Super scrounger mum-of-eight Marie Buchan who whinged about getting her £26,000 benefits slashed is finally getting a job – as a CAR MECHANIC.
Shameless Marie – dubbed ‘Octo-mum’ for her huge brood – sparked fury when she claimed she was being “forced to work” after her benefits were reduced.
The 33-year-old moaned about the Government’s plans to slash the benefits cap from £26,000 to £23,000 which she said would leave her young family on the breadline.
But Marie, who hasn’t worked for more than seven years, has now revealed she is starting a new career as a mechanic.
The former lap-dancer is on a two-day-a-week course at Bournville College in Birmingham and plans to set up a mobile business aimed at women.
The move comes just days after it emerged Marie, whose eight children range from two to 14, has hired a PR agent to cash in on her notoriety.
Barry Tomes, who also represents Benefits Street’s White Dee, is now in charge of looking after the single mum’s public image.
He said: “Marie is very ambitious, contrary to some people’s belief she is not lazy.
“She wants to work and has enrolled on a two-day-a-week college course where she is learning to be a mechanic.
“She is currently at Level One but will progress onto Level Two soon.
“She wants to set up a mobile mechanic business where she will attend callouts in a van.
“It is aimed at women who struggle to do the basics when it comes to car maintenance such as changing tyres, repairing windscreen wipers and changing water and oil.
“She is determined to work and be successful.”
Marie, who lives in a four-bedroom house in the leafy suburb of Selly Oak, Birmingham, rakes in £26,000-a-year in benefits, which is £500 every week.
The mum-of-eight claims she ‘works’ a 21-hour day between 6am and 3am caring for children and scours eBay, car boot sales and charity shops for bargains.
She used to work as a cleaner but had to quit because she was struggling to get her children ready in the morning.
And Marie also attended a course for an NHS job but was told she couldn’t take up her place as her youngest child wouldn’t be entitled to childcare.
But now it has emerged the mum is set to cash in on a new TV career after her agent revealed he is in talks with ITV about filming her setting up a mechanic’s business.
Mr Tomes added: “Marie is very ambitious, even more so than Dee Kelly.
“She has eight children and obviously they are her priority.
“But she receives good support from her ex-partner who helps to look after the children during holidays and at the weekend.
“Marie is excellent in front of the camera and I think she could have a TV presenting career.
“She would be excellent on This Morning or Lorraine.
“She is a very likeable young woman with a great personality.”
Marie also appeared on Jodie Marsh On Benefits on TLC on Thursday (19/11) where she told the former glamour model about the abuse she faces.
She said: “They say there’s that woman off the TV with all the f***ing kids.
“They think I am sat here taking money, money, money, it is not like that.
“I don’t hold my hand out and say you need to give me all this money for all my kids, it’s them saying this is what you need to live on.
“I didn’t have an agent originally, I didn’t understand it. I have an agent now to cover my back and look after for me.”
* Marie first hit the headlines in 2013 when she claimed Government cut-backs could leave her and her giant brood homeless.
Last Christmas, she caused outrage as she defended her right to shower her eight children with piles of Christmas presents as she appeared on Channel 5’s Benefits Britain: Life On The Dole
And earlier this year Marie begged David Cameron not to cap benefit hand-outs and said she was being forced to work.
