Saatchi quits post as Tory split grows

Lord Saatchi has left his post as Conservative co-chairman, becoming the latest casualty of post election in-fighting.

The advertising mogul's departure comes amid signs of widening divisions between modernisers and Rightwingers over the party's direction.

Michael Howard, who will give a pep talk to Tory MPs today, is facing a backlash from the Right over the rapid promotion of the ambitious "Notting Hill Set" in the postelection reshuffle.

The appointments of George Osborne, 33, as shadow chancellor and David Cameron as shadow education secretary have outraged Thatcherites.

Today's meeting is likely to include a post-mortem on the election campaign, which many MPs believe was too negative. Lord Saatchi said it lacked a "sense of purpose".

Conservative officials denied his departure was the result of a row.