The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith has been a Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green since 1992 - when he succeeded Norman Tebbit. Before entering Parliament The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith 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. He has also been a businessman - working in the defence and publishing sectors.

From 1992 to 1997 The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith 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.

He 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.

After losing the Conservative leadership in October 2003 he established the Centre for Social Justice to continue his commitment to compassionate conservatism.

The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith was born in 1954, the son of a hero of the Battle of Britain - Group Captain WGG Duncan Smith - and Pamela, a ballerina. The Right Honourable Iain Duncan Smith married Betsy in 1982. They have four children; two sons and two daughters.