Quiet Man with form at DWP

The appointment of Iain Duncan-Smith by David Cameron as Work and Pensions Secretary in the new coalition cabinet was perhaps predictable.  But it also raises interesting questions.

Unlike his recent Labour predecessors, he’s someone who has formulated proposed policy on welfare reform and benefits through his Centre for Social Justice, rather than having other people, like David Freud formulate ideas on behalf of government.

But his agenda is unlikely to bring cheer to, or steady the quaking hearts of, people fearful of a rightwards reforming agenda.

The think-tank published a policy document entitled “Dynamic Benefits – Welfare That works”. That formulation alone gives you some idea of where Mr Duncan-Smith is likely to come from.

The report refers to the benefits system as “broken”.  It says that worklessness and poverty are “attributable in no small measure to the benefits system, which in alleviating the experience of poverty has also entrenched and perpetuated its causes: the lack of employment and earnings.”

In particular, the report singles out for attention as people on benefits who need moving off them, young people and lone parents.

The emphasis is very much on work as a real and necessary alternative to benefits.

“People need to be recognised as dynamic, active participants in the economy, not as static, passive recipients of cash transfers.”

For those who expressed alarm at the Labour government’s increasing emphasis on getting people into work and off benefits, and the likely impact that would have on disabled people, rhetoric like this is certain to increase concern.

If he continues to follow his think-tank’s train of thought, Mr Duncan-Smith could be instituting and overseeing welfare reform much closer to that which was advocated by David Freud and subsequently somewhat diluted by the Labour government.

However, we can take heart from the fact that, while Labour’s former care minister Phil Hope was vacillating on the future of Disability Living Allowance, Duncan-Smith’s party came out in full support of its retention.