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Iain Duncan Smith's resignation fallout - politics live Duncan Smith slams Osborne and Cameron: 'this is not the way to do government' - live
(35 minutes later)
9.53am GMT
09:53
IDS insists his resignation is not personal attacks against Osborne.
Would George Osborne make a good prime minister? “I would hope he would,” he said.
He calls talk of a coup “piffle”. “I would not stand for leader or support someone who could stand for leader now.”
9.51am GMT
09:51
IDS said he understood the “need to eradicate the deficit because the people who suffer most people are people on lowest incomes.”
But he said the government had to “widen the scope” in the ways in which it tried to get the deficit down, not just by targeting working age benefits.
He suggested the working age benefits were targeted because “it doesn’t matter because [people on benefits] don’t vote for us. But they are people, people who I want to help get into work.”
9.46am GMT
09:46
IDS said current policy was leading to division between generations. We can’t go on taking money out of working age benefits, he says, hinting the government should look again at the “triple lock” on pensions.
I am resigning because I want my government to think again about this. This is not some secondary attempt to attack the prime minister, or about Europe.
Updated
at 9.47am GMT
9.44am GMT
09:44
IDS didn't speak up in cabinet at 8am on Budget Day because didn't know about cuts to capital gains tax. 'It was the juxtaposition' #Marr
IDS to Marr: I felt about resigning last year, I got more and more depressed about arbitrary welfare cap
IDS rightly points out the £4.4bn disability cuts are 'in the Red Book' of the Budget. Treasury + No10 have yet to explain how they won't be
9.43am GMT
09:43
IDS said he was “passionate about issue of social justice” but felt “increasingly isolated and detached” from Number 10.
“I sat silently at 8 o’clock during the Budget [cabinet meeting],” he said, after insisting he had been considering his position over many weeks and months. “It gave me time to think about this. I thought long and hard and I wanted to put out a statement saying i would consult more. By Friday I really decided that this was the end.
“It is a very peculiar way to set policy, to tell everyone to go out and defend the policy and then by Friday evening say you had kicked it into the long grass.”
IDS says he was increasingly angry about the unfairness of tax cuts juxtaposed with welfare cuts, and the ideology behind budget cuts. “It wasn’t about Wednesday or Friday. It was about that agenda.”
Updated
at 9.45am GMT
9.38am GMT
09:38
IDS is on the Marr sofa now. He says after Christmas the pressure began to grow because of the Budget, to get a definitive answer on the consultation over welfare changes.
He felt under “massive pressure” to “rush” the consultation, whilst being unaware of other forthcoming tax cuts for higher earners. He calls the budget cuts to this department “arbitrary.”
Updated
at 9.51am GMT
9.34am GMT
09:34
On any other day this would be a huge story. David Laws has made some explosive claims about the NHS during the coalition years - claiming NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens told the government categorically that he could only find half of the £30bn demanded in efficiency savings.
The £22bn savings made were more than Stevens had thought were affordable, he said. Laws said Downing Street put pressure on Stevens over the funding crisis in the NHS.
“I’m not criticising Simon [Stevens] but I think he was leant on,” Laws said.
9.25am GMT
09:25
David Laws, the former Lib Dem minister, is the first interviewee with Andrew Marr this morning. He has a book out on his time in the coalition.
“It’s no secret that they were not allies,” Laws said of Osborne and IDS. Osborne had always viewed welfare budgets as “cash cows waiting to be squeezed,” he said, with IDS always more resistant, despite being seen as on the hard-right of the party.
David Laws highlights running sore btw Osborne + Duncan Smith under coalition, with chx regarding welfare budget as a "cash cow" #Marrshow
9.20am GMT
09:20
Here’s a recap of the scene in Westminster as Downing Street braces for IDS’ first interview since his dramatic resignation.
He seems to want to do maximum damage to the party leadership in order to further his campaign to try to get Britain to leave the EU.
As far as I could tell, he appeared to spend much of the last few months plotting over Europe and against the leadership of the party and it seemed to me he had been planning to find a reason to resign for a long time.
I have found him exceptionally difficult to work for. It has been a hugely challenging time for me as he was preventing me from speaking to the public and has often been obstructive to my efforts to resolve important pension policy issues such as on women’s pensions.
Iain always conducted himself in a professional, dedicated and determined manner. He actively encouraged Ministers and teams to engage, challenge and develop ideas. We were to be ourselves, our judgement backed as we worked as a team both for DWP and the Government.
Iain has always provided support and encouragement in all aspects of my work in DWP. All meetings with our Ministerial team have been constructive and every Minister has had the freedom to take forward policy ideas in their brief, to lead media campaigns and engage freely with parliamentary colleagues.
9.16am GMT9.16am GMT
09:1609:16
IDS is on Andrew Marr’s sofa and we’re expecting to hear from him later in the programme.IDS is on Andrew Marr’s sofa and we’re expecting to hear from him later in the programme.
He won’t have the last word on the matter today, senior Tory figures are across the airwaves today. Here’s who is coming up on the Sunday programme.He won’t have the last word on the matter today, senior Tory figures are across the airwaves today. Here’s who is coming up on the Sunday programme.
The Andrew Marr Show - 9amThe Andrew Marr Show - 9am
Iain Duncan Smith and former Lib Dem minister David Laws are on the sofa.Iain Duncan Smith and former Lib Dem minister David Laws are on the sofa.
BBC Radio 5Live’s Pienaar’s Politics - 10amBBC Radio 5Live’s Pienaar’s Politics - 10am
Pensions minister Ros Altmann will appear as will shadow chancellor John McDonnell.Pensions minister Ros Altmann will appear as will shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Sky News’ Murnaghan - 10amSky News’ Murnaghan - 10am
Tory minister Amber Rudd and Bernard Jenkin, Conservative MP and friend to IDS. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham and Conservative MP Liam Fox will also appear.Tory minister Amber Rudd and Bernard Jenkin, Conservative MP and friend to IDS. Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham and Conservative MP Liam Fox will also appear.
BBC Sunday Politics - 11amBBC Sunday Politics - 11am
Labour’s Owen Smith will appear, as will the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Paul Johnson, and Tory MP Heidi Allen, who came to prominence for her maiden speech which attacked cuts to tax credits.Labour’s Owen Smith will appear, as will the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Paul Johnson, and Tory MP Heidi Allen, who came to prominence for her maiden speech which attacked cuts to tax credits.
9.08am GMT9.08am GMT
09:0809:08
The welcoming committee at the BBC for Iain Duncan Smith’s appearance on Marr.The welcoming committee at the BBC for Iain Duncan Smith’s appearance on Marr.
Morning! The #IDS welcome party out in force at BBC HQ. #marr pic.twitter.com/xQctnw0sO4Morning! The #IDS welcome party out in force at BBC HQ. #marr pic.twitter.com/xQctnw0sO4
9.06am GMT9.06am GMT
09:0609:06
The Sunday papers are focussed on the Downing Street reaction to Iain Duncan-Smith’s resignation, and the future of the Chancellor - including the ‘four-letter tirade’ by Cameron at IDS.The Sunday papers are focussed on the Downing Street reaction to Iain Duncan-Smith’s resignation, and the future of the Chancellor - including the ‘four-letter tirade’ by Cameron at IDS.
Here’s the splash in today’s Observer.Here’s the splash in today’s Observer.
Observer front page:Tory party at war as IDS allies slam ‘immoral cuts’#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/EjnIpd4ZeZObserver front page:Tory party at war as IDS allies slam ‘immoral cuts’#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/EjnIpd4ZeZ
Mail On Sunday: Outraged Cameron’s 4-letter tirade at ‘fraud’ IDSMail On Sunday: Outraged Cameron’s 4-letter tirade at ‘fraud’ IDS
Mail on Sunday front page:Outraged Cameron's 4-letter tirade at 'fraud' IDS#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Qrhb9TN12kMail on Sunday front page:Outraged Cameron's 4-letter tirade at 'fraud' IDS#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Qrhb9TN12k
The Mail on Sunday claims David Cameron swore at Duncan Smith during a heated telephone conversation when it became clear the Secretary of State was determined to quit, insinuating he had acted dishonourably.The Mail on Sunday claims David Cameron swore at Duncan Smith during a heated telephone conversation when it became clear the Secretary of State was determined to quit, insinuating he had acted dishonourably.
A Number 10 source told PA Cameron did rebuke his ex-colleague, though claims he did not swear, but was angry they had not discussed the issues face to face.A Number 10 source told PA Cameron did rebuke his ex-colleague, though claims he did not swear, but was angry they had not discussed the issues face to face.
Telegraph: Knives Out for OsborneTelegraph: Knives Out for Osborne
Sunday Telegraph front page:Knives our for Osborne in Tory backlash #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Q6lBtvK5eLSunday Telegraph front page:Knives our for Osborne in Tory backlash #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Q6lBtvK5eL
“Downing Street was battling to avert a full-blown leadership crisis last night as George Osborne suffered an unprecedented backlash from Conservative MPs,” the Telegraph leads.“Downing Street was battling to avert a full-blown leadership crisis last night as George Osborne suffered an unprecedented backlash from Conservative MPs,” the Telegraph leads.
The paper quotes senior sources saying George Osborne’s future as a potential Tory leader has been dealt a fatal blow, with one minister suggesting he would be moved from the Treasury to the Foreign Office after the July referendum.The paper quotes senior sources saying George Osborne’s future as a potential Tory leader has been dealt a fatal blow, with one minister suggesting he would be moved from the Treasury to the Foreign Office after the July referendum.
The Times: IDS attack shreds ‘unfit’ Osborne’s dreams of No 10The Times: IDS attack shreds ‘unfit’ Osborne’s dreams of No 10
Sunday Times front page:IDS attack shreds ‘unfit’ Osborne’s dream of No 10#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/HShEeFNKzfSunday Times front page:IDS attack shreds ‘unfit’ Osborne’s dream of No 10#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/HShEeFNKzf
The paper quotes senior Tory colleagues calling the Chancellor’s leadership hopes “dead in the water” and Osborne “unfit” to be prime minister.The paper quotes senior Tory colleagues calling the Chancellor’s leadership hopes “dead in the water” and Osborne “unfit” to be prime minister.
“Ministers and Tory MPs lined up to call for David Cameron to sack his chancellor after the work and pensions secretary unleashed a bloodbath of mutual recriminations at the top of the Tory party,” the paper wrote, adding that Cameron was now certain to face a leader­ship challenge after the European referendum, with Osborne’s chances of succeeding him now “zero”.“Ministers and Tory MPs lined up to call for David Cameron to sack his chancellor after the work and pensions secretary unleashed a bloodbath of mutual recriminations at the top of the Tory party,” the paper wrote, adding that Cameron was now certain to face a leader­ship challenge after the European referendum, with Osborne’s chances of succeeding him now “zero”.