Iain Duncan Smith

The Right Honourable George Iain Duncan Smith (born April 9, 1954) is a British politician. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green, and was leader of the Conservative Party from September 12, 2001 to November 6, 2003. On October 29, 2003 he lost a vote of confidence in his leadership and stepped down eight days later when Michael Howard assumed the post, being the only candidate.

Rise to political prominence

A fervent Eurosceptic, Duncan Smith was a constant thorn in John Major's side during 1992-7, doing his level best to disrupt Major's pro-European agenda at the time (something that would often be raised during his own leadership when calling for the party to unite behind him). Duncan Smith remained on the backbenches until 1997 when as a supporter of William Hague he was promoted to the shadow cabinet. Hague resigned after being defeated in the 2001 general election, and Duncan Smith was elected leader of the Conservatives over Kenneth Clarke on September 12, 2001. Duncan Smith was initially seen as an outside candidate, but his support was bolstered when Margaret Thatcher publicly announced that he was her preferred candidate. As a mark of respect for the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the announcement of his win was delayed until September 13, 2001.

Related Topics:
Eurosceptic - John Major - Backbenches - 1997 - William Hague - Shadow cabinet - 2001 general election - Kenneth Clarke - September 12 - 2001 - Margaret Thatcher - September 11 - September 13

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Duncan Smith is a Catholic convert, and his election led to criticism by some anti-Catholic groups of the supposed Catholicisation of British politics (Charles Kennedy of the Liberal Democrats is a Catholic; Prime Minister Tony Blair is married to a Catholic, Cherie Booth, and regularly attends Mass in Westminster Cathedral). Ironically, one of the responsibilities of being Prime Minister, a post sought by all three for reasons unconnected with this role, is the selection of Church of England bishops for appointment by the Queen. There has never been a Catholic Prime Minister, and the Catholic Relief Act 1839 makes it illegal for a Roman Catholic to directly or indirectly advise the Sovereign on appointments in the Church of England.

Related Topics:
Catholic - Charles Kennedy - Liberal Democrats - Prime Minister - Tony Blair - Cherie Booth - Mass - Westminster Cathedral - Church of England - Bishop - Queen - Catholic Relief Act 1839

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In 2002, the TV programme Newsnight caused some embarrassment when probing Duncan Smith's curriculum vitae, which had been in circulation for years, for example, being reproduced in the authoritative annual Dod's Guide to Parliament for the previous ten years. The CV claimed that he had attended the University of Perugia when he had in fact only attended a series of short private language courses across the road from the university, and a claim that he had attended the prestigious Durnsford College of Management turned out to have been a weekend course in some halls rented from the college.

Related Topics:
2002 - Newsnight - Dod's - University of Perugia - Durnsford College of Management

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