Pi Lunch with The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP and Chairman of The Centre for Social Justice
Thursday 8th July 12:30pm, Mayfair

Iain Duncan Smith has been Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green since 1992 - when he succeeded Norman Tebbit.  Before entering Parliament, Iain served in the Scots Guards for six years.  He was posted to Rhodesia at the time of that country’s independence and in Northern Ireland.  From 1992 to 1997 Iain was a backbench MP and was an opponent of the Maastricht Treaty.  He was appointed to the shadow cabinet when William Hague became Conservative leader.  He held the social security and then the defence portfolios under William.  Iain was elected Conservative leader in September 2001 - at the time of the 9/11 attacks on America.  During his two years as Leader of the Opposition he supported action against Afghanistan and Iraq.  He forged close links with senior members of the US administration - relationships that still prosper today.  As Conservative leader he led the party towards a greater emphasis on public services.  His policies on school choice and NHS reform are still at the heart of today’s Conservative agenda.  During a visit to a family support centre in Gallowgate in the East end of Glasgow in 2002, Iain met Jannis Dobbie, a mother whose son Alan had just died from a drugs overdose after being released from prison.  Iain promised to do everything he could to tackle drug abuse and the other social problems tearing communities apart.  In October 2003, he established the Centre for Social Justice, of which he is Chairman.  Through this he has endeavoured to keep his promise to the people of Gallowgate, Easterhouse and many other communities throughout Britain and to continue his commitment to compassionate conservatism.

The Centre for Social Justice develops and promotes effective new approaches to tackle Britain’s poverty and most acute social problems.  Their work has had a substantial impact in both Westminster and beyond, with 39 major policy recommendations being adopted by Gordon Brown and 70 by David Cameron.  As a result of this success, in October 2009, they were awarded the Prospect Magazine ’Think Tank of the Year Award’. 

www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk

If you would like to attend please RSVP to Sara Nori

sn@picapital.co.uk

020 7529 5656