Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith yesterday held an "amicable" meeting with his former party chairman David Davis in an attempt to bring an end to the feuding that has followed his demotion.

Davis will now shadow deputy prime minister John Prescott in the Commons.

"I think we had an excellent meeting this afternoon, and we discussed how we will take the fight to Labour and, in particular, to John Prescott's department, and how we will take this forward," Duncan Smith said after the meeting.

On Saturday, Davis held a press conference in which he accused members of his party of "a cowardly campaign of character assassination".

The Times reports that, owing to a mistake, Davis will be in charge of the party as Duncan Smith departs for his holidays.