Quotes from Iain Duncan Smith

That thing, 'You must stay together for the kids', is out of fashion but is right. It's not arguing parents that children don't like, it is having one parent.

My personal view is always I'm in favour of anything that gives parliament a greater say. That's after all what we were elected for.

The BBC is locked to the reading of the economy that is run out of Ed Miliband and Ed Balls' office. They think if only you spend and borrow more money you can create growth everywhere.

All too often, government's response to social breakdown has been a classic case of 'patching' - a case of handing money out, containing problems and limiting the damage but, in doing so, supporting - even reinforcing - dysfunctional behaviour.

With participation in politics so low at the moment I think Christians should ensure their views are represented at all levels and not leave it to others.

Aspiration, it seems, is in danger of becoming the preserve of the wealthy.

A system that was originally designed to support the poorest in society is now trapping them in the very condition it was supposed to alleviate.

After years of piecemeal reform the current welfare system is complex and unfair.

I do not believe the picture that some people paint of Scottish towns dependent on welfare. Every time I come here, I meet people who are determined to get into work. Who, with the right help are desperate to get off benefits, support their family and set an example for their children.

Due to the reliance on the old heavy industries in many parts of the country, it makes perfect sense that we need to spend more money per head of population on welfare support in Scotland.

Getting a family into work, supporting strong relationships, getting parents off drugs and out of debt - all this can do more for a child's well-being than any amount of money in out-of-work benefits.

Look, I've always said from the word go many years ago that I felt the whole bonus culture, they need to think very carefully about being detached from the rest of the British public.

Thankfully, due to the United Kingdom and the commitment of the Westminster government we are able to ensure that money brought in, whether it be from the City of London or from North Sea oil, can be pooled and directed to wherever it is needed most. That is what being in the United Kingdom is all about.

Too many couples break up without understanding the consequences for their families.

Well obviously the economy is critical to everything we do and we need to get the economy back in shape, the deficit down, the debt paid off, so that the economy can grow again and grow properly.

Every parent wants to know that their children are protected against those who have a particular agenda until they get old enough to make decisions for themselves.

Can there not be a limit to the fact that really you need to cut your cloth in accordance with what capabilities and finances you have?

No one out there is interested in who did what to whom in Westminster politics.

I hate this argument that says little Britain or something outside, or Britain is part of a wider Europe. We can both be within our trading relationships within Europe but we can also be a fantastic global trader.

If you look at the footballers, you look at our celebrity culture, we seem to be saying, 'This is the way you want to be'. We seem to be a society that celebrates all the wrong people.

When the news is good, the BBC view is: 'Get the government out of the picture quickly, don't allow them to say anything about it.' When the news is bad: 'Let's all dump on the government.'

The fact is that in too many communities in cities in Britain gangs now have become completely rooted into these communities and they destroy them around them.

The public thinks that homelessness is about not having any accommodation to go to.

We have to ensure that our immigration system works in the interests of Britain, enabling us to make a realistic promise to our young school-leavers. It is part of our contract with the British people.