Iain Duncan Smith has resigned

thatbags, Where did I say they didn't?

You didn't but you seemed to be stressing right-wingness. Apologies for misunderstanding what you wrote if that was not the case.

ANOTHER one somewhat defending IDS, published in the Guardian! This one by Bernard Jenkin who, I gather, is a politician though I don't know what Party he belongs to. Nor do I care. I'm interested in what is being said not who is saying it.

Good article, very critical of government leadership.

Trouble is we don't know if what is being said is truthful , who is telling lies , IDS or Cameron?

thatbags, I actually think the 'left' has a very strong case for leaving the EU. They think that it would stop the influx of cheap labour from the EU, but my personal view is that argument doesn't stand up (another thread perhaps).

BREXITers are a mixed bunch. Again, my personal view, but I think the jingoistic rhetoric of some BREXITers is ridiculous. Mark Wallace falls into that camp.

I have NEVER claimed that the EU is a right/left issue.

PS. Bernard Jenkin is the Conservative MP for North Essex and one of the original Maastricht rebels, so hardly neutral about Europe.

Both probably, ab. They're playing their own game of Stab In The Back.

Must admit it makes a change from the Labour version of the same game. Must check, but I think UKIP has suffered from mutual stabbing - they're awfully quiet, which isn't like them.

Now, if only the LibDems hadn't almost been killed off, they could make a come back.

The last time politics was such an interesting spectator sport was when Heseltine stomped out and Howe and Lawson resigned.

Anybody got any more popcorn?

so wish I was a fly on the wall. I bet we would die if we knew the truth of it all.

One thing for sure, the press whilst tittle tattling will stop short of screaming blue murder as they would have done if this was a Labour Government.

I don't trust this man for one minute, I don't know what he is up to
but I am pretty sure it will be something to his benefit regarding the
EU. Call me cynical.

Best thing that's ever happened , the Tories are now all fighting each other, Osborne is finished and I bet Dave will face a leadership challenge in June!

We might end up with dotty Johnson. Heavy on personality very low on substantial ideas that will run a country.

Oh yes, and the day Tarzen leapt to the mace and brandished it , that was good viewing , I am always reminded of his flouncing out when I see David Walliams on tv.

I'm not discounting May or some non-entity nobody's ever heard of. Cameron became leader because he didn't have much of a history and was pretty much a non-entity.

I think it depends on the result of the referendum. If I had any money, I would possibly have a flutter on the Tories splitting, whatever the outcome. I really hate to think what the prominent BREXITers will do if they win.

I wonder whether it might not be political. There will be a leadership contest sooner or later and, while IDS isn't up for top job, he might be spiking Osborne's guns.

Given that this wasn't actually about disability benefits at all (but PIPs which are different) I am a little cheesed off that IDS thinks that older people can be disobliged. He surely can't have fallen for all this 'intergenerational envy' nonsense?

He started it, Liliyflower. He has always been against ringfencing pensioner benefits.

PIPs are not different. They replace Disability Living Allowance, DLA. It doesn't make them different.

Bernard Jenkin is a Tory MP. He is on the Public Accounts Committee.
One of the things he said which seems to have been forgotten about is that the money that Osborne said should be cut from the DWP is still in the red book, so it will still be in the debate on the finances of the budget.
That will be interesting.

He has voted with the government on all votes to do with cutting benefits, including housing benefits, as did IDS.

This is how you cause maximum damage and to say that it has nothing to do with the EU is just not true. Does this man think people are fools!.
I wonder how long he's been waiting and planning this and I also wonder if Boris hasn't got a finger in it somewhere.

IDS dreadful man and good riddance to him.

The fact that Boris was on hols skiing is suspicious , surely a family man would go in the school hols , a case of - not me gov I wasn't there and he was able to avoid questions from the media

He can't hide forever and if you are paying Eton school fees (not sure which public school) but all ps fees much the same £34.000 annually then you are more likely than not allowed to take your kids out for a sking hol.

Will be interesting to hear what he has to say about IDS though.

What a mess.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/21/huge-injustice-conservative-disability-graeme-ellis-labour

This is as important as IDS resigning. This man ran the Conservative disability website. He is affected by the cuts himself.
Worth reading what he says.

Wow, a man who really knows the damage caused and to be caused. Thank you Jen

Is IDS in the house?

Wow yes saw that and put it aside for later reading.

IDS not in house he is to make a resignation statement at some other time.

The Tories are at the moment still intent on getting 4bn cuts to welfare but put it off until autumn.

So budget wont balance in that case so how can it be voted on?