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Departmental questions send IDS into Downfall overdrive Departmental questions send IDS into Downfall overdrive
(7 months later)
“I-refer-the-honourable-gentleman-to-the-answer-I-didn’t-give-a-moment-ago.” While David Cameron was frantically scurrying around for an EU compromise, one of his least trusted – at least on Europe – lieutenants was relaxed to the point of being semi-comatose. This isn’t an entirely new look for Iain Duncan Smith: ever since the Tory party shifted him to the margins of power, the work and pensions secretary has frequently given the impression that he finds attending the House of Commons a bit of a chore.“I-refer-the-honourable-gentleman-to-the-answer-I-didn’t-give-a-moment-ago.” While David Cameron was frantically scurrying around for an EU compromise, one of his least trusted – at least on Europe – lieutenants was relaxed to the point of being semi-comatose. This isn’t an entirely new look for Iain Duncan Smith: ever since the Tory party shifted him to the margins of power, the work and pensions secretary has frequently given the impression that he finds attending the House of Commons a bit of a chore.
Last week he made one of his junior ministers answer an urgent question about the court of appeal ruling the bedroom tax to be discriminatory, but on Monday he found himself unable to avoid making the extra effort of defending his actions at departmental questions.Last week he made one of his junior ministers answer an urgent question about the court of appeal ruling the bedroom tax to be discriminatory, but on Monday he found himself unable to avoid making the extra effort of defending his actions at departmental questions.
It could just be an unfortunate mannerism, but everything about IDS suggests he is doing the world a favour merely by inhabiting it. His eyes narrow at the prospect of being raised to look on his intellectual and moral inferiors, and his voice is laced with fatigue and contempt. Every sentence is a monotone race to the end, whose underlying purpose is to underscore how badly his time is being wasted.It could just be an unfortunate mannerism, but everything about IDS suggests he is doing the world a favour merely by inhabiting it. His eyes narrow at the prospect of being raised to look on his intellectual and moral inferiors, and his voice is laced with fatigue and contempt. Every sentence is a monotone race to the end, whose underlying purpose is to underscore how badly his time is being wasted.
It took a while for IDS to allow his disdain full rein, as in the early exchanges on the bedroom tax he once again allowed his junior minister Justin Tomlinson to take the flak. IDS couldn’t have a better wingman; for a man who once ran the Eros nightclub in Swindon, Tomlinson gives little sign of feeling the love.It took a while for IDS to allow his disdain full rein, as in the early exchanges on the bedroom tax he once again allowed his junior minister Justin Tomlinson to take the flak. IDS couldn’t have a better wingman; for a man who once ran the Eros nightclub in Swindon, Tomlinson gives little sign of feeling the love.
No, he wasn’t going to confirm that 75% of those who were unable to find alternative accommodation had been forced to cut back on food and heating. Let’s face it, most of them could probably do with losing a bit of weight and being a bit chilly might encourage them to get out of the house more. Why was Labour always so keen to look on the downside of everything?No, he wasn’t going to confirm that 75% of those who were unable to find alternative accommodation had been forced to cut back on food and heating. Let’s face it, most of them could probably do with losing a bit of weight and being a bit chilly might encourage them to get out of the house more. Why was Labour always so keen to look on the downside of everything?
Related: Disabled child's family 'mad angry' over Tories' bedroom tax appeal
Eventually, though, IDS was pinned in the spotlight. “Ah!” exclaimed shadow employment minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. “It’s good to see the minister has finally screwed up the courage to come to the dispatch box.”Eventually, though, IDS was pinned in the spotlight. “Ah!” exclaimed shadow employment minister Nick Thomas-Symonds. “It’s good to see the minister has finally screwed up the courage to come to the dispatch box.”
The quiet man was no longer quite so quiet. “I won’t take lessons in courage from the gentleman opposite,” he spat menacingly. “What takes no courage is sitting next to a leader who talks about getting into bed with terrorists.”The quiet man was no longer quite so quiet. “I won’t take lessons in courage from the gentleman opposite,” he spat menacingly. “What takes no courage is sitting next to a leader who talks about getting into bed with terrorists.”
As there was no sign of Jeremy Corbyn in the house, it wasn’t clear if IDS was trying to claim that the bedroom tax would prevent lefties from getting into bed with terrorists or was forcing them into depraved, group sex. Either way, it was a disturbing thought.As there was no sign of Jeremy Corbyn in the house, it wasn’t clear if IDS was trying to claim that the bedroom tax would prevent lefties from getting into bed with terrorists or was forcing them into depraved, group sex. Either way, it was a disturbing thought.
Labour’s Rupa Huq wisely didn’t ask for clarification. Instead she sought to move the argument on. Did he really think it was a sensible idea to spend more money on appealing the court’s decision rather than just handing over the £200,000 or so it would cost to make sure that every disabled person wasn’t out of pocket?Labour’s Rupa Huq wisely didn’t ask for clarification. Instead she sought to move the argument on. Did he really think it was a sensible idea to spend more money on appealing the court’s decision rather than just handing over the £200,000 or so it would cost to make sure that every disabled person wasn’t out of pocket?
IDS went into Downfall overdrive. Never had his vision of a Thousand Year Bedroom Tax been so traduced. He was going to appeal against the decision not just because he was right and the judges were all hopelessly wrong but also for the little people. He was doing it for the weak and the hungry. Especially those he had made weaker and hungrier. Couldn’t Labour see that it was far better to make all payments discretionary? If the bedroom tax discriminated against everyone, it couldn’t really count as discrimination. Eros nodded his approval; Labour looked confused. Job done.IDS went into Downfall overdrive. Never had his vision of a Thousand Year Bedroom Tax been so traduced. He was going to appeal against the decision not just because he was right and the judges were all hopelessly wrong but also for the little people. He was doing it for the weak and the hungry. Especially those he had made weaker and hungrier. Couldn’t Labour see that it was far better to make all payments discretionary? If the bedroom tax discriminated against everyone, it couldn’t really count as discrimination. Eros nodded his approval; Labour looked confused. Job done.