Lord Saatchi 'trying to oust Tory election chief'

Bitter infighting in the Tory high command reached new heights today with claims that co-chairman Lord Saatchi is trying to oust election chief Lynton Crosby.

Evening Standard has learned that Lord Saatchi fired an official-working directly for Mr Crosby while the latter was abroad. Matt Jones was dismissed during a hunt into leaks about the infighting, but denies doing anything wrong.

It also emerged that the peer sent an email to MPs claiming Mr Crosby had apologised for a report saying he regarded the peer as "20 years out of date". Mr Crosby was said to be "thunderstruck" when he read the email.

The incidents have led to speculation that Lord Saatchi is deliberately provoking his Australian rival into quitting.

A party spokesman refused to discuss the affair.