"Quiet man" to confront Tory rebels

Thursday, 9 October 2003 12:00 AM

The "quiet man" will address the Tories' annual conference in Blackpool today in what is billed as a make or break confrontation with party rebels.

Iain Duncan Smith yesterday insisted he would not give up his leadership without a fight.

The burning question at the conference this week has been whether Mr Duncan Smith is fit to lead the party.

Rumours abound that he will face an imminent leadership contest.

Plotters will gather next week to prepare for a no confidence vote, according to reports.

It is believed that this 'inner core' of rebels will circulate a letter to Westminster colleagues calling for his resignation.

According to reports, 25 backbenchers have enlisted in the scheme to oust Duncan Smith.

Andrew Mitchell, a supporter of the deputy Tory leader David Davis, a potential leadership contender, told the FT last night: "We have a golden opportunity to reconnect with the electorate across Britain thanks to the clear failures of Labour and the glimmerings this week of a coherent strategy for the Conservative party.

"But we have to be effectively led and properly motivated: it's pretty clear that's not the position at the moment."

Mr Duncan Smith will call on Tories to back his "mission." Failure to do so would give Tony Blair a third term of office and effectively send his party into political oblivion. "There is no third way," he will say.

He will tell rebel MPs to "get lost."

Yesterday, he said he didn't "care a damn" about a possible leadership challenge. "If any of these guys want to play any games, they can play their games. We have got business to get on with."

And last night he said: "The only plot that I'm really aware of and I confess, the one I'm probably most involved in, is the plot to oust Tony Blair out of Downing Street at the next election."

In his speech, Mr Duncan Smith will attack Labour's record on the reform of public services and will slam the Government's taxation policy.

With the Tories policy review, Trusting People, complete and a raft of 'radical proposals' announced, Mr Duncan Smith will say that he has the "bullets" to fire at the Government.

"This document gives every Conservative the bullets to rip into the Government - this deceitful, lying and cheating Government that has failed the British people.

"I am going to be at the head of that charge, and I say to anybody else, get out of our way. We are coming through."

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