Blow for IDS as senior Tories discuss crisis

Around a dozen Conservative MPs, including shadow deputy prime minister David Davis, have discussed the crisis in their party at a private meeting.

As Iain Duncan Smith fights for his political life, Mr Davis and his former rival for the Conservative crown, John Redwood, were at the meeting where their leader's troubles were high on the agenda.

The MPs - high-level Right-wingers including former minister Christopher Chope and Gerald Howarth - slipped from the Commons to attend last night's meeting of the No Turning Back Group, set up to preserve the legacy of Margaret Thatcher.

The Tory whips had given their MPs a night off by downgrading the importance of Commons votes on Government legislation - a move designed to discourage backbenchers from plotting.

Scheming against Mr Duncan Smith has been rife but his opponents are thought to be well short of the 25 names that would be needed to force a confidence vote.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard has learned that tomorrow his former chief of staff Jenny Ungless will give evidence to the inquiry into payments made by the leader to his wife Betsy.

Ms Ungless is expected to tell parliamentary standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer she saw no evidence that Mrs Duncan Smith did enough work to justify her £15,000 salary.