This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35850932

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Stephen Crabb replaces Iain Duncan Smith Stephen Crabb replaces Iain Duncan Smith
(35 minutes later)
Stephen Crabb has been appointed as the new work and pensions secretary, after Iain Duncan Smith resigned on Friday.Stephen Crabb has been appointed as the new work and pensions secretary, after Iain Duncan Smith resigned on Friday.
Mr Duncan Smith had said the latest planned cuts to disability benefits were "not defensible" in a Budget that benefited higher-earning taxpayers.Mr Duncan Smith had said the latest planned cuts to disability benefits were "not defensible" in a Budget that benefited higher-earning taxpayers.
David Cameron said he was "puzzled and disappointed" that Mr Duncan Smith had decided to go when they had agreed to have a rethink about the policies.David Cameron said he was "puzzled and disappointed" that Mr Duncan Smith had decided to go when they had agreed to have a rethink about the policies.
Alun Cairns is replacing Mr Crabb as secretary of state for Wales.Alun Cairns is replacing Mr Crabb as secretary of state for Wales.
An ally of Mr Duncan Smith said he had been driven to resign by a "high-handed and short-termist political approach" to cuts by the Treasury. An ally of Mr Duncan Smith suggested he had been driven to resign by a "high-handed and short-termist political approach" to cuts by Chancellor George Osborne.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government's latest moves to reduce disability payments were "simply not fair, not right" and it was wrong to finance tax cuts for the better off by "taking money away" from those with disabilities.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government's latest moves to reduce disability payments were "simply not fair, not right" and it was wrong to finance tax cuts for the better off by "taking money away" from those with disabilities.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Chris Mason, BBC political correspondentBy Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent
Before he was ousted as Conservative leader in 2003, Iain Duncan Smith was dubbed "the quiet man". But there was nothing subdued or understated about the manner of his departure last night.Before he was ousted as Conservative leader in 2003, Iain Duncan Smith was dubbed "the quiet man". But there was nothing subdued or understated about the manner of his departure last night.
Instead, a zinger of a resignation letter, designed to inflict maximum damage on Chancellor George Osborne; a relationship that had long been testy, tested to destruction by this week's Budget.Instead, a zinger of a resignation letter, designed to inflict maximum damage on Chancellor George Osborne; a relationship that had long been testy, tested to destruction by this week's Budget.
By questioning, as the Conservatives' critics have long done, the Tory slogan to justify cuts - "We are all in this together" - Mr Duncan Smith knowingly provided the government's opponents with ammunition.By questioning, as the Conservatives' critics have long done, the Tory slogan to justify cuts - "We are all in this together" - Mr Duncan Smith knowingly provided the government's opponents with ammunition.
For a man with ambitions to lead his party, these have been difficult days for George Osborne.For a man with ambitions to lead his party, these have been difficult days for George Osborne.
This morning David Cameron woke to a vacancy in his cabinet and a wound inflicted on his government.This morning David Cameron woke to a vacancy in his cabinet and a wound inflicted on his government.
In his Budget on Wednesday, Chancellor George Osborne had said the government would be spending an extra £1bn on the disability budget but changes to benefits announced a few days earlier had suggested the government would save £4.4bn on this by 2020-21.In his Budget on Wednesday, Chancellor George Osborne had said the government would be spending an extra £1bn on the disability budget but changes to benefits announced a few days earlier had suggested the government would save £4.4bn on this by 2020-21.
They included changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), due to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in January 2017, that were expected to save £1.3bn a year and sparked outcry from opposition parties and some Tory MPs. They included changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), due to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in January 2017, that were expected to save £1.3bn a year, but sparked an outcry from opposition parties and some Tory MPs.
On Friday, prior to Mr Duncan Smith's resignation, a government source said the planned changes would be "kicked into the long grass". On Friday, before Mr Duncan Smith resigned, a government source had said the planned changes would be "kicked into the long grass".
Who is Stephen Crabb?Who is Stephen Crabb?
Baroness Stroud, who worked with Mr Duncan Smith in government and now heads the Centre for Social Justice think tank, which he founded, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Iain came into government... in order to deliver a social justice agenda, a reform agenda of the welfare state. Baroness Stroud, who worked with Mr Duncan Smith at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and now heads the Centre for Social Justice think tank, which he founded, told the BBC: "Iain came into government... in order to deliver a social justice agenda, a reform agenda of the welfare state.
"He always used to say to me, 'I'm here in order to deliver reform and to protect the poorest'."He always used to say to me, 'I'm here in order to deliver reform and to protect the poorest'.
"Yesterday he felt that he could no longer protect the poorest... This is a step too far.""Yesterday he felt that he could no longer protect the poorest... This is a step too far."
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, an ally of Mr Duncan Smith, said: "A lot of colleagues will be extremely annoyed at this explosion but they will not be surprised.Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, an ally of Mr Duncan Smith, said: "A lot of colleagues will be extremely annoyed at this explosion but they will not be surprised.
"I think the high-handed and short-termist political approach that the chancellor has tended to take to the management of other departmental budgets has tested the patience of more than one minister.""I think the high-handed and short-termist political approach that the chancellor has tended to take to the management of other departmental budgets has tested the patience of more than one minister."
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told Today he was also "disappointed" by Mr Duncan Smith's resignation but the welfare reform programme would "go on". Another Conservative MP, Stephen McPartland, said he would "not be shedding any tears for the evangelical, aggressive and routinely failing welfare reforms that were the personal fiefdom" of Mr Duncan Smith.
"I don't always see eye to eye with the Treasury, but it is disingenuous to blame them, when the problem was always in my experience at the very heart of the DWP," he said.
Frank Field, who chairs the Commons work and pensions committee, said: "Behind this is a much, much bigger drama of which Iain was the driver... What he crucially cared about was the balance of resources going to families and children and older people.Frank Field, who chairs the Commons work and pensions committee, said: "Behind this is a much, much bigger drama of which Iain was the driver... What he crucially cared about was the balance of resources going to families and children and older people.
"The pensioner element, the biggest part of the Budget, was safeguarded and in fact increased."The pensioner element, the biggest part of the Budget, was safeguarded and in fact increased.
"And therefore all these cuts were on people of working age and it's this point that Iain thinks the social contract between generations is being broken.""And therefore all these cuts were on people of working age and it's this point that Iain thinks the social contract between generations is being broken."
'A compromise too far'
In his resignation letter, Mr Duncan Smith said: "I have for some time and rather reluctantly come to believe that the latest changes to benefits to the disabled and the context in which they've been made are a compromise too far.In his resignation letter, Mr Duncan Smith said: "I have for some time and rather reluctantly come to believe that the latest changes to benefits to the disabled and the context in which they've been made are a compromise too far.
"While they are defensible in narrow terms, given the continuing deficit, they are not defensible in the way they were placed within a Budget that benefits higher earning taxpayers.""While they are defensible in narrow terms, given the continuing deficit, they are not defensible in the way they were placed within a Budget that benefits higher earning taxpayers."
He added: "I am unable to watch passively whilst certain policies are enacted in order to meet the fiscal self imposed restraints that I believe are more and more perceived as distinctly political rather than in the national economic interest." Replying to Mr Duncan Smith, Mr Cameron said there had been collective agreement between "you, No 10 and the Treasury" that "the increased resources being spent on disabled people should be properly managed and focused on those who need it most".
Replying to Mr Duncan Smith, Mr Cameron said there had been collective agreement that "the increased resources being spent on disabled people should be properly managed and focused on those who need it most".
"That is why we collectively agreed - you, No 10 and the Treasury - proposals which you and your department then announced a week ago," he said.
'Not about Europe'
"Today we agreed not to proceed with the policies in their current form and instead to work together to get these policies right over the coming months. In the light of this, I am puzzled and disappointed that you have chosen to resign.""Today we agreed not to proceed with the policies in their current form and instead to work together to get these policies right over the coming months. In the light of this, I am puzzled and disappointed that you have chosen to resign."
Mr Cameron's letter also highlighted that they were "on different sides in the vital debate about the future of Britain's relations with Europe".Mr Cameron's letter also highlighted that they were "on different sides in the vital debate about the future of Britain's relations with Europe".
Sources close to Mr Duncan Smith, who wants the UK to leave the EU, say his resignation was not about Europe.Sources close to Mr Duncan Smith, who wants the UK to leave the EU, say his resignation was not about Europe.
Guto Bebb becomes under secretary of state at the Wales office, replacing Mr Cairns.Guto Bebb becomes under secretary of state at the Wales office, replacing Mr Cairns.
Have you been affected by this story? What are your thoughts on the resignation and new appointment? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form below