Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith, often referred to by his initials IDS, is a British Conservative Party politician. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2010 to 2016, he was previously the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003. He was first elected to Parliament at the 1992 general election as the MP for Chingford– which he represented until the constituency's abolition in 1997–and he has represented its successor constituency of Chingford...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth9 April 1954
[Andrea] Leadsom has compassion ... a real steel and a real determination and that velvet glove of compassion that she really cares about people.
The public thinks that homelessness is about not having any accommodation to go to.
No I'm not a great believer in getting back over things and saying if only, or if, or buts because I don't think we actually get anywhere on that.
For those who are able to work, work has to be seen as the best route out of poverty. For work is not just about more money - it is transformative. It's about taking responsibility for yourself and your family.
That thing, 'You must stay together for the kids', is out of fashion but is right. It's not arguing parents that children don't like, it is having one parent.
Too many couples break up without understanding the consequences for their families.
Well football teams are perhaps easier to control than political parties, I'm sure the Prime Minister would agree with me, but yeah I think every team needs discipline and a sense of self-belief and that's important, that's what leadership's all about.
Aspiration, it seems, is in danger of becoming the preserve of the wealthy.
Balance is if you try hard, you work hard then the rewards are in balance with what you put in and what is available.
You cannot stop what the public want. The public want two strong women in the final round and then a woman prime minister and I'm absolutely with that.
Over the years the political establishment has frowned if a mainstream politician mentions marriage.
I think almost every political leader is always told that the next speech they make is the most crucial one.
I went up to the top of the career ladder and I came down again, I am past all that.
The person that takes over needs to have the skills to manage that ... I believe Andrea [Leadsom] has the edge.