Iain Duncan Smith Quotes

What we want to do is reform the welfare system in the way that Tony Blair talked about 13 years ago but never achieved - a system that was created for the days after the Second World War. That prize is now I think achievable.

I have two daughters, it really means a lot to me to have two women standing now and being the PM.

My personal view is always I'm in favour of anything that gives parliament a greater say. That's after all what we were elected for.

For families across the UK who are income-poor, but more than that, whose lives are blighted by worklessness, educational failure, family breakdown, problem debt and poor health, as well as other problems, giving them an extra pound - say through increased benefits - will not address the reason they find themselves in difficulty in the first place.

We do a disservice to society if we ignore the evidence which shows that stable families tend to be associated with better outcomes for children.

We have to challenge the whole idea that it's acceptable for a society like Britain to have such a significant number of people who do not work one day of the week and don't have any possibility of improving the quality of their lives.

A system that was originally designed to support the poorest in society is now trapping them in the very condition it was supposed to alleviate.

I do not believe the picture that some people paint of Scottish towns dependent on welfare. Every time I come here, I meet people who are determined to get into work. Who, with the right help are desperate to get off benefits, support their family and set an example for their children.

Kids are meant to believe that their stepping stone to massive money is 'The X Factor.' Luck is great, but most of life is hard work. We do not celebrate people who have made success out of serious hard work.

If you knowingly and willingly embark on criminal behaviour, the consequences of that should be... that you lose some of your benefits under the current system

The public thinks that homelessness is about not having any accommodation to go to.

There is nothing people can throw at me to say: Do this, do that.

I am an optimist about the UK. We have been involved in trade with our European partners, which we will always be doing whatever this relationship is. We are a member of the EU. That gives us benefits. But we have to figure out where that is going. In the world, we are a global trader already.

Thankfully, due to the United Kingdom and the commitment of the Westminster government we are able to ensure that money brought in, whether it be from the City of London or from North Sea oil, can be pooled and directed to wherever it is needed most.

Well football teams are perhaps easier to control than political parties, I'm sure the Prime Minister would agree with me, but yeah I think every team needs discipline and a sense of self-belief and that's important, that's what leadership's all about.

All too often, government's response to social breakdown has been a classic case of 'patching' - a case of handing money out, containing problems and limiting the damage but, in doing so, supporting - even reinforcing - dysfunctional behaviour.

The future of Conservatism lies in our beliefs and values, not by throwing them away. We need to shed associations that bind us to past failures, but hold faith with those things that make us Conservatives.

For those who are able to work, work has to be seen as the best route out of poverty. For work is not just about more money - it is transformative. It's about taking responsibility for yourself and your family.

Well obviously the economy is critical to everything we do and we need to get the economy back in shape, the deficit down, the debt paid off, so that the economy can grow again and grow properly.

Work is transformative. It gives you a greater chance of a greater income. You can affect your life while you're of working age, so you have scope and opportunity. Pensioners do not.

The financial costs of family breakdown are incredibly high.

Kids are meant to believe that their stepping stone to massive money is 'The X Factor.'

The person that takes over needs to have the skills to manage that ... I believe Andrea [Leadsom] has the edge.

After years of piecemeal reform the current welfare system is complex and unfair.

With high underemployment - currently over one million part-time workers in the UK want to work more hours - sanctioning clients who cannot increase their hours seems to be both unworkable and unfair.

Too many couples break up without understanding the consequences for their families.

[Andrea] Leadsom has compassion ... a real steel and a real determination and that velvet glove of compassion that she really cares about people.

We do not celebrate people who have made success out of serious hard work.

I hate this argument that says little Britain or something outside, or Britain is part of a wider Europe. We can both be within our trading relationships within Europe but we can also be a fantastic global trader.

Can there not be a limit to the fact that really you need to cut your cloth in accordance with what capabilities and finances you have?

We have to ensure that our immigration system works in the interests of Britain, enabling us to make a realistic promise to our young school-leavers. It is part of our contract with the British people.

You cannot stop what the public want. The public want two strong women in the final round and then a woman prime minister and I'm absolutely with that.

My view is pensioners don't have the one option that people of working age have. They can't really increase their income, because they are no longer able to work.

Even as our economy starts to pick up, and new jobs are created, there is a risk that young people in Britain won't get the chances they deserve because businesses will continue to look elsewhere.

Do not underestimate the determination of a quiet man.

We do need to have a little bit more protection and sensibility around pensioners. They are remarkable. They gave so much. We need to make sure we do our best by them.

I went up to the top of the career ladder and I came down again, I am past all that.

If Britain is to have a stable, affordable pension system, people need to work longer, but we will reward their hard work with a decent state pension that will enable them to enjoy quality of life in their retirement.

I am not going to go round trying to make people say 'Wow!'... I'm not going to play Hollywood lookalikes.

Balance is if you try hard, you work hard then the rewards are in balance with what you put in and what is available.

By measuring the proportion of children living with the same parents from birth and whether their parents report a good quality relationship we are driving home the message that social programmes should promote family stability and avert breakdown.

All I can say to the others is, 'Look out, we're on our way.

Over the years the political establishment has frowned if a mainstream politician mentions marriage.

The number one priority now is reducing the deficit that they [Labour] left us - the biggest deficit since the Second World War.

I think almost every political leader is always told that the next speech they make is the most crucial one.

When families are strong and stable, so are children - showing higher levels of wellbeing and more positive outcomes. But when things go wrong - either through family breakdown or a damaged parental relationship - the impact on a child's later life can be devastating.

Every parent wants to know that their children are protected against those who have a particular agenda until they get old enough to make decisions for themselves.

No I'm not a great believer in getting back over things and saying if only, or if, or buts because I don't think we actually get anywhere on that.