IDS to face leadership vote tomorrow (From This Is Local London)

IDS to face leadership vote tomorrow

3:23pm Tuesday 28th October 2003

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North London MP Iain Duncan Smith will face a vote of confidence in his leadership of the Conservative Party, it was announced today.

25 Tory MPs have written to the chairman of the backbenchers' committee, requesting the leadership vote be called.

The Chingford MP yesterday threw down the gauntlet to MPs, telling them to 'make Wednesday the final deadline' for letters to come in. Conservative Central Office confirmed this afternoon (Tuesday) that the leadership would be put to the vote.

Of the four MPs who publicised their desire for a change in party leadership, two represent London constituencies.

Reigate's Crispin Blunt and Derek Conway of Old Bexley and Sidcup have faced fierce criticism from faithful followers of Mr Duncan Smith, after calling for a new face to fight the next general election.

Yesterday Mr Duncan Smith told the party that speculation over his future was damaging the party.

"I honestly believe that a leadership contest would plunge the Conservative Party into chaos and destroy our chances of winning the next election. I am sure that Tony Blair and Charles Kennedy are praying for it," he said.

"Their MPs, many of them in seats Conservatives can and should win at the next election, are desperate to see us disunited and rancorous."

But Mr Conway was unrepentant, telling Local London's sister publication, the Bexley NewsShopper: "Iain Duncan Smith must go. We have paid out £500,000 in redundancy pay at Conservative Party Central Office in the last year, to people whose appointments have soured.

"These were all IDS appointments.

"If he was the chief executive of a business he would have been fired long since. If he cannot run Central Office how can he run the country?"

Derek Conway has long been a public supporter of David Davis for the Tory Party leadership.

The confidence vote is expected to take place at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the backbenchers’ 1922 committee.

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