We’ll vote for whoever keeps our benefits! Shameless benefits scroungers in Britain’s ‘most deprived’ seaside town say they don’t care who wins election… as long as they get their free cash

Benefits scroungers in a seaside town described as one of the ‘most-deprived’ in Britain have told MailOnline they don’t care who wins the upcoming general election as long as they continue to get their cash.

The unemployed in Jaywick, Essex are claiming ‘thousands of pounds’ a month of taxpayer’s cash and say they will vote for whoever can make the system ‘easier’ – while locals complain there are jobs, people just don’t want them.

The majority say they plan to support the Conservatives when the nation goes to the polls on July 4, with the one condition being the system for benefits remains the same. Some are also looking to back Labour, in the belief they may be even more generous.

Working people from the town want a new government to create a benefits crackdown and help rid the area of crime, anti-social behaviour and drugs issues.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – currently trailing in the polls with the Conservatives by some 25 points – called a snap election this week during a sodden speech outside Downing Street. 

Paul Redwood, 44, has claimed benefits – including Universal Credit and disability allowance – for six years. He said: ‘I’m happy the way things are. The last thing I want is any sort of change to the system.

Jaywick, Essex is one of the most deprived towns in the UK – but locals say there are jobs available, people on benefits just don’t want them

Alison McGuire, 36, has lived in the town for eight years, says she is ‘happy’ with the benefits she receives

‘The systems can be quite complicated arranging the different benefits. But I have got my head around it.

‘I’d really like things to stay the way they are, so I will probably vote Conservative. I am not really bothered about anything else, just as long as I am looked after.’

Alison McGuire, 36, has lived in the town for eight years, and said she would also vote Tory.

She said: ‘I am happy with the benefits I am on. There’s not any jobs around here so I need them.

‘I’d vote Conservative purely because I am happy with the money I get at the moment. I would not want it to change. It’s good for me.

‘It used to be a bit complicated, now it’s OK. There’s no point changing something which works so well.

‘I see Labour are ahead in the polls though. I hope they keep the benefits system the same.’

Alison did say Jaywick itself needed some changes. She added: ‘There’s not enough to do for young people around here.’

Michael Corner, 56, has been on benefits for 20 years. He said: ‘The system was easier under Labour, so I will be voting for them. I can’t find a job. I still contribute to society. I will be voting Labour and that is that.’

But locals who do work were keen for a change to the benefits system.

Tina Fewell, 55, said: ‘Me and my husband have owned our own home here for 18 years. Things need to change.

‘The area is blighted by drug dealing and drug taking. It’s awful. There are plenty of jobs for people if they want to work.

Roy Stevens, 73, said it was time to give Labour a go, adding the country needs change ‘locally and nationally’

Tina Fewwell, who is employed, said Jaywick is plagued by drugs issues and anti-social behaviour

‘The area needs so many improvements. It’s a real shame. There’s a lot of anti-social behaviour and all sorts.

‘I think there needs to be a change nationally.’

Disabled Roy Stevens, 73, said it was time to give Labour a go. Roy, who has lived in the town for 10 years, said: ‘We’ve got to change. Nationally and locally – I don’t think much will though.

‘Nobody cares about Jaywick. The best way Jaywick could be improved would be if they knocked it all down and started again.

‘Other than that, not a lot of difference will be made.’

His call for change comes as the number of people of working age in Britain that are economically inactive hit 9.4million, meaning they are neither employed nor looking for work.

At the end of last year, 4,000 applications for sickness benefits were being made every single day.

Chris Patient, 36, previously told MailOnline he had no desire to work and was happy on his benefit payments, which includes £393 a month of Universal Credit.

Speaking before the general election was announced, he said: ‘It is plenty to live on for me. I enjoy my life.

‘A job might be nice but not at the moment. Maybe if a supermarket was open I could get something. 

Chris Patient, 36, told MailOnline he had no desire to work and was happy on his benefit payments, which includes £393 a month of Universal Credit (pictured, a derelict bulding in Jaywick)

An aerial shot of the seaside town of Jaywick, Essex which is one of the most deprived towns in the UK 

‘There are no jobs around here but I do not want one anyway.

‘There’s a lot of unemployed people here and a lot of jobs in the wider area go to European workers.’

Martin Thomas, 44, has been unemployed for four years and has lived in the Jaywick area all his life.

He said: ‘I get a few thousand a month on the benefits I am on. It’s very good.

‘I don’t feel I can work at the moment. I enjoy my life here. I chill out and look at the sea a lot and do my shopping.

‘There’s no jobs around here which pay as well as the benefits I am on do. So why would I want one?’

Ryan Parkinson, 44, has been unemployed and on benefits for three years.

He said: ‘There are no jobs here. Nobody is taking people on. I earn more on benefits than any job I might get anyway.

‘Jaywick itself is in a bad state. The roads are full of potholes and it’s very depressing. More money needs to be spent on it.’

Jaywick was recently ranked the most deprived town in England by the Office for National Statistics who uses ‘indices of multiple deprivation’ (IMD) to determine their scores (pictured, dumped furniture piled outside a home in Jaywick)

Ken Tubby, 62, (pictured) has blasted the work shy attitude of the unemployed in Jaywick 

Jaywick was recently ranked the most deprived town in England by the Office for National Statistics who uses ‘indices of multiple deprivation’ (IMD) to determine their scores. 

The Essex seaside town recieved an IMD score of 92.7 out of 100, the worst in the country. 

But retired locals have blasted the ‘work shy attitude’ of the unemployed in Jaywick, claiming even though the seaside town is in a deprived area, there are opportunities to work. 

Ken Tubby, 62, from Jaywick told MailOnline: ‘If you want to get a job here, they are available.

‘If you want one, you’ll get it. The area is full of drug users. It’s very depressing seeing it. It’s the harsh reality of life.’

Retired tour manager Joyce Howe, 72, added: ‘It’s shocking. It is very depressing. I’ve always worked but people here don’t seem to.

‘I have lived here for ten years and it’s a widespread problem.

‘There’s more European workers. They keep the local and British economy going.’

The Essex seaside town received an IMD score of 92.7 out of 100, the worst in the country

Jaywick-on-Sea, Essex is now full of disused buildings and boarded up shops 

Retired locals have claimed even though the seaside town is in a deprived area, there are opportunities to work

The overall welfare bill for the British taxpayer currently stands at £297 billion and it is projected to climb to £360 billion over the next five years — the equivalent of 11 per cent of Britain’s entire economic output. 

Over the same period, spending on sickness benefits is expected to rise from £66billion to more than £90billion.

MailOnline also spoke to locals living in two other towns that were ranked among the worst ten deprived areas in the UK by ONS – where people say the ‘unemployed need to get back to work’ and ‘improve the situation for those already living there’. 

For the few tourists passing through Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, the market town might seem like the perfect place to stop for a coffee. 

But the boarded-up shops in between the bistros and cafes tell the story of a sad decline.

Many residents say the town centre exists only to serve what little remains of the tourist trade, while locals feel like ‘prisoners’ in aging terraced houses without facilities. 

Stephen Killick, 71, said:  ‘I have lived in Gainsborough all my life. It is an absolute s*******.

‘There is nothing to do and the shops are all shutting. Meanwhile, they are spending millions on a new cinema when no one went to the one which is already closed anyway. 

Stephen Killick, 71, (pictured) has lived in Gainsborough all his life and blasted the state of the town

Many residents say the town centre (pictured) exists only to serve what little remains of the tourist trade while locals feel like ‘prisoners’ in aging terraced houses without facilities

The boarded-up shops in between the bistros and cafes tell the story of a sad decline in Gainsborough

‘They might be dreaming of a new shopping centre but the place is dead. People just don’t want to work.’ 

Rubbing his hands together, he added: ‘Why should they? When they are getting free money?’ 

Kebab shop worker Alfie Martin, 19, said: ‘I have not got the best job in the world but it pays and I think more people could work around here. 

‘There are some amazing jobs being advertised online but people can be very lazy about searching for them when they are on the dole because they know they can get by on benefits.’

Dental nurse Sue Smith, 27, added: ‘I have lived here for five years and there is not a lot to do. 

‘You have to go to Doncaster to find any decent shops because most of them are closed in the town centre. 

‘I wanted to take my daughter swimming at the local leisure centre but it is very run down. 

‘The inside is gross with mould and leaking ceilings and the changing rooms are disgusting. 

‘So I would not let my daughter swim there. But there are virtually no other facilities for local children. There very few parks. 

A terraced home on a suburban street in Gainsborough has its door boarded up 

Kebab shop worker Alfie Martin, 19, (pictured) said he thought more people around Gainsborough could work 

The new shopping quarter that has reportedly been the death of town centre shops

‘The houses are old and many of them have issues with mould and damp. I only moved here to be closer to my parents who help me with my two and four year old.’

Grangetown, just south of Middlesborough, in Teesside has a population of just over 6,000 and has been ranked the seventh most deprived area in the UK by ONS. 

Many people in the area are known to be claiming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which allows them extra benefits if they have additional care or mobility needs.

However, some residents believe the system is being abused. 

David Watson is on benefits and while the 42-year-old is about to start a new job, he says many more in his position have no motivation to work.

He said: ‘The situation is a joke. We need to get more people off sick leave but I think some are happy with the benefits they’re on and choose not to work.

‘Drugs is a big problem in the area and so many people are off sick.

‘Everyone around here seems to be on the PIP list but they don’t want to work.

‘People have the attitude that they will have more money in their pocket if they do claim.

‘People are on up to £700 a month on benefits and they seem to be happy with that.

Grangetown, just south of Middlesbrough, in Teesside has a population of just over 6,000 and has been ranked the seventh most deprived area in the UK by the ONS

Many in the area are known to be claiming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which allows them extra benefits if they have additional care or mobility needs (pictured, a home with boarded up windows and a derelict roof)

Many residents were once employed by Southbank Steelmaking Plant before it was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2022, which triggered a steep decline in employment

‘They need a nudge to get back in the workplace but it doesn’t happen and they’re happy to take the benefits.’

A large number of residents were once employed by Southbank Steelmaking Plant before it was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2022, which in turn triggered a steep decline in employment.

Eric Fletcher, 71, recently retired after a long career which saw him do multiple jobs including work in the steel industry.

He said: ‘I worked all my life until I was 70 and I don’t believe these people should be getting as many benefits as they are getting.

‘This PIP thing is a disgrace. If they have problems they can claim it but it seems like anything counts towards it. I know people who claim it but they are on drugs.

‘But then again why should these people find work if they are on good benefits, it’s all wrong.

‘I’m comfortable because I worked all my life but there’s lots who don’t work. This area in general is getting worse. It’s bad for people on motorbikes and drugs.

‘The Government are making it easier for people not to go to work and some people are just lazy.’

A abandoned building in Grangetown, Teesside that has seen a steep decline in employment 

Locals have called on people to get off benefits and into work to revive the town in Teesside

Particularly striking is the pattern of worklessness among young people. 

One recent survey by this paper showed that in the 16 to 24 age group, 280,000 people are in receipt of unemployment benefits — twice as many as a decade ago, and 50,000 more than before Covid struck.

And it appears that the younger generation are more likely to be afflicted by negativity about their mental health.

Research by the Resolution Foundation revealed that the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who are economically inactive due to mental health has more than doubled in the past decade from 93,000 to 190,000.