Davies launches attack on first day

Ousted Tory chairman David Davis took charge of his party today and went straight onto the attack against his opposite number, John Prescott.

He was enjoying the first day of his week at the helm, with leader Iain Duncan Smith and new chairman Theresa May away on holiday.

His allies, still angry at his demotion two weeks ago, have predicted an all-out offensive against Labour as he tries to impress the party faithful whose support he will need in any future leadership bid.

Mr Davis accused Mr Prescott and Tony Blair of preparing for an expensive and pointless junket when they fly to Johannesburg next month for a summit-on global warming. He called the summit "a silly, expensive symbolism which actually does harm", and pointed out that Britain's delegation of eight ministers and 100 officials would cost taxpayers more than £500,000.

Mr Davis was told while on holiday in Florida that he was being shifted from the chairman's job to a lower-profile role shadowing Mr Prescott's portfolios of regional government, housing and green issues.

Mr Prescott has also been left in control this week, heading the Government while the Prime Minister is on holiday.