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Iain Duncan Smith attacks 'unfair' budget in first interview since resigning

Former Work and Pensions Security accuses government of making 'arbitrary cuts' which he says damages the party and the country.

In his first interview since his shock resignation on Friday, Duncan Smith accusing David Cameron and George Osborne of balancing the books on the backs of struggling working people and the vulnerable.

In an emergency reshuffle of the Cabinet Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb was named as the new Work and Pensions Secretary.

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Morgan claims disability cuts are just a 'suggestion'

Nicky Morgan says proposed disability cuts are only a 'suggestion' Credit: Nick Ansell/PA

Conservative MP Nicky Morgan has claimed the proposed cuts to disability benefits, over which some Tory backbenchers are threatening to revolt, are just a "suggestion" and nothing has yet been put in place to instigate them.

Speaking on BBC1's Question Time Morgan appeared to be attempting to row back on the £1.3 billion a year cut to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) that was announced in this week's Budget saying it was still being "discussed".

This is a measure that is still being discussed in Government.

It is something that has been put forward, there has been a review, there has been a suggestion, we are not ready to bring the legislation forward.

We want there to be control of the welfare budget. We also made it very clear that we are not going to balance the books on the back of the poor and the disabled and we absolutely hold to that promise.

– Nicky Morgan

The education secretary's comments came amid growing unrest within the party over the squeeze on PIP's which could see an estimated 370,000 people possibly being £3,500 worse off a year.

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Iain Duncan Smith attacks 'unfair' budget in first interview since resigning

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