Iain Duncan Smith has faced the prime minister in the Commons amid intense pressure to prove his leadership credentials.

Seeking to restore backbench morale he launched a twin-track attack on the government.

He called on Blair to rule-out top-up fees and demanded to know whether the prime minister would accept the result of tomorrow's Gibraltarian referendum.

Following what many see as a botched response to Monday's adoption rebellion, the Tory leader entered the Commons chamber on the back foot.

The Commons showdown came after he received a near unanimous drubbing from Fleet Street on Wednesday.

The press attack came after he warned his opponents to "unite or die".

Adding to his woes was a less than ringing endorsement that came from former PM Lady Thatcher.

"The Tory party will last... I don't know about Mr Duncan Smith because in the end we all die, but the party doesn't," she said.

Michael Portillo - accused of plotting by the Tory leadership - shot down the claims.

"I'm not plotting and everyone at Westminster - including lobby journalists - knows that," he said.

Later today Duncan Smith faces a crunch meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs tonight.

Any MP seeking to challenge Duncan Smith needs the signatures from 25 colleagues to trigger a challenge.

One back bencher told ePolitix.com that this had "now become much easier to achieve".

Another said: "Why did he do it?".

Recent meetings of the backbench committee have been particularly fractious according to insiders.

Following yesterday's traumas Duncan Smith can expect a bumpy ride tonight .

Adding to his woes, he also has to plan his response to next week's Queen's Speech - the first time he will have been faced with the challenge.