Ian Duncan Smith Resigns !

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35848687

I was mistaken ! It wasn't Nicky Morgan that had to fall on her sword.......its was IDS !

[Bobsy]

An act of revenge for himself being sacked as leader ?

[anotheoldgit]

Bobsy

/// An act of revenge for himself being sacked as leader ? ///

What 13 years after being sacked?????

[mikey4444]

Bobsy...AOG is right with his incredulity......its unlikely that revenge played much of a part in him going.

[Gromit]

Mikey
You seem to be swallowing the line that IDS resigned out of some sympathy with the disabled poor. Incredulity from me on that one.

[Gromit]

AOG,
Fraud of the mobility and blue badge schemes were not under the remit of IDS to sort out. Both are granted to people who already receive certain benefits, they are not a benefit in themselves. And abuses of either scheme is not an excuse to cut them for people who genuinely do qualify.

IDS is not unpopular for his views on Europe, he is unpopular for his previous record as a minister. Wasting £40 million on a computer system that didn't work, the bedroom tax, the Universal Credit fiasco etc.

[viv41]

I don't think IDS has resigned because he suddenly feels sorry for the disabled, I feel there is more to it, BUT I'm glad he hss resigned because I don't like the man !!

[Marshwarble]

Ultimately it doesn't matter about his intention, voters will just remember the disagreement. Would Thatcher attack the disabled BTW? I don't remember her doing so.

[Marshwarble]

The elderly, yes. I'm not sure she even referred to closing libraries, come to think of it.

[Gromit]

Marshwarble,

It was the Thatcher Government who parked many hundreds of thousands of people onto disability benefits. The figure more than doubled.

People claiming disability benefit did not appear in the unemployment figures.

[Ellipsis]

Gromit has it right. This resignation is nothing to do with disability, and everything to do with Europe. IDS is a famously fervent Eurosceptic.

It's massively disloyal to his leaders, positioning the PM and Chancellor as heartless, stupid or both, and himself as the opposite, all in an attempt to get more Brexit votes later in the year. As a double win, he is now free to argue for Brexit without the bother of having a ministerial position to distract him.

[mikey4444]

Ellipsis ....there plenty of people that are in the leave camp already, that don't have a problem with that and being Tory Ministers as well. He didn't need to resign, and give Dave this huge problem...he could just have stayed.

[Ellipsis]

He could ... but just read your own words back. "He didn't need to resign, and give Dave this huge problem" ... but he did resign and give Dave this huge problem. Given that the PM is in the Bremain camp, that has to be good for the Brexiters and there was no better time for this particular Brexiter to resign in order to inflict maximum disruption to the other side.

[jourdain2]

I couldn't comment earlier (sleepover at daughter's + kids) but I have always regarded IDS as an honourable man- even if sometimes misguided.

[whiskeryron]

So IBS does have a heart after all. I must say it '' I Don't believe it ''

[Canary42]

Politician honourable? - give us a break !

[Hypognosis]

No disrespect to seadogg but since when did (paraphrasing) "thanks for the info, I'll read the full story some other time" merit a Best Answer?

I thouroughly recommend Gromit's of 00:44 Sat 19th (foot of page 4)

[-Talbot-]

As much as I dislike ABers nominating best answers, you are right the BA on this thread is a joke (not having a pop at Seadogg)

[mikey4444]

Well Talbot...you start a thread an you can award a BA to whoever you like !

[-Talbot-]

And what about Hypo?

[mikey4444]

What about you !

The Tories are in disarray here..get used to it !

i look forward to you awarding a BA in thread that you start !