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-35855616

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Duncan Smith warns government risks 'dividing' society Duncan Smith warns government risks 'dividing' society
(35 minutes later)
Iain Duncan Smith has warned the government risks dividing society in his first interview since resigning as work and pensions secretary. Iain Duncan Smith has warned that the government risks dividing society, in his first interview since resigning as work and pensions secretary.
He attacked the "desperate search for savings" focused on benefit payments to people who "don't vote for us".He attacked the "desperate search for savings" focused on benefit payments to people who "don't vote for us".
And he told Andrew Marr his "painful" decision to resign was "not personal" against Chancellor George Osborne. And he told the BBC's Andrew Marr his "painful" decision was "not personal" against Chancellor George Osborne.
Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said she was "perplexed" at Mr Duncan Smith's "bombshell" resignation.Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said she was "perplexed" at Mr Duncan Smith's "bombshell" resignation.
She said he had urged colleagues to support the controversial change to Personal Independence Payments, which the government is now reconsidering, describing his decision to quit as "really disappointing".She said he had urged colleagues to support the controversial change to Personal Independence Payments, which the government is now reconsidering, describing his decision to quit as "really disappointing".
On Friday, Mr Duncan Smith said he was quitting as work and pensions secretary in protest at planned disability benefits cuts. BBC political correspondent Alan Soady said Mr Duncan Smith's interview - which followed his resignation over cuts to disability benefits on Friday - was an "absolutely blistering attack".
Prime Minister David Cameron said he had been "puzzled and disappointed" by the resignation, arguing that those reforms had been "collectively agreed" and announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). He added: "This was not just about his objections to one change in disability benefit, he was questioning the fundamental principles underpinning the government."
Prime Minister David Cameron has said he was "puzzled and disappointed" by the resignation, arguing that those reforms had been "collectively agreed" and announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
'Narrow attack''Narrow attack'
Speaking on the BBC on Sunday, Mr Duncan Smith said he had supported a consultation on the changes but had come under "massive pressure" to deliver the savings ahead of last week's Budget. Mr Duncan Smith told the BBC he had supported a consultation on the changes but had come under "massive pressure" to deliver the savings ahead of last week's Budget.
The way the cuts were presented in the Budget had been "deeply unfair", he said, because they were "juxtaposed" with tax cuts for the wealthy.The way the cuts were presented in the Budget had been "deeply unfair", he said, because they were "juxtaposed" with tax cuts for the wealthy.
He criticised the "arbitrary" decision to lower the welfare cap after the general election and suggested the government was in danger of losing "the balance of the generations", expressing his "deep concern" at a "very narrow attack on working-age benefits" while also protecting pensioner benefits.He criticised the "arbitrary" decision to lower the welfare cap after the general election and suggested the government was in danger of losing "the balance of the generations", expressing his "deep concern" at a "very narrow attack on working-age benefits" while also protecting pensioner benefits.
If the focus on the working-age benefit budget continued, he said, "it just looks like we see this as a pot of money, that it doesn't matter because they don't vote for us".If the focus on the working-age benefit budget continued, he said, "it just looks like we see this as a pot of money, that it doesn't matter because they don't vote for us".
Mr Duncan Smith, who said he felt he had become "semi-detached" from government, said the Conservatives had to return to being a party "that cares about even those who do not vote for us".Mr Duncan Smith, who said he felt he had become "semi-detached" from government, said the Conservatives had to return to being a party "that cares about even those who do not vote for us".
He said he cared "passionately" about "people who don't get the choices my children get" and "bringing people back in to arena where we play daily but they do not".He said he cared "passionately" about "people who don't get the choices my children get" and "bringing people back in to arena where we play daily but they do not".
Ministers dividedMinisters divided
He suggested the government was in "danger of drifting in a direction that divides society rather than unites it, and that, I think, is unfair".He suggested the government was in "danger of drifting in a direction that divides society rather than unites it, and that, I think, is unfair".
Mr Duncan Smith spoke of his "love" for the Conservative Party and described claims he was trying to undermine David Cameron as "nonsense", saying he had had a "robust" conversation with the PM after telling him of his resignation.
Asked whether Mr Osborne would make a good prime minister, he added: "If he was to stand and if he was elected by the electorate, which is not just me it is everybody else, I would hope that he would."
Former Lib Dem minister David Laws told Andrew Marr divisions between Mr Osborne and Mr Duncan Smith over welfare had been a "running sore throughout the last parliament".
He said: "George Osborne, I think it's fair to say, did regard the welfare budget as something of a cash cow to be squeezed in order to help to deliver deficit reduction. Iain Duncan Smith had a different view."
Mr Duncan Smith's resignation has divided his former ministerial team at the DWP.Mr Duncan Smith's resignation has divided his former ministerial team at the DWP.
Pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann attacked his tenure, describing him as "exceptionally difficult" to work for, and accused him of using his resignation "to do maximum damage to the party leadership" in order to support the campaign to leave the EU.Pensions minister Baroness Ros Altmann attacked his tenure, describing him as "exceptionally difficult" to work for, and accused him of using his resignation "to do maximum damage to the party leadership" in order to support the campaign to leave the EU.
But her fellow DWP minister Shailesh Vara said he was "surprised" at Baroness Altmann's comments, saying: "Ros's recollection does not accord with mine and I'm sorry that this has all happened."But her fellow DWP minister Shailesh Vara said he was "surprised" at Baroness Altmann's comments, saying: "Ros's recollection does not accord with mine and I'm sorry that this has all happened."
Disabilities minister Justin Tomlinson said the former secretary of state had "always conducted himself in a professional, dedicated and determined manner", while employment minister Priti Patel told BBC Radio 5 live it had been a "privilege" to work for him.
'Fundamental unfairness''Fundamental unfairness'
Disabilities minister Justin Tomlinson said the former secretary of state had "always conducted himself in a professional, dedicated and determined manner", while employment minister Priti Patel told BBC Radio 5 live it had been a "privilege" to work for him.
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who rebelled against her party's plans to cut tax credits last year, said Mr Duncan Smith had "reached a point where he had had enough of the purse strings being pulled such that he could not deliver the welfare he wanted to".Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics, Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who rebelled against her party's plans to cut tax credits last year, said Mr Duncan Smith had "reached a point where he had had enough of the purse strings being pulled such that he could not deliver the welfare he wanted to".
But Ms Rudd told Sky News: "I do resent his high moral tone on that when the rest of us are absolutely committed to a one-nation government."But Ms Rudd told Sky News: "I do resent his high moral tone on that when the rest of us are absolutely committed to a one-nation government."
She said she found his "manner and his approach really disappointing".She said she found his "manner and his approach really disappointing".
Owen Smith, Labour's welfare spokesman, said Mr Duncan Smith had been "very honest in explaining how George Osborne could have taken different choices" and had revealed "the fundamental unfairness at the heart of government policy".Owen Smith, Labour's welfare spokesman, said Mr Duncan Smith had been "very honest in explaining how George Osborne could have taken different choices" and had revealed "the fundamental unfairness at the heart of government policy".
What is your reaction? Are you affected by the issues raised? Share your thoughts with us - email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukWhat is your reaction? Are you affected by the issues raised? Share your thoughts with us - 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: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 belowOr use the form below