Iain Duncan Smith backtracks after saying that wealthy pensioners should hand back their benefits
Work and Pensions Secretary says: 'I'm not making that a policy position'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iain Duncan Smith appeared to backtrack today over his controversial suggestion that better off pensioners should hand back their winter fuel allowances and free bus passes and TV licences to the Government.
His move came as Downing Street said that David Cameron was sticking firmly to his 2010 pledge to maintain the universal benefits. His official spokesman said the promise covered the full 2015-16 financial year, which will begin shortly before the 2015 election. This rules out any change in the government-wide spending round to be completed in June, in which George Osborne is seeking a further £11.5bn of cuts in 2015-16. "He [Mr Cameron] made a very clear commitment and he is sticking by it," said the Prime Minister's spokesman.
Mr Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, clarified remarks in a newspaper interview yesterday in which he supported the idea of pensioners giving back their perks if they did not need them. Today he told BBC Radio 4: "I am not encouraging people to hand it back or keep it…All I said in answer to a question, [is that] there's always been the position that if somebody wants to hand the money back if they don't use it, that's up to them. But I'm not making that a policy position; it's just there, it's always been available for them to do."
He said his department had provided a hotline to help people pay back such benefits, and was already taking money from people who wished to do so. He added he was proud of what the Government had done to help pensioners. Asked if he would give up his own benefits, he replied: "I'm not asking them to give up their allowances."
His partial retreat came after Kenneth Clarke, the Conservative Minister Without Portfolio, and senior Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg and Vince Cable cast doubt on the idea of handing back the benefits. Mr Cameron's spokesman dodged questions about whether the Prime Minister supported Mr Duncan Smith's call.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments