes that have been met with both enthusiasm and criticism from those still living on the street.
Voices from the Community
Father-of-four Mohammed Freed, 48, who has children aged five, eight, ten and twelve, welcomed the additional support. "Extra money is always going to be a plus," he commented. "I've got four kids, so that's not a problem at all. We're actually quite grateful for it, it's a welcome bonus."
However, Mr Freed added an important caveat: "The problem is with our communities, we need education on how to use that money wisely. People go to takeaways and spend £6 on burger and chips, but they've got to pay for six or seven meals."
Ilyas Hussain, 49, a divorced father-of-four and market trader, said the extra funds would help his financially struggling ex-wife. "It affects me, I've got four kids so it definitely helps," he stated. "I know she has to work to be able to afford them. She's definitely happy with this."
Concerns and Criticism
Not all residents shared this positive outlook. Dorris Peynado, 100, who moved from Jamaica to Britain at 17, lamented how the street had changed over the years and called the cap removal "stupid".
"I've got children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The world is going mad with it," she said. "Spending thousands on kids like this. The street is no better. It's gone to the dogs."
An anonymous local mother criticised the Budget for favouring those out of work. "Ultimately it only benefits those who have loads of kids," she argued. "It just gives people an excuse. They don't even need to work, just have more kids. We work to fund them, they get to keep having them."
Another resident echoed these concerns: "There's families on our street who just keep popping them out. You can't stop them, these people just keep having more. It's going benefit them, not me."
Avtar Matharu, 83, a retired BT employee, suggested a compromise: "I think that up to two is OK, but you'll have to think about both sides. When you've got five or six children, you've got to think whether the government can afford it."
Mr Matharu, who has five children himself, added: "I think three should be the cap, beyond three is greedy. People produce these children willy nilly, they can't afford them. I worked hard to look after my five children."
Where Are They Now?
The documentary's cast members have experienced dramatically different fortunes since their television appearance.
Dee Kelly - known as White Dee - later appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and established the charity Birmingham Says No to Knife Crime and Youth Violence.
Tragically, James Clarke (Fungi) took his own life in 2019 at age 50 while struggling with a cancer diagnosis.
Samora Roberts (Black Dee) received a seven-year prison sentence in 2016 for possessing live ammunition and drugs.
Sherrell Dillion (SB) successfully launched a modelling career, appearing at Paris Fashion Week and in a film with Tom Cruise, though her son Terrell Boyce later received a murder conviction.
As the Budget measures prepare to take effect in April, the divided opinions on James Turner Street reflect wider national debates about welfare, responsibility and government spending priorities.
