Duncan Smith, Iain (1954-…), a British politician, served as leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, and the opposition in the House of Commons, from 2001 to 2003. Duncan Smith gained most of his support among right-wing members of the Conservative Party. He advocated such policies as keeping the British pound as the currency of the United Kingdom instead of adopting the euro; instituting capital punishment; and reducing European influence within the United Kingdom.
Duncan Smith was born in Edinburgh. His father was a successful and well-known pilot in World War II (1939-1945). Duncan Smith attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst from 1974 to 1975. In 1975, he joined the Scots Guards, a foot soldier regiment in the British Army. He served in Canada, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). After leaving the Guards in 1981, Duncan Smith pursued a career in marketing in the defense industry.
Duncan Smith entered politics in 1987. That year, he failed to win election as the member of Parliament (MP) representing Bradford West. In 1992, he was elected MP for Chingford. In 1997, after William Hague became leader of the Conservative Party, Duncan Smith became the party’s spokesman for social security. In 1999, he became its spokesman for defense. Hague resigned in 2001 after the Conservative Party lost a general election to the Labour Party by a wide margin. Duncan Smith was then elected to lead the Conservatives.
After Conservative David Cameron became prime minister, Duncan Smith served as secretary of state for work and pensions from 2010 to 2016.
See also Cameron, David; Conservative Party; Hague, William.
