Duncan Smith resigns in escalating row over welfare reforms

In his resignation from the Cabinet letter, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said too much pressure had been put on him and his department to reduce disability benefits.

The shock move comes after mounting controversy over planned cuts to Personal Independence Payments, which are expected to affect 640,000 people.

Mr Duncan Smith added that the cuts were "not defensible" within a Budget that benefited higher earners.

Political correspondent Alex Forsyth reports.