Petitioning Iain Duncan Smith

[josie andrews]

Iain Duncan Smith's declaration on yesterday's Today programme that he could live on £53 a week ("If I had to, I would") has inevitably prompted journalists to ask his ministerial colleagues whether they could match the Work and Pensions Secretary's frugality. Below is how they've so far responded; I'll update the list as more answers come in. In the meantime, the petition urging IDS to "prove his claim" has now garnered 218,030 signatures.

Iain Duncan Smith

"If I had to, I would."

David Cameron

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister, like the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, feels that benefit levels are fair."

George Osborne

"I don’t think it's sensible to reduce this to a debate about one individual's personal circumstances. This debate is not about any individual."

Greg Clark (Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

"I think it’s an incredible struggle to do that and I think any MP, anyone earning the comfortable wage that an MP has would certainly struggle.

"I think the context is this – we’re all having to tighten our belts…right across the board there are difficult choices to be made, it is an incredibly difficult situation."

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... responded

Iain Duncan Smith: Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week.

This petition will be delivered to:

Department for Work and Pensions
Iain Duncan Smith


http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/i ... -53-a-week

[doc]

All ready signed after spotting the link on another forum.

What these people forget is that while they may get by on that sort of money (£53 p/w) for one week people who are in the unfortunate position of having to claim benefits may have to do so for months or even years.

[josie andrews]

All ready signed after spotting the link on another forum.

What these people forget is that while they may get by on that sort of money (£53 p/w) for one week people who are in the unfortunate position of having to claim benefits may have to do so for months or even years.

I've said that so many times doc.

These millionaire politicians never have to worry about paying for soaring fuel, engery or food prices

[BriH]

Iain Duncan Smith's declaration on yesterday's Today programme that he could live on £53 a week ("If I had to, I would") has inevitably prompted journalists to ask his ministerial colleagues whether they could match the Work and Pensions Secretary's frugality. Below is how they've so far responded; I'll update the list as more answers come in. In the meantime, the petition urging IDS to "prove his claim" has now garnered 218,030 signatures.

Iain Duncan Smith

"If I had to, I would."

David Cameron

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister, like the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, feels that benefit levels are fair."

George Osborne

"I don’t think it's sensible to reduce this to a debate about one individual's personal circumstances. This debate is not about any individual."

Greg Clark (Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

"I think it’s an incredible struggle to do that and I think any MP, anyone earning the comfortable wage that an MP has would certainly struggle.

"I think the context is this – we’re all having to tighten our belts…right across the board there are difficult choices to be made, it is an incredibly difficult situation."

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/20 ... responded

Iain Duncan Smith: Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week.

This petition will be delivered to:

Department for Work and Pensions
Iain Duncan Smith


http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/i ... -53-a-week

Already signed it. IDS thinks it (petition) is a big joke.
Can't wait for him and the rest of this Tory led Govt to be booted out.