20/03/2016 BBC Weekend News

The former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith says

he resigned from the Government because he felt welfare policy

was heading in a direction that divides society rather

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, Mr Duncan Smith said

although he had supported a consultation on changes to some

disability benefits, he had come under massive pressure

to deliver savings ahead of last week's Budget.

Here's our political correspondent Alan Soady.

A former Conservative Party leader and now ex-cabinet minister

about to go on live TV with explosive accusations

I am concerned that this Government, that I want to succeed, is not able

to do the kind of thing is that it should because it has become too

focused narrowly getting the deficit down without being able to say where

that should fall other than simply on those who I think progressively

can less afford to have that fall on them. It was George Osborne's

priorities in Wednesday's Budget that pushed him. Iain Duncan Smith

had signed off on money-saving changes to disability benefits but

he said we did not know it would be alongside tax breaks for the

wealthy. Juxtaposed as it came through in the Budget was deeply

unfair and it was perceived to be unfair. That unfairness is damaging

to the Government, to the party and to the public. He said he was then

dismayed by the reports that the Government was thinking of undoing

the policy. It is a very peculiar way to try and set policy against

immediate agenda where you start Friday morning absolutely apparently

saying to everybody you must go out and defend it, then by Friday

evening you are drifting away from it

and then later on Friday evening you say you have kicked it into the long

grass. Overhauling the benefits system has been one of the

Government's flagship policies. George Osborne then set a welfare

limit on spending. I progressively got more and more depressed about

the idea that we were running to an arbitrary Budget agenda which had a

welfare cap in it. I am resigning because I want my Government to

think again about this and get back to that position that I believe in,

which is about being one nation. Iain Duncan Smith is on the other

side of the EU referendum debate to David Cameron and George Osborne but

he denies that is behind his resignation. Could there be any

other reason? These are series of body blows to the Chancellor.

Can I put it to you that you don't like him and he doesn't like you and

this has been simmering for years. There are people saying this is the

beginning of a coup against George Osborne and David Cameron. It wasn't

personal, he said, but his attack on George Osborne's and the

Government's priorities was savage. I care for one thing and one thing

only. It is the people that don't get the choices that my children get

our left behind. I do not want them to be left behind. Everything I do

has been about that. It is not easy. It is painful to resign, I don't

want to resign, but I am resigning because I think this is the only way

I can do this. Because what is happening at the moment is immoral?

I think it is in danger of drifting in a direction that divides society

rather than unites it and I think that is not fair. Downing Street

rejects its accusations and says it is improving opportunities for all

while protecting the vulnerable. But for a politician who once described

himself as a quiet man, Iain Duncan Smith is doing anything but going

quietly. Alan Soady joins me in the studio.

What do you make of this? This was a blistering attack. The Government

was shot by his resignation and the ferocity of his letter on Friday

evening. Today this was not just about his objection to one change to

disability benefit. He was questioning the fundamental

principles underpinning this Government. Really the question of

whose side are they on and going further than that and suggesting

that in his view the party leadership is on the wrong side, and

so much of that was aimed specifically, personally at the

Chancellor, George Osborne. Many in the Conservative Party will see that

that may well damage George Osborne's prospect of ever

potentially taking over from David Cameron as Prime Minister. This

whole affair since his resignation is causing bitter divisions within

the Conservative Party between those who think he is taking a principled

stand, and those who despite his denials today feel sure that this is

connected to trying to further his cause in the campaign to leave the

EU. Thank you. The European Union's new rules

for migrants crossing from Turkey From today, all migrants who don't

prove a case for asylum in Europe can expect to be sent

back to Turkey. But the rule hasn't stopped migrants

from attempting the trip Shortly after dawn,

our correspondent James Reynolds met one boat as it reached

the Greek island of Lesbos. It is just after dawn

here on the island of Lesbos and these are some of the first

migrants to arrive on these shores following the introduction

of the new system. They came on this

boat, this little one They were met by volunteers

and they are now being kept warm on the beach here,

provided with blankets The volunteers are making

sure that they are OK. It looked like their

condition was fine But these migrants now face

an uncertain fate here in Europe. Unlike everyone who arrived up till

yesterday at midnight, these people don't

know whether or not The terms of the new deal mean that

everyone you see here will have to go for an individual interview,

an individual hearing, If they are turned down,

they will get an appeal, and they may in just

two weeks' time be told by Europe to get on a boat

and to head back across these waters A bus carrying foreign students has

crashed in Spain killing at least 14 The passengers were returning

from a bonfire festival in Valencia when the bus overturned

on a motorway. The students on board were studying

at Barcelona University as part The nationalities of those killed

has not been confirmed. President Obama will arrive in Cuba

this evening for what will be the first visit to the island

by a serving US President The trip has taken months

of negotiation after President Obama and his Cuban counterpart

Raul Castro decided to reinstate Our correspondent

Will Grant is in Havana. In the year or so since President

Obama and Raul Castro decided to reinstate diplomatic ties, I have

covered the length and breadth of this island. People here keep saying

the same thing to me. They never thought they would live to see the

day. Today they really will see history in the making. A

presidential visit to consign the Cold War to the past.

It might be known as America's pastime but President Obama

will find Cubans just as passionate about baseball.

While in Havana, he would do well to come down to 12th Street to watch

the island's young talent play a few innings.

These children know there is an important visitor in town

but have little idea of just how historic his trip is.

Not since 1928 when Calvin Coolidge visited

the island has a sitting US President come to Cuba.

In those days relations were close, too close

After Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries took power,

there followed five decades of Cold War hostility including

the failed invasion of the Bay of Pigs.

But President Obama and Raul Castro have

reset the relationship, re-establishing diplomatic ties

and lifting trade and travel restrictions.

The White House says President Obama will hold talks with dissidents

and won't avoid the question of human rights while in Cuba.

The Cubans say he can raise whatever issues he likes.

Cuba of course is open to discuss and

exchange views with the United States about every issue

including human rights, democracy, whatever.

But Cuba has been very clear in saying

that those issues are not for negotiation so matters that

are internal decisions and the sovereignty

of the Cuban Government, the Cuban people, will not be

This trip will be a big test for the new

friendship with some tough questions on the table but most Cubans just

want to thank President Obama for turning the page on the past.

The Australian Grand Prix, the first of the season,

has been won by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

A dramatic race saw Fernando Alonso involved in this huge crash.

Remarkably the McLaren driver was able to walk away unscathed.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second

The next news on BBC One is at 18:15.