[Stuart]

Just been reading this thread, and I have a few thoughts..

First. I do find the Bardsley's offensive. They *are* (IMO) spongers who should be stopped. It sounds like they might be now.

Second, we (I include myself in that) are making judgments based on a few news reports (which may be biased) and a few hours of entertainment television (after all, Wife Swap *is* light entertainment, it is not a documentary and is not researched as thoroughly as a documentary should be). They also try to inject a certain "shock" value into the programme*. The programme may also be biased.

Third, and before I say this, I will say I don't have much experience with depression. AFAIK depression comes in cycles. It's entirely possible that the times we have seen the father, he was just having a good day.

Fourth , I am suprised they got DLA initially. It is not easy to get .

Fifth, how stupid are they? Do they think the DWP staff (& fraud department staff) don't watch TV? Yet they still claimed despite being on TV..

Sixth, Assuming both are well enough to work, they should get jobs.


* Before you think I am slagging Wife Swap off, I am not.. I like the programme and am actually friends with a lady that started off as researcher (and has apologised for the Bardsleys) and is currently production co-ordinator. I liked the programme and was friends with the lady long before she started work on it.