Iain Duncan Smith has pledged to stay on as Conservative leader until the general election.

After a day in which his supporters swept through the Commons tea rooms in a bid to restore his authority, Duncan Smith insisted that he is confident of leading the Tories to victory.

"I am absolutely determined to take this party, my party, to the next general election. I am absolutely confident I will be taking my party through to the next general election and winning it, he said."

The FT reports that some "prominent Tory activists" are threatening to withhold funds from the party for as long as Duncan Smith remains leader.