IDS admitted the party's conference had been "pretty awful", but he hoped it would be "cathartic" after three years of challenges in government.
"The Conservative Party at this conference stared over the edge and they stepped back after [the PM's] speech,"
"Now I hope people will recognise that there is no other way than to get behind Liz Truss and make it work for her." And for those who don't? They "need to grow up", he says. "If you go on changing your leaders with the polls the way they are now, you may as well head straight for the exit door right now."
And where does the former work and pensions secretary stand on raising benefits with inflation - the latest row going on in the party?
IDS says he understands why the PM would not commit to anything during the conference, ahead of the full budget next month. But he hints at wanting that rise, saying it was "stupid" to set the argument for keeping it lower against tax cuts for the wealthiest. "The last [benefit] rise was below inflation... so already benefits have come in under inflation," he says. "The next one in a way will be resetting the bar so it is stable."