Benefits system. Pic: Richard McKeever

According to a recent YouGov survey, two out of three people think the current benefits system is “unfit for purpose”.

The poll, commissioned by Channel 5, also revealed that a majority of people are in favour of tougher rules on who qualifies for benefits.

Despite these findings however, nearly half of those questioned believe that people who receive benefits are in fact portrayed unfairly.

With the representation of people claiming welfare once again a topical issue, owing in large part to the Channel 4 programme Benefits Street, East London Lines took to the streets of Lewisham to find what locals think.