A HULL woman has defended her decision to appear on a controversial television programme about living on benefits.
Leah Newton will be seen by millions of viewers on Channel 5's Benefits Britain: Life On The Dole on Monday night.
When programme-makers started filming in Hull in March it sparked criticism from residents and politicians, who claimed the city would be unfairly portrayed in a bad light.
There were fears it could tarnish Hull's reputation so soon after achieving UK City of Culture 2017 status and there were calls for residents not to co-operate with the programme.
However, 51-year-old Ms Newton has fiercely defended her decision to take part and told the Mail it was her opportunity to speak "the truth".
The council tenant, who lives alone with her dog, Molly, in east Hull, said: "I wanted to have my say and speak my mind.
"I've got my opinions. I can't help who I am. I've got nothing to hide.
"It's about time someone spoke up. Everything that has come out my mouth is true."
Asked whether she thought programmes like this could damage a city's reputation, Ms Newton said: "I'd say 'well, what is it that I've done wrong?' I'm not bringing Hull down.
"In Hull we've got the boxing and the rugby. I've said good things about Hull and the culture thing, but we are still forgotten on the estates.
"The MPs should listen to us all."
Ms Newton was filmed across several days in her house and garden and also in the corner shop in Newbridge Road, east Hull.
She said she spoke frankly on camera about "all sorts", including the impact of the so-called "bedroom tax", immigration and her dislike of the Government.
She said: "I spoke about the bedroom tax, and about David Cameron – I think I said I'd punch him in the face if I saw him.
"The bedroom tax stinks, it costs me an extra £12 a week and that is a lot out your dole. It hits you like that.
"There isn't enough houses since all this immigration.
"They want me to go in a flat. I'd rather burn myself and this house down then go in a flat.
"I said I blame the Government, they've all made mistakes."
Ms Newton said she also spoke about her difficulties getting a job.
"I tried, tried and tried to get a job," she said.
"I don't want to be at home all day because I'm cracking up.
"I want my independence back. I don't want to live off the dole for the rest of my life."
Benefits Britain: Life On The Dole follows programmes such as Channel 4's Skint and Benefits Street, which caused an outcry over how the areas and people living in them were portrayed.
However, Ms Newton said this programme "isn't like that".
She said: "It annoyed me they were all slagging the show off before it had even started. How could they even talk about it when they hadn't even seen it?
"It's down to earth, it's real.
"I trust them (Channel 5), and said 'if you stitch me up, I'll come looking for you'."
But she has not had an advance viewing of Monday's episode, which airs at 9pm, and admitted: "I am getting nervous now – I don't know what I've said half the time."
Hull North MP Diana Johnson has been highly critical of the decision to film the programme in Hull.
She said: "We'll see on Monday night whether our worries about how Hull will be portrayed, based on our past experience of many of these benefits 'documentaries' in recent years, will be well-founded or not.
"I'll be asking whether it adds anything new to viewers' understanding of the issues covered or whether the programme is just designed to attract a hostile response from the public, through showing an unbalanced, selective and stereotyped image of Hull."
