'Betsygate' official leaves role

A number of senior Tory officials have faced the chop

The Tory official at the centre of the Betsygate row is to leave her senior role at Conservative Central Office.

Vanessa Gearson, the party's deputy director, is the latest change in a clear-out of senior Tory officials.

Dr Gearson, who is expected to leave in the next few days, will continue as the party's candidate for Cheltenham at the next General Election.

Tim Harman, chair of the Cheltenham Tory constituency association, says she leaves with a lot of goodwill.

Parliamentary watchdog

Dr Gearson was a key figure in the row over former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith's employment of his wife Betsy as a secretary.

She leaves with a lot of goodwill and we obviously welcome the fact she will be able to devote more time to the constituency Tim Harman Chairman of the Cheltenham Conservative constituency association

Parliamentary standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer is still investigating those claims, but Mr Duncan Smith has insisted the inquiry will exonerate him and his wife.

Dr Gearson, who has given evidence to Sir Philip, raised concerns about Mrs Duncan Smith's work in an internal email which was later leaked.

In it, she questioned whether Mrs Duncan Smith did enough work as a diary and secretarial aid to her husband to justify her salary which was paid out of the public purse.

Following the leak and the launch of an inquiry Dr Gearson, who was working as head of Mr Duncan Smith's private office, made it clear she intended to "tell the truth ... no matter what the cost".

Dr Gearson's imminent departure comes just a day after new leader Michael Howard ditched Paul Baverstock, the party's director of strategic communications, news chief Nick Wood and head of broadcasting Nick Longworth.

Sell off

The trio, all in Mr Duncan Smith's close entourage, are to be replaced by officials hand-picked by Mr Howard.

Commenting on Dr Gearson's departure, Mr Harman said: "It is the normal procedure when you have a new leader - they like to bring their own people in.

"She leaves with a lot of goodwill and we obviously welcome the fact she will be able to devote more time to the constituency."

Mr Howard has also appointed two party chairmen: advertising guru Lord Saatchi to run Conservative Central Office and Dr Fox to take charge of campaigning, media and policy.

And on Tuesday, the Tory board agreed to sell Central Office, the party's home since the 1950s, and move to a new, more suitable premises as soon as possible.