Duncan Smith - under fire

Iain Duncan Smith has vowed to lead his party through to the next general election.

Speaking outside Downing Street on Monday evening following a meeting with the prime minister, Duncan Smith said he was "absolutely confident" that he would lead the Tories to victory.

The opposition leader - who was hit by internal divisions after purging modernisers from Conservative headquarters - denied suggestions that he was at odds with party chairman Theresa May.

"I am absolutely determined to take this party, my party, to the next general election," he said.

"I am at one with my chief whip and my chairman. We need to make certain that my party forces the government to accept the fact that it has failed on a whole range of issues, on asylum, through health, right the way through to taxation.

"But right now our priority must be the safety and the well-being of the British people at this particular time when we may be heading into military action. That is our main concern.''

Senior Tories have rallied around their leader after Michael Portillo's scathing attack late last week.

Tory chief whip David Maclean said the party had to back Duncan Smith or face the consequences.

He described Portillo's move as "selfish, destructive and...not grown up opposition".

"This current argument is puerile and not worthy of us,'' he wrote in Monday's Telegraph newspaper.

"What a crazy time to raise the spectre of a leadership challenge.

"There is no messiah waiting in the wings who will command more support in the party than Iain.''