Iain Duncan Smith is to offer a pay rise and promotion to a man he tried to sack just four months ago.

The FT says the offer to make Stephen Gilbert the Conservative's director of operations raises fresh doubts about the party leader's management style.

In February Duncan Smith tried to oust Gilbert from his job as deputy chief executive along with two other senior staff members.

Party treasurer Sir Stanley Kalms is also standing down, partly in protest at a leadership which has seen several officials quit in the past year.

Sir Stanley is also reported to be upset at the bungled attempt to insert Duncan Smith ally Barry Legg as chief executive earlier this year.