Duncan Smith plunges the Tories into civil war

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 20.03.16
Publication Date 20/03/2016
Content Type

Iain Duncan Smith (IDS) resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary in the United Kingdom government on the 18 March 2016, denouncing £4bn of planned cuts to disability benefits as 'indefensible'.

However, commentators suggested there were other motives. The Pensions Minister Baroness Ros Altmann said on the 20 March 2016 that the resignation was really about the EU. IDS was a leading figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. She accused him of wanting 'to do maximum damage to the party leadership' to help his campaign to leave the EU.

However, sources close to Mr Duncan Smith insisted his resignation was not about the EU. There was also a suggestion that IDS wished to harm the political chances of Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne from becoming a future Conservative Party leader. George Osborne was campaigning for the UK to stay in the European Union.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.politico.eu/article/iain-duncan-smith-tories-resignation-civil-war-budget-brexit/
Related Links
BBC News, 20.03.16: Duncan Smith resignation 'was about EU' - Baroness Altmann http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35854735
BBC News, 19.03.16: Iain Duncan Smith quits over planned disability benefit changes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35848687
The Guardian, 20.03.16: Duncan Smith resigned because of EU not benefit cuts - minister http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/20/iain-duncan-smith-resigned-eu-not-benefit-cuts-altmann
The Conversation, 21.03.16: Iain Duncan Smith and George Osborne: a battle for the Conservative soul https://theconversation.com/iain-duncan-smith-and-george-osborne-a-battle-for-the-conservative-soul-56651
Website: Centre for Social Justice http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/
The Conversation, 20.03.16: Why Iain Duncan Smith resignation registers a six on the political Richter Scale https://theconversation.com/why-iain-duncan-smith-resignation-registers-a-six-on-the-political-richter-scale-56574
EurActiv, 22.03.16: ‘Civil war’ in Britain’s Conservatives hurts pro-EU finance minister http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/civil-war-in-britains-conservatives-hurts-pro-eu-finance-minister/
Conservative Home: Tag: Iain Duncan Smith http://www.conservativehome.com/tag/iain-duncan-smith-mp

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