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‘Row’ between Duncan Smith and Osborne played down
The Treasury has played down reports of a row between Chancellor George Osborne and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith over welfare reform.
The Daily Mail says Mr Duncan Smith called Mr Osborne’s staff “arrogant” and “rude” during weeks of stand-offs over planned benefit reforms.
But sources insisted their departments were “working well” together.
Mr Duncan Smith is said to want £3bn to scrap the existing benefits system and replace it with a single payment.
He insists this would save tens of billions of pounds over the next few years, but the Treasury is believed to be concerned about the start-up costs.
The Mail reports that, during discussions with Mr Osborne, Mr Duncan Smith complained that Treasury staff had behaved in an “appalling way” towards his department.