• Iain Duncan Smith resigns from UK government over 'indefensible' welfare cuts
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[img]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/B8B4/production/_88848274_idm.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35848687[/url] [quote]Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has resigned citing pressure to make cuts to disability benefits. It comes after mounting controversy over £4bn of planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments, expected to affect 640,000 people. Mr Duncan Smith said the cuts were "not defensible" within a Budget that "benefits higher earning taxpayers". Earlier, a government source indicated the changes were going to be "kicked into the long grass".[/quote] [url]http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/B8B4/production/_88848274_idm.jpg[/url] [quote]Iain Duncan Smith has dramatically quit the cabinet, branding cuts to benefits for the disabled in George Osborne’s budget as “indefensible”. In an excoriating parting shot at the chancellor, the work and pensions secretary complained of pressure to “salami slice” welfare and a failure to spread the burden of spending curbs. In a resignation letter released on Friday evening, he wrote: “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 have 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. They should have instead been part of a wider process to engage others in finding the best way to better focus resources on those most in need. “It is therefore with enormous regret that I have decided to resign.”[/quote]
Surprising amount of backbone being shown by Duncan Smith, not a fan of the man but this is a real show of character
You know you've fucked up when even IDS thinks you've gone too far.
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