Editing Iain Duncan Smith (section)

== Later backbench career ==
[[File:Official portrait of Mr Iain Duncan Smith crop 2.jpg|thumb|Duncan Smith in 2017]] In the [[2016 EU membership referendum]], Duncan Smith campaigned to [[Brexit|leave the EU]] working with the [[Vote Leave]] campaign, stating that staying in the EU "leaves the door open" to the UK enduring terrorist attacks.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 February 2016|title=Staying in EU "exposes UK to terror risk", says Iain Duncan Smith|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35624409|url-status=live|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920061336/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35624409|archive-date=20 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|date=26 June 2016|title=Iain Duncan Smith backtracks on leave side's £350m NHS claim|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/eu-referendum-brexit-vote-leave-iain-duncan-smith-nhs|access-date=8 June 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221160705/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/eu-referendum-brexit-vote-leave-iain-duncan-smith-nhs|url-status=live}}</ref> While he had opposed [[David Cameron]] over the referendum, sources close to Duncan Smith said his resignation as [[Work and Pensions Secretary]] was not about Europe.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 March 2016|title=Iain Duncan Smith quits: David Cameron "puzzled" by resignation|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35850200|url-status=live|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129013626/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35850200|archive-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

In the [[2019 Conservative Party leadership election|2019 Conservative leadership election]], Duncan Smith served as chairman for [[Boris Johnson]]'s leadership campaign, resulting in an emphatic win, with over 50% of MPs and 66% of the Conservative membership voting for Johnson to become the next Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Merrick|first=Rob|date=25 June 2019|title=Boris Johnson recruits former party leader Iain Duncan Smith to chair his campaign|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-tory-leadership-contest-iain-duncan-smith-jeremy-hunt-membership-conservative-party-a8973906.html|access-date=8 June 2020|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608222920/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-tory-leadership-contest-iain-duncan-smith-jeremy-hunt-membership-conservative-party-a8973906.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Tory leadership election: the full results|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2019/jun/13/conservative-leadership-election-full-results|access-date=8 June 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607023015/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2019/jun/13/conservative-leadership-election-full-results|url-status=live}}</ref> He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2020 New Year Honours]], for political and public service.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 62866
| date = 28 December 2019
| page = N2
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}}</ref> The honour sparked criticism, with more than 237,000 people signing an [[online petition]], set up by Labour Party activist Dr Mona Kamal Ahmed, a [[National Health Service]] psychiatrist, demanding that it be rescinded.<ref>{{cite news|author=James Morris|date=30 December 2019|title=More than 237,000 sign petition calling for Sir Iain Duncan Smith's knighthood to be blocked – AOL|work=Yahoo News UK|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/iain-duncan-smith-knighthood-petition-153503417.html|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101003918/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/iain-duncan-smith-knighthood-petition-153503417.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2020, Duncan Smith launched the [[Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China]], becoming the co-chair of the alliance in the UK with Labour peer, [[Helena Kennedy]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|title=MPs from eight nations voice fears over China|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mps-from-eight-nations-voice-fears-over-china-b0m569898|url-access=subscription|access-date=9 June 2020|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211127085850/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mps-from-eight-nations-voice-fears-over-china-b0m569898|url-status=live}}</ref> The alliance seeks to "promote a coordinated response between democratic states to challenges posed by the present conduct and future ambitions of the [[People's Republic of China]]. By developing a common set of principles and frameworks that transcend domestic party divisions and international borders, our democracies will be able to keep the rules-based and human rights systems true to their founding purposes."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Graham-Harrison|first=Emma|date=5 June 2020|title=Global alliance formed to counter China threat amid rising tensions|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/global-alliance-formed-to-counter-china-threat|access-date=9 June 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606040324/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/global-alliance-formed-to-counter-china-threat|url-status=live}}</ref> In a launch message, Duncan Smith explained, "This challenge will outlast governments and administrations and it transcends party politics."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bourke|first=Latika|date=4 June 2020|title=MPs from eight countries form new global coalition to counter China|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/mps-from-eight-countries-form-new-global-coalition-to-counter-china-20200604-p54zqj.html|access-date=9 June 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609111129/https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/mps-from-eight-countries-form-new-global-coalition-to-counter-china-20200604-p54zqj.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 March 2021, it was announced that Duncan Smith was one of five MPs to be sanctioned by the [[Chinese government]] for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation" about the country. He was subsequently banned from entering China, [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] and Chinese citizens and institutions became prohibited from doing business with him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uighurs: China bans UK MPs after abuse sanctions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56532569 |access-date=26 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326032227/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56532569 |url-status=live }}</ref> The sanctions were condemned by the Prime Minister and led the [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] to summon the Chinese ambassador.<ref>{{cite news |title=China sanctions: Boris Johnson praises MPs banned by Beijing for "shining a light on gross human rights violations" |url=https://news.sky.com/story/beijing-strikes-back-after-uk-sanctions-and-adds-senior-british-politicians-to-its-own-list-12256981 |agency=Sky News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Badge of honour' – China sanctions UK politicians for Xinjiang "lies" |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-sanctions-uk-entities-individuals-xinjiang-lies-2021-03-25 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

Following an incident in October 2021 in [[Manchester]] outside a [[Conservative Party Conference]] where Duncan Smith had a traffic cone put on his head and verbally harangued, in November 2022 a man had one charge of assault dismissed with "no case to answer" and two others were found not guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent.<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 October 2021|title=Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith says he is fine after street attack|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58787799|access-date=5 October 2021|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005015401/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58787799|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/man-accused-of-attacking-iain-duncan-smith-with-traffic-cone-is-cleared-12748259?utm_source=chatgpt.com |title=Man accused of attacking Iain Duncan Smith with traffic cone is cleared |work=Sky News |date=15 November 2022 |first=Shaheena |last=Uddin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/21/protesters-iain-duncan-smith-tory-scum-reasonable-court-rules |title=Reasonable for protesters to call Iain Duncan Smith 'Tory scum', court rules |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 2023 |first=Daniel |last=Boffey}}</ref>

Following the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]' victory in the [[2021 North Shropshire by-election|North Shropshire by-election]], Duncan Smith stated the government had lost focus due to stories about [[Partygate|Downing Street parties where COVID-19 rules were broken]]. Duncan Smith stated, "The prime minister needs to show really strongly that he doesn't just disapprove but is prepared to get rid of people who are breaking those rules."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59699135|title=Boris Johnson urged to make changes after North Shropshire by-election defeat|work=BBC News|date=17 December 2021|access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>

In July 2022, Duncan Smith announced his support for [[Liz Truss]] in the [[July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]] because she had done more than her opponents to "deliver the benefits of [[Brexit]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2022 |title=Iain Duncan Smith Says Liz Truss Has "Done The Most To Deliver Benefits Of Brexit" |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/former-conservative-leader-iain-duncan-smith-claims-liz-truss-has-done-the-most-to-deliver-benefits-of-brexit |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}</ref> Following Truss's appointment as leader of the Conservative Party, Duncan Smith called on his colleagues to  "unite" behind Truss or risk losing the next election.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Unite or it's over': Iain Duncan-Smith says Tories are "staring into the grave" and must now support Truss |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/andrew-marr/tories-must-unite-truss-iain-duncan-smith/ |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=LBC |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2022, Duncan Smith declined an offer to serve in [[Liz Truss's cabinet]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordon |first=Gavin |date=7 September 2022 |title=Iain Duncan Smith turns down Truss Cabinet job |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/iain-duncan-smith-turns-down-cabinet-job-liz-truss-b1023527.html |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> After [[Tom Tugendhat]] was chosen as [[Minister of State for Security]], Duncan Smith announced he was considering seeking the Chairmanship of the [[Foreign Affairs Select Committee]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/iain-duncan-smith-foreign-affairs/ | title='Sanctioned by China': Iain Duncan Smith considering running for Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee }}</ref>

In September 2022, Duncan Smith joined a number of senior Conservative Party members in calling for the Chinese government's invitation to the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|Queen's funeral]] to be withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-09-15 |title=Queen's funeral: "Extraordinary" to invite China, senior Tories say |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62913220 |access-date=2022-09-16}}</ref>

Duncan Smith endorsed [[Rishi Sunak]] in the [[October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The race to 100 – who are Tory MPs backing to be the next prime minister? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-race-to-100-who-are-tory-mps-backing-to-be-the-next-prime-minister-12726550 |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Duncan Smith was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 35.6% and an increased majority of 4,758.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chingford and Woodford Green – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001167 |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>