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Iain Duncan Smith twisted the knife on David Cameron today as he accused the Prime Minister of having a "low opinion of the British people".

In a searing blue-on-blue attack, Work and Pensions Secretary claimed the PM's EU campaign was so cowardly that "I don't know why anybody would want to run a country like this".

The Tory welfare chief avoided mentioning his boss by name - but left his meaning crystal clear by blasting the claim Brexit would be a "leap into the dark".

That warning is the key catchphrase being used by the Prime Minister as he urges voters to remain in the EU in the In/Out referendum on June 23.

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Mr Duncan Smith ramped up hostilities by demanding access to civil servant's research about the EU, which has been blocked to the six Brexit -backing ministers.

And he said he would rather be sacked from his job directing hated Tory welfare cuts than back down over his eurosceptic campaign.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I say this to those who say they want to remain in.

"I have never heard such a lot of pessimistic, downsizing of Britain's aspect. Britain is a phenomenal country, the fifth largest in the world.

"It has stood alone and fought for freedom. It has traded, it has global trade.

"Why would we have such a low opinion of the British people that we go out and we talk about leaping into the dark?

(Image: PA)

"We talk about profound shocks, we talk about them not being capable, that we're too small.

"My view is Britain is a great country. The people here are inventive, innovative, and they will find a way with us to have a real deal that gives Britain access to the world.

"The in campaign's whole strategy seems to be, 'Ooh, it's terrible, hang on for nurse for fear of something worse.'

"It's been about saying we're too small, we're too little, we're too inconsequential, we can't do what we want.

"I don't know why anybody would want to run a country like this."

He insisted Brexit would be "a stride into the light," adding: "It's about hope versus pessimism."

(Image: BBC)

The cabinet minister refused to say he would resign after the referendum despite claiming rules advocated by his Prime Minister could endanger the British people.

But he said he would rather be sacked in a reshuffle than step down, telling the Sunday Telegraph: "If my face no longer fits, my face no longer fits.

"My big passion is welfare reform. But Europe goes over everything."

Mr Duncan Smith was challenged on live TV over his clash with the Prime Minister by Labour's Shadow Business Secretary Angela Eagle.

(Image: BBC)

She told him: "There's four more months of this and you are meant to be running the country while this is going on.

"It's a farrago of blue-on-blue attacks and total incoherence. I've never seen anything like it."

Mr Duncan Smith claimed Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had been a eurosceptic until the instant the referendum campaign began in earnest.

But Ms Eagle shot back that just five Labour MPs will back Brexit - compared to around half of the 331 Tories in the Commons.