Feared as a potential threat to the Tory leadership David Davis has been removed as Chairman of the party and replaced by Theresa May. Just what is going on inside the Conservative Party? We investigate.
It was billed as a reshuffle: but it looks remarkably like a way of punishing the Tory Party Chairman, David Davis. Less than ten months after taking the job, Iain Duncan-Smith has replaced Mr Davis, in absentia, and given him a job shadowing John Prescott. Theresa May, who has been the party's spokeswoman on transport, is the new party chairman.
Iain Duncan Smith flanked by David Davis
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As we reported on Monday the ex Party Chairman, who is at present on holiday in Florida, has clearly made a number of enemies in the Shadow Cabinet. Anonymous briefings in the press have accused him variously of being no good at the job, a barrier to vital modernisation, and dangerously ambitious.
On today's programme we hear from our political Andrew Marr on the machinations at the heart of the Conservatives, from the grass-roots activist John Strafford on what Iain Duncan-Smith is trying to do. And from the deputy leader of the party Michael Ancram.
That's the World At One at 13.00bst with Nick Clarke.
Tuesday, 23 July, 2002, 11:54 GMT 12:54 UK
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