Iain Duncan Smith: Our contract with the country for 21st Century Welfare

I am honoured to be standing here today as David Cameron's Work & Pensions Secretary.

It is also my privilege to be chairman of the newly-founded Cabinet committee on social justice. 

This Conservative-led government has concern for the poor running through its DNA and we are focused each day ...

Duncan Smith: Congress for Democracy speech – Rally for a Referendum

Speech to the Congress for Democracy

"My speech today was planned some time ago under rather different personal circumstances.

I am, however, very glad to honour my agreement to speak, in my new capacity as a backbench MP.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Michael Howard very warmly on his ...

Iain Duncan Smith: The first Conservative Government of the 21st Century

Speech to the Centre for Policy Studies in London

As I said last night, out there in Smith Square, it has been an immense honour to have led the Conservative party for the last two years.

I very much hope that - as tonight seems likely - my successor is chosen quickly ...

Duncan Smith: I have the confidence of the grass roots

Statement by Iain Duncan Smith outside Conservative Central Office

"I am pleased that the Parliamentary party has responded to my call for a swift resolution. I welcome the fact that this matter will now be decided quickly, openly and in the clear light of day, and I look forward to ...

Duncan Smith: My mission to form the next government of this country

Statement by Iain Duncan Smith

"For the last few weeks the Conservative Party has been gripped by a fever. It is a fever that is demoralising our party's grassroots and appalling the public.

I believe it must be ended over the next 48 hours and in a manner wholly ...

Iain Duncan Smith speech in Loughborough

Speaking at a press conference at 10:00am, on Thursday 23 October, prior to visiting the University of Loughborough

"I know that the reputation students have for staying out late and drinking too much is only rivalled by the reputation journalists have for doing the same - so it's particularly ...

Duncan Smith: fighting for a fair deal for everyone

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2003

Two years ago, I stood for the leadership of this Party.

We'd just lost a second general election.

We'd seen a good man resign and we'd gone through a lengthy leadership contest.

Labour were 20 points ahead in the polls.

Let ...

Duncan Smith: For too long, we've allowed the LibDems to get away with murder

Speech at the Dorchester to the Carlton Club Political Dinner

"I know that we can win the next general election. And I want to tell you how.

Today we are in the best position for eleven years…the largest and fastest growing party of local government, with levels of representation ...

Duncan Smith: The lie that the Liberal Democrats are a moderate party of the centre

Speech to Scottish Conservative Party Conference 2003

It's great to be back in Scotland.

Betsy and I had three wonderful weeks with the children here in the summer.

I could say we came to support the British tourist industry.

In fact we came because we just love Scotland.

The ...

Iain Duncan Smith: A Fair Deal for Everyone

Speaking during a lunch at the Chartered Insurers Institute conference, Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith accused the Blair government of mismanaging the economy, dramatically increasing the overall burden of taxation, destroying the culture of saving, and failing to tackle profligacy and waste in Britain's unreformed public services. The ...

Duncan Smith: Labour think they have a monopoly on compassion

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP's opening address to the Compassionate Conservatism 2003 conference

"Thank you all for coming to this ground-breaking conference.

I'd particularly like to welcome people from some of the voluntary and charitable organisations that I - and members of the shadow cabinet - have been meeting ...

Duncan Smith: Malicious briefings are part of Labour's culture

Statement on the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Dr Kelly

"All of us were deeply shocked by the tragic death of Dr Kelly. Last week our thoughts were with his widow, his family and friends, as we paid our respects to a man who served his country as a ...

Duncan Smith: No Third Chance for the Third Way

Speech at Millbank Tower, London

"I want to thank you for all the hard work you have been doing for the Party over the past year.

My message to you this evening is that your hard work is beginning to pay off.

Last weekend the New Labour party met with ...

Duncan Smith: A new Europe

Keynote speech on European Policy in Prague

"Two seismic world events have defined our times.

They've framed a generation's hopes and its fears.

On 9th November 1989 the Berlin Wall came down.

The Cold War was over.

The shockwaves from that event swept through the streets and squares ...

Duncan Smith: A fair deal for local government and local communities

Speech to Local Government Association Annual Conference in Harrogate

Last year when we met, I spoke about the lack of fairness in our public services, the grip of centralisation on our local councils and communities and the resulting democratic deficit at the heart of local politics in this country.

12 ...

Duncan Smith: A Fair Deal for Everyone on Crime and Drugs

Launching the Conservative Party's policy to tackle crime, with Shadow Home Secretary, Oliver Letwin

In 2000, a year-long drug war began around the Chapeltown area of Leeds.

Dozens of people were shot -- many of them were killed.

In the two years that followed, West Yorkshire police arrested more than ...

Duncan Smith: Saving special needs schools from closure

Speech in Westminster Hall, House of Commons, on Special Needs Schools in Waltham Forest

I thank the Minister for Children for being here today. The subject of the debate, while not directly a party political issue, brings into question the Government's attitude to special needs. I hope that she ...

Iain Duncan Smith: Conservatives are committed to a fair deal

In a speech in Birmingham tonight to Conservative Party members, the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, will say:

"The Conservative Party is committed to a fair deal for everyone.

"There are those, however, who claim this is little more than a dream.

"They argue ...

Iain Duncan Smith: Why won't Blair let the people decide?

Responding to the Prime Minister's statement on the Thessalonica Summit, the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Leader of the Conservative party, said:

"I thank the Prime Minister for his statement. I congratulate the Greek Government for their hard work and welcome the recent signing of the accession treaty ...

Duncan Smith: A fair deal for patients

Speech at launch of Conservative Party consultation document on health

The Labour Government is dangerously divided.

And it's got its priorities hopelessly wrong.

That's as plain today as it will ever be.

We are not be going to spend today talking about the euro.

We are going to ...

Duncan Smith: We need a vote on the 'deep and dangerous' EU draft constitution

Blair is ‘playing political games’ with our future says Conservative Leader

Speech to the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Central London

It's a great privilege to be here to speak to you today. The British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce has a vital role to play in developing business relations between ...

Duncan Smith: A fair deal for everyone

Launch of the Conservative Party's new "A fair deal for everyone" strategy at the University of London

"Twelve days ago - the Conservatives came through the local government elections in good shape.

There are now three thousand more Conservative councillors than in 1997.

That reflects two years of hard work ...

Duncan Smith: Labour - unfair to everyone

Speech to a mixed audience of Conservative candidates, members of the Foreign Press Association and others

Last Thursday -- May 1st -- was a significant day for Britain.

Voters up and down the country sent a clear message to the Labour Government.

They want delivery - and as we saw from the results ...

A fair deal for Britain's most vulnerable communities

Thank you very much, Luke, for again inviting me to speak at Toynbee Hall.

I pay sincere tribute to the dedication to London's East End of all your staff and all of Toynbee's many volunteers.

Toynbee Hall's national reputation for social policy is deeply rooted in your ...

Duncan Smith: A fair deal for local communities

Keynote local elections speech in Guildford

I'm delighted to be in Guildford today.

And delighted to be in such fine company.

Nigel Sutcliffe is very welcome in the Conservative Party.

Today he has shown what an asset he is to our cause.

And it's great, too, to see ...

Duncan Smith: The Budget - pain today and pain tomorrow

The Budget reaction speech by Conservative Leader Iain Duncan Smith

On behalf of the whole House, I congratulate the Chancellor on his happy announcement last weekend. I can assure him . children are a great blessing.

Mr Deputy Speaker, over the past six years we have come to learn that the ...

Iain Duncan Smith: A fair deal for everyone

Speech to Conservative Spring Conference

We are holding this conference with our country on the brink of war.

In the twelve years from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the fall of the World Trade towers, a dangerous idea took hold.

People came to believe that a new world ...

Duncan Smith: No blank cheques for Blair on Iraq

Statement on Iraq at Conservative Spring Conference

I thought I would take the opportunity today because as Theresa said so earlier we face momentous events perhaps unfolding over the next few weeks.

None of us know quite where these may lead, we of course hope for the best, we plan ...

Duncan Smith: A Wales and a Britain we can all be proud of

Speech to Welsh Conservative Spring Conference

It's good to be here in the capital of Wales once again and to be among friends in the Welsh Conservative Party.

I'd like to start off by thanking everyone who has made this conference possible. I know how much organisation these ...

Duncan Smith: Give us our money back

Speech to the Conservative local government conference by Iain Duncan Smith launching the 'Give us our money back' campaign

Conservatives showing the way

On May the first, voters will be electing 11,396 councillors on 350 councils in England and Scotland along with all seats in both the Scottish Parliament ...

Duncan Smith: A Scotland we can all be proud of

Speech to the Scottish Conservative Spring Conference

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It's good to be back here in Scotland and to be able to join you for what is an important conference for the Scottish Conservatives.

Could I say thank you straight away to everyone who has helped to pull ...

Duncan Smith: Only ability should matter

Speech made to students at King's College, London

"Thank you all for being here today.

Before we move on to your questions, I'd like to talk for a few minutes about two big issues that I know are of real concern to students and indeed to us all ...

Duncan Smith: Labour's tax and spend policy has flopped

Speech to senior company chairmen and business executives in the City of London

Let me begin by thanking you for his invitation to me to address you this evening.

It was clear to me, within five minutes of arriving here, that foremost in all of our minds is the question ...

Duncan Smith: Scrap Gordon Brown's jobs tax

Speech to local businessmen in the North East

"Thank you for inviting me here today.

It's a great pleasure to be here in Newcastle -- and a privilege to be among you.

This opportunity to see what you do at Rite-Vent has been very valuable.

So let me say thank ...

Duncan Smith: Labour's corrosive 'dumbing down' of education

Speech to the Bow Group at the Armoury, Honourable Artillery Company, London

I am delighted to be speaking tonight to the Bow Group at its Annual Dinner.

When the Group was set up in 1951 the future MP Peter Emery wanted it to be "an effective counter to the Fabian ...

Duncan Smith: Higher taxes are failing to produce better public services

Speech to the Leeds Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for inviting me here this evening.

It's a privilege to be among you - and a great pleasure to be in Leeds.

It's a sort of a homecoming - I cut my political teeth just around the corner in Bradford.

So ...

Duncan Smith: A safer and fairer asylum system

Statement at Conservative Party press conference on asylum

The first duty of any Government is to protect the public.

The job of a responsible opposition is to help and support the Government in that aim.

Over the past six years, the Conservative Party has always been prepared to work with ...

Iain Duncan Smith's New Year Message

New Year's message to constituency chairmen

Introduction

The Bali bombing last October offered us a stark reminder that Britain is engaged in a War against Terrorism.

In the coming weeks and months, British troops may be engaged in trying to rid Saddam Hussein of his weapons of mass destruction ...

Iain Duncan Smith speech to the Conservative Friends of Israel

Can I begin by saying how pleased I am to be with you today, and how delighted I am to see so many old friends and, I hope, for the opportunity to meet many new ones.

Last year when I spoke to the Conservative Friends of Israel, my speech was ...

Duncan Smith: The Iron Chancellor has got metal fatigue

Speech to the Confederation of British Industry

"A lot has happened over the past year since I spoke at your National Conference, but very little has happened to change my view of the way this Government is running our economy. Indeed, my views have only been reinforced.

Last year, I ...

Iain Duncan Smith: Nicholas Ridley Memorial speech

The Nicholas Ridley Memorial Lecture, at the Portman Hotel, Portman Square

Ladies and gentlemen,

There are three popular prejudices about modern politicians.

The first is that they have no interests outside politics.

The second is that they are all spin and no substance.

And the third is that they are ...

Iain Duncan Smith: NATO is about mutual defence. So is missile defence.

Speech to British American Inc, at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel in London

"One of the most dangerous developments since 11th September last year is the way that Europe and the United States seem to have been drifting apart. Dictators like Saddam Hussein must be delighted when they see splits ...

Duncan Smith: Failing public services will lead to a failing economy

Address to the Institute of Directors

In yesterday's Queen's Speech the Government once again said that its priority for the year ahead would be to improve Britain's public services.

Well, we all want to see better public services.

But the way this Government is going about it ...

Speech by Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP in response to the Queen's Speech

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the proposer and seconder of the Loyal Address.

But before I do so let me first pay tribute to Jamie Cann and Sir Ray Powell.

Jamie Cann was an independent-minded and much respected member of this House.

He was an effective member of ...

Duncan Smith: The necessary and sometimes painful process of modernisation

Statement by Iain Duncan Smith

A year ago the Conservative Party chose me overwhelmingly as its first democratically-elected Leader.

By electing me, the Conservative membership recognised both the need for change but also the need to take the entire Conservative Party along that road.

Over the last year I have ...

Why politicians should not be afraid to talk about marriage

The Fifth William Wilberforce Address

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce was driven by the idea that every man and woman on earth possesses infinite dignity.

Made in the image of God, every person matters.

Wilberforce believed that every person who ever lived bore the imprint of eternity.

This idea burned within ...

Duncan Smith: Restore balance to the Northern Ireland process

Speech to Ulster Unionist Conference

It is a great honour for me to be addressing the Ulster Unionist Party conference today, and to do so in this great city of Londonderry - a city that has been witness to so many of the key events that have shaped the history not ...

Duncan Smith: Leadership with a purpose

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2002

Renewing the politics of hope

Between now and the next General Election we have to persuade millions of people up and down the country that this Conservative Party is fit for Government.

That this Conservative Party is fit to govern this great country of ...

Duncan Smith: Tackling poverty at home and abroad

Extract from Iain Duncan Smith's address to Renewing One Nation Charities Breakfast.

I don't come to you today with detailed answers to that central question. But I do want to talk about how we intend to go about finding those answers. This is a mission to which we ...

Duncan Smith: Defeating the five giants

Speech given at Toynbee Hall on Iain Duncan Smith's first anniversary as Party Leader

I am very grateful to the President, Chairman and trustees of Toynbee Hall for hosting today's speech.

Toynbee offers a helping hand to people of many ethnic, faith and political backgrounds.

Through the volunteers ...