Cabinet minister quits over ‘indefensible’ cuts to disability benefitsThe Guardian view: a very political resignationIs this about disability cuts – or Europe?Five factors that elaborate the resignation 1.25am GMTI’m winding up this live blog now after some unexpected late-night Friday Westminster developments.
Here are the key points: I am unable to watch passively while certain policies are enacted in order to meet the fiscal self-imposed restraints that I believe are more and more perceived as distinctly political rather than in the national economic interest.
Too often my team and I beget been pressured in the immediate speed up to a budget or fiscal event to deliver yet more reductions to the working-age benefit bill …
That is why we collectively agreed – you,No 10 and the Treasury – proposals which you and your department then announced a week ago. Today we agreed not to proceed with the policies in their current form and instead to work together to rep these policies right over the coming months.
In the light of this, I am puzzled and disappointed that you beget chosen to resign.
Related: Is Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation about disability cuts – or Europe? 1.04am GMTDavid Cameron is expected to do a meaningful reshuffle after the EU referendum (assuming he wins – if he loses, and it will be someone else’s reshuffle). There is no reason to think he will bring that forward now,and so it is likely he will respond to Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation with a minimalist reshuffle, promoting someone to fill the gap.[br]But who?Cameron may well be tempted to fade for someone secure. Greg Clark, or the brilliant,technocratic, consensus-seeking communities secretary would be a sound choice. He could be trusted to defuse to controversy about PIP, and also rep to grips with the administrative problems bedevilling universal credit. Other possibilities might include Liz Truss,the environment secretary, or Amber Rudd, and the energy secretary.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com