AIBU to be both happy and concerned over IDS resignation

[ChemistryHunt]

Iain Duncan Smith has resigned citing concerns over disability benefit reforms.

I am partly happy.

However feeling concerned over who will replace and thinking if he was concerned over the changes who was putting the current ones through and what will happen now?

His resignation letter

Quite a shocking read tbh. A Tory with an ounce of compassion? Must admit I'm skeptical.

But yes - who next. A puppet, judging by what is said here.

Do recognise the HMT MO described in the letter.

You'd almost believe, reading that letter, that he was an actual human being and not a prize cunt. I do not trust one word he says. He will be doing this for ulterior motives that suit him and him alone.

I'm delighted, absolute arse who has been over promoted for years - mainly by himself !

If ever you want to hear a weasel like politician spouting unprincipled, arrogant crap listen to his interview with James O'Brien on the LBC website.

I'm sure the reason for his resignation has nothing to do with what we are being told.

He's not got even an ounce of compassion, though. He doesn't disagree with the cuts in principle, just them being made in the context of a budget where pressies were handed out to the wealthier/ He says the cuts:

... 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.

So they were OK but not in the context of this budget.

In fact the cuts are indefensible on any level, at any time, in any context.

Thing is, that resignation letter seems to call into question the whole Tory ideology. The cuts have always been political for them, rather than for economic reasons. They believe in a small state and a small welfare bill and they always cut taxes for the richest in our society. Surely that's their very raison d'être.

So how come IDS is suddenly saying that he disagrees with everything that the Tories have been espousing for years?

Has he had a knock to the head recently?

I can't help but think that this has to have more to do with the EU than any sudden found concern for how cuts are applied or the rich poor divide.

It's really about Europe. All other political considerations are now put through the in/ out prism.

X post with OP!

He's shafted Osborne good and proper.

Oh how wonderful!

Indeed Carabos.

I will certainly be watching with interest.

Fingers crossed he hasn't been offered a cushy position for doing this.

Bit annoyed though that I have to be pleased with IDS for doing something - in this case pulling the rug from under Osbourne. Remember George's PR team telling him to get his hair cut and try and sound less posh ? How stupid do they think we are ?Actually, having worked for central government, the scary answer is they think we're very stupid.

Oh well, IDS has a very wealthy wife and Osbourne's family are hugely wealthy. So if it all goes tits up for both of them they won't be filling in any tax credit forms any time soon.

Surely this is the last straw for GO?

The expert and public reaction to the budget has been pretty poor, the backtracks and defeats and now this.

I really expect GO to be gone in the very near future. Will he take DC with him too?

I think there is another reason for this, not just benefit cuts. Universal credit failings perhaps? EU?

I'm cynical and IDS strikes me as a man who wouldn't admit he is wrong.

My guess is that it was him who leaked the story about the Queen wanting out of Europe recently. Call me Dave will be looking for any reason to get rid of the cabinet members who are against him. This will be a political move of using him as an example to the others to stand with Call me Dave on the Europe in/out issue or lose your job.

My money is on the news of people swapping back to Call me Dave over the next week or two.

Oh well, I look forward to watching him make an arse of himself on various reality game shows.

Did anyone hear about the extra hundreds of millions of pounds the NHS and other public services are going to have to find for pensions, in the coming years?
They will receive no extra money but GO thinks they are "well placed" to pay this extra money.
This new policy was hidden in the small print of yesterday's budget and effectively means a cut in their budgets.

GO is an evil cunt.

He most certainly is.

I think his position is untenable now. Hopefully the IN campaign do to, as they will oust him if he stands to damage the campaign.

Nicky Morgan and her startled eyes on QT make sense now.

How come this resignation letter is so public, so soon?

Resignation letters can and are sent straight to the press. Particularly when there is just enough time for the front pages to be changed before going to print.

I wonder if IDS will be back once GO goes? Set him up to take the fall, then "start afresh" once the nasty man has gone.

Maybe that's the plan, cos there will be one.

Boris must have promised him something good.

That vile PP will be rewarded too.

Yyy to Paula and Vertigo - ulterior motive and a promise from Boris. But I'm pleased just because it's all going towards the imploding of the Tories - last May whilst feeling shell shocked at the exit poll, I did say that Europe would be their downfall - it always is

Name changed as this outs me massively.

I live in the same village as IDS. In fact, just a few houses away from him.

It's weird. As a politican I obviously find him abhorrent and was really disturbed when I found out how close he is to me. But as a person he, although I don't know him well, seems very pleasant and easy going. I've chatted to him while he mows the grass verges outside our houses (didn't mention who he is, just neighbourly small talk) and he really does seem like your average, friendly Jo Bloggs. His wife is also very natural and friendly and his father in law is an incredibly good landlord (eg when one half of an elderly couple in one of the village houses dies he halves the rent rather than see the survivor evicted). The resignation letter is a lot more in keeping with how he comes across personally than politically.

But there's still something I don't trust about it. Just not sure what.

They're going to have a wonderful slate for leadership - buffoon, psychopath and yesterday's man.