EXCLUSIVE: Iain Duncan Smith declares for David Cameron

The text below has been submitted exclusively to ConservativeHome by Iain Duncan Smith:

"This leadership race has been good for the Conservative Party.  It has been conducted with civility and humour.  That is to the enormous credit of both of the final two contenders.  The Conservative Party has been in the national eye and the public have liked what it has seen.  The party looks fresher than it has done for a long time.  It certainly appears more united than an increasingly fractious and discredited Labour Government.

The other great achievements of the last six months have been that the Conservative Party looks more democratic and that it has renewed its one nation tradition.

The battle for internal party democracy that defined much of the early months of this contest was won by the democrats.  It was essential that we won.  A party that champions localism in the public services and democracy across the world could not deny its own members a say in its most important internal decision.  The involvement of party members has certainly enriched the contest.  The leadership wasn’t decided behind the closed doors of MPs’ offices.  The leadership candidates had to appeal to party members in every part of the country – to Conservatives in seats held by the party and in regions where we have no representation.  The enfranchisement of rank-and-file members made Blackpool the most exciting conference for many years.  Imagine how it would have been if we had kept it amongst MPs?

The Conservative Party’s commitment to democracy must not stop here, however.  Still bigger strides are necessary if we are to become a truly open party.  Theresa May, as my Party Chairman, began a process of open primary selection for parliamentary seats.  We need more of that openness to the views of the people we need to win elections.

The other great advance of this leadership election has been the renewal of the party’s one nation tradition.  All of the major candidates have spoken at my Centre for Social Justice and have seasoned their platforms with commitments to Britain’s most vulnerable people.  Liam Fox championed the mentally ill and women who have been victims of domestic violence.  Ken Clarke described the impact of public service failure on the poorest families.  David Davis outlined an international justice agenda that would appeal to the wristband generation.  David Cameron launched the CSJ’s Alliance of poverty-fighting organisations and has promised support for a new era of social entrepreneurship.

Labour has failed to tackle our nation’s deepest forms of poverty.  Its indifference to the stability produced by marriage and its confused drugs policies have undermined structure in communities.  Gordon Brown’s stealth taxes and benefits maze have undermined incentives to work.  There has rarely been a greater need for one nation Conservatism. 

Throughout this process I have listened carefully to each of the candidates and consulted many of the voluntary groups that are part of the CSJ’S Alliance.  They have genuinely been encouraged by the emphasis that all of the candidates have placed on social justice.  They have enjoyed meeting them and they have felt that they have been listened to.

The whole party has made big promises to society’s poorest people.  Those poorest people have turned away from politics because they have been repeatedly failed by here today, gone tomorrow politicians and their promises.  Keeping our party’s promises to hard-pressed neighbourhoods is not just about social justice.  It’s also about restoring integrity to political life.

I have now cast my ballot after having given every candidate access to the CSJ and its network of poverty-fighters for visits and speeches.  That process of full and fair access ended last week.  I have voted for David Cameron.  It wasn’t an easy decision as I’ve been impressed by David Davis’ candidacy.  His policies on patient choice and tuition fees are, for example, close to my own.  However, I chose David Cameron after being struck by the growing belief amongst the voluntary groups working in the hardest pressed communities that he is best placed to deliver for them.

After six months of renewed unity and purpose my greatest hope is that the party won’t return to old, destructive ways once this contest is over.  The parliamentary party almost needs a year zero.  The election of David Cameron offers the party a great chance of a fresh start.  He has promised to lead a team of all talents and I hope that that will include a substantial role for David Davis.

Whoever wins, this is the moment that the parliamentary party must to a man and woman determine to give that leader their unstinting support.  Of course debate and argument are legitimate as we shape our future direction but this has to be done in the context of support for the leader.  There must be no more noises off and personal briefings that have poisoned our party for too long."

Comments

[John Reeks]

...And I hope IDS is offered a job. He has a lot to offer the party and the country.

[Selsdon Man]

I would be grateful if the Editor, as a close associate of IDS, could tell us what he thinks of Mr Cameron's support for drug liberalisation.

[wasp]

Jolly good. I assume this means IDS approves of social entrepreneurship schemes etc.

The CSJ covers a crucial area of policy so I find it reassuring that IDS believes Cameron can deliver.

[George]

John Reeks - DC has always been very clear that he will be relying on the support and advice of more experienced colleagues. It's good to know that he can count on IDS.

[Samuel Coates]

IDS 4 Shadow Home Secretary, failing that ID or Defence.

[Oberon Houston]

Sorry, I'm going to spoil the party folks, but... well well, all the Right Wingers rushing to smother Cameron with praise now he is a dead cert. There is a bit of unashamed opportunism going on here. I'd be surprised if Cameron can get a word in edge-ways once he's elected you know.

IDS would have more respect from me if his 'exclusive' was slightly more candid, instead of releasing this mountain of squidgy guff on us at the last minute. Yawn.

[wasp]

"squidgy guff"

This is IDS, The Tory Party's own MR Cellophane I will have you know.

[Sam]

It would appear Oberon, that the quiet man has turned up the volume.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Oberon, I think the fact that so many senior figures from all wings of the Party have publically backed Cameron - whatever their motives - means that (assuming a DC victory) we have an excellent chance of party unity and strength leading into the next election.

[Chris Palmer]

I am impressed. An exclusive from IDS; this site just gets better and better.

I wonder what would happen if David Davis actually won? He would have less than half of the Parliamentary support in the Conservative party. A dangerous position to be in I would have said, as Mr Duncan Smith unfortunately found out.

[malcolm thomas]

well well, all the Right Wingers rushing to smother Cameron with praise now he is a dead cert - says Oberon.

Don't agree with that Obe. What was so striking about the so-called Right-wingers is that so many voted for Cameron and not Fox, who you would have imagined to be the eurosceptic's choice. They said Cameron would pull Ken Clarke's backers, but he instead chalked up a batch of eurosceptics, new localists and so on, and David Davis did the deal on keeping the EPP for two more years to get the Clarke boys into his tent.

I would give IDS the benefit of your doubt. If he says the voluntary organisations are impressed with Cameron, then I would believe them, and I would also give credit to IDS for representing their views here.

I could understand you being cynical about Blair after eight inglorious years of failure to deliver, but Cameron hasn't even started yet. Try a little optimism. You might find it does you good too. And the Conservative Party can flourish buoyed up by the coming together of the team behind a new undisputed leader. ENJOY, OBE. It's been a long time a-comin

[Samuel Coates]

Despite my outburst about Shadow Home Sec etc, which was basically showing my full support for him, I think the consensus with most people is that his agenda is a good one and that should be reflected in a relevant ministerial role - he would arguably have more influence in a 'lesser role' so that he is both effective in his portfolio and able to work with CSJ etc.

[Jacob Traff]

Anyone who doubted David Cameron't right-wing credentials should be satisfied with the endorsement of Mr Duncan Smith. Mr Cameron has support right across the ideological spectrum of the party.

I still have this fear in the back of my mind that Mr Cameron will start changing too much - but I am willing to take the chance. If Mr Cameron succeeds the benefits for the party and the country will be enormous.

[Selsdon Man]

Still no word from the Ed on IDS's views on Cameron's drugs views. The silence is deafening. Is our Ed at odds with his CSJ colleague? I think we should be told! Come on Tim!

[Samuel Coates]

Selsdon Man, just because you and I may today have the luxury of time to check the same thing within just over an hour doesn't mean that the Editor does!

[Nelson, Norfolk]

Good on you IDS. You have backed a winner. If "anyone can Cameron can" unite the Party.

I do hope that all members of the Parlamentary Party will get behind DC.

There has been enough back stabbing in the Party during the past few years and as you all know it has cost us dearly in votes.This type of behaviour has got to stop now.

[Selsdon Man]

I am teasing Tim, Samuel. The Quiet Man was quiet on drugs, a major issue discussed at Davis's speech to the CSJ.

[James Turner]

Wasn't this obvious? Cameron has shown that on many things he is at least as right wing as Davis and we've known that IDS doesn't like or particularly rate Davis (taking after John Major in that respect).

"Sorry, I'm going to spoil the party folks, but... well well, all the Right Wingers rushing to smother Cameron with praise now he is a dead cert. There is a bit of unashamed opportunism going on here"

Don't underestimate how difficult Hague and Fox and IDS have found working with Davis.

[Damon Lambert]

Its a bit like all those South American countries who all declared war on Germany in the first week of May 1945

[Samuel Coates]

..in order to secure membership of the UN.

It's not like Cameron isn't sensible enough to appoint big guns from different wings anyway.

This is a positive thing, we have a pretty figurehead with a strong cabinet around him.

[not necessarily so]

"Anyone who doubted David Cameron't right-wing credentials should be satisfied with the endorsement of Mr Duncan Smith. Mr Cameron has support right across the ideological spectrum of the party"

These two comments contradict each other.

[Edgar]

IDS is a little man who wants a job. Never overlook the obvious.

[puzzled]

Er, what does this mean?

"There must be no more noises off and personal briefings that have poisoned our party for too long."

[hayek's grandad]

"This leadership race has been good for the Conservative Party. It has been conducted with civility and humour."

I can only assume he hasn't been reading some of the posts on here.