Iain Duncan Smith’s appointment is a triumph for the welfare agenda

Of all the Cabinet positions announced so far, one is more eyecatching, and holds more promise, than all the rest: Iain Duncan Smith has been appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  Through his work with the Centre for Social Justice, IDS has shown that he not only knows his way intimately around the welfare brief, but cares deeply about it too.  The hope now is that this will energise the Tories’ welfare-to-work policies, and also put the CSJ’s crucial benefit reforms on the government’s agenda.  On a day when unemployment has risen once again, this may prove to be one of the best decisions that Prime Minister Cameron ever makes.