The Conservative leader yesterday took his message on public sector reform to Manchester, visiting a Moss Side school.

During the visit Iain Duncan Smith said the public was not interested in the "soap opera" of Westminster.

"We are going to win or lose the next election on our ability to deliver things that effect people, not on the to-ings and fro-ings at Westminster," he said.

Duncan Smith also said it would be "ridiculous" to expel Norman Tebbit from the party.