Duncan Smith takes on opponents
Embattled Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith fought back against his critics with a strongly worded speech at the Conservative Party conference.
Speaking in Blackpool on Thursday, Mr Duncan Smith lashed out at Tony Blair’s government and called for the Prime Minister’s resignation, declaring, “He should do the decent thing and he should resign.”
The Tory leader attacked the Labour Party over its handling of the Paddington rail disaster and September 11th and accused the Government of lying about its own political record.
And, he claimed that “the government used Dr David Kelly as a pawn in its battle with the BBC – his death was first and foremost a tragedy for those who loved him. But it shamed our country.”
“Tony Blair is alright for the telly,” Mr Duncan Smith declared. “But he is all wrong for the country.”
After telling Tory critics not to underestimate “the quiet man” at last year’s conference, this year Mr Duncan Smith announced, “The quiet man is here to stay and he’s turning up the volume.”
Responding to inner party squabbling and reported plots to launch a leadership challenge he told critics within the party “You either want my mission or you want Tony Blair. There is no third way.”
The Conservative Party leader warned delegates that the only alternative to his leadership was election defeat and announced “My mission is to take the Conservative Party back to government.”
Mr Duncan Smith accused Mr Blair of not having the guts to call a referendum on the euro, claiming that it presented a “threat to our very nationhood”.
His speech at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool ended with the insistence that the Tory party’s mission is to bring hope to those disillusioned with Labour.
“Our mission, our duty, is to fight for them, to be strong for them and together to win for them,” he declared.
Mr Duncan Smith’s speech was greeted with a lengthy ovation from party supporters.
