Tory squabblers told to 'shut up'

Tory squabblers told to 'shut up'

Michael Portillo has prompted speculation of a leadership tussle

Senior Conservative figures have backed party leader Iain Duncan Smith, as he himself attacked critics amid speculation of a leadership challenge.

Shadow Health Secretary Liam Fox told the leader's critics to "shut up", in an attempt to end days of feverish speculation about Mr Duncan Smith's future.

Former prime minister John Major also warned that people were losing patience with the squabbles among the Tories.

But leading moderniser John Bercow, who quit the shadow cabinet several weeks ago over Mr Duncan Smith's opposition to gay adoptions, warned of a possible leadership challenge in the near future.

People are absolutely losing patience with the squabbles

Former PM John Major

"It is certainly possible. I think it could happen sooner rather than later. There is clearly grave disquiet," he told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost.

The recent wrangling began when former shadow chancellor Michael Portillo criticised Mr Duncan Smith for sacking modernist chief executive Mark MacGregor and replacing him with right-wing former MP Barry Legg - thus, he said, "narrowing" the party's appeal.

On Sunday Mr Duncan Smith fought back, apparently authorising his supporters to call Mr Portillo "insane".

'Madness'

One unnamed supporter - who the Sunday Telegraph said was speaking with Mr Duncan Smith's authority - told the paper: "Iain regards what Portillo has done as self-indulgent to the point of madness.

"The idea that there should be an imminent leadership challenge is insane."

IDS UNDER FIRE

Portillo wields the knife: Click here for full analysis

Me Duncan Smith himself told the paper he wanted to "close down this discourse between so-called modernisers and traditionalists for good".

"The conflict isn't between traditionalists and modernisers but between those determined to face up to today's challenges and those who prefer the politics of division for division's sake," he said.

Mr Major refused to be directly drawn on the controversy but warned that people were "losing patience with the squabbles" among Tories.

To "add fuel to this particular bonfire does no good to the Conservative Party," he told Breakfast with Frost.

Mr Fox urged Tory MPs to concentrate on policies rather than the "minutiae of who does what administrative job for the party".

Iain regards what Portillo has done as self-indulgent to the point of madness

Unnamed supporter

"What's important is, can we show the electorate that we have constructive and workable alternatives to the failed policies of the current government," he told Sky News.

Several senior Tories also rallied around Iain Duncan Smith on Saturday.

Party chairman Theresa May, former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe, former party chairman Lord Tebbit and shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram all came out in his defence.

But shadow trade and industry secretary Tim Yeo - who, like Mr Portillo, is associated with the party's modernising wing - agreed with much of what Mr Portillo had said.

Although this was not the time for a fight, he warned, Mr Duncan Smith's position would be under threat unless the Tories were able to pick up seats in the May council elections.