I D S.

[gulliver1]

How many people A/B . Think that Iain Duncan Smith should recieve a KNIGHOOD for his services to The Nation.?

[JimF]

Answering the OP's question rather than criticising his (admittedly appalling!) spelling, grammar and punctuation, no I do not think IDS should receive a knighthood.

This is partly because of the Universal Credit system of which he was the principal architect, but mainly because I don't believe anyone should receive such "honours" in what is a completely anachronistic system and completely irrelevant to modern times. What possible relevance does being a "knight" have anyway? Does it mean (like it used to) that he will don his sword and armour and fight for the King against the French?

And the thought of anything to do with the British Empire is completely abhorrent to me.

[ToraToraTora]

he should get it for the genius of UC alone.

[Togo]

He deserves the Knighthood and a holiday in Mustique to celebrate.

[ladybirder]

I'm sure I read somewhere that it is the mistakes in the implementation that is the problem with UC, not the system itself.

[jackthehat]

IDS was the person tasked with stream-lining and rationalising the increasingly unwieldy behemoth that the Benefits system had become.

The implementation of Universal Credit has had teething troubles and some people have been seriously affected by the roll-out but, on the whole, the system ought to be better 'value for money' for the Taxpayer and easier for the end-user.

As to whether he deserves a knighthood, or not, he attained great heights in the political heirarchy and such awards are generally given when that happens....

[Apc2604]

Should IDS be held responsible for a scheme which has failed because of maladministration? The scheme itself is good. I agree with JTH. Personally, I have a lot respect for IDS and his contribution to parliament over a long period.
There are others that I think are far less worthy of an honour.

[ToraToraTora]

like community charge before it UC addressed a valid issue but the great unwashed were horrified so kicked up a stink and the hard of thinking joined in the hysteria. IDS deserves his K not just for this but he was a previous party leader and they usually get honoured somehow, even agent Cob will probably get at least a K, probably get kicked upstairs.

[david small]

I agree with 3T. IDSs efforts were thwarted by obfuscation and ignorance. The intention was honourable, the implementation not so well thought through.

[Khandro]

Whenever Corbyn has a choice between supporting democracy or an anti-Western despot, he chooses the latter, he appeared on Iranian Press TV in the wake of a brutal crackdown by the Iranian regime which has executed 4,000-6,000 gay men and women since 1979.

[Khandro]

sorry, wrong thread.

[Apc2604]

Actually, IDS is one of the few politicians that I have respect for.