Tory party chief quits amid claims of a purge

Fresh turmoil bubbled in the Conservative Party's high command last night after Mark MacGregor, its chief executive, left his post suddenly. Although the Tories insisted his resignation was by mutual consent, modernisers claimed he was the victim of a purge by traditionalists who have won the battle for control of the party.

Iain Duncan Smith has now lost key members of the "inner circle" he created after becoming Tory leader in 2001. Others included Dominic Cummings, his director of strategy and Jenny Ungless, his chief of staff. Rick Nye, the director of research, will leave shortly.

Mr Duncan Smith has appointed Barry Legg, a fellow Eurosceptic and Maastricht Treaty rebel, as the new chief executive. A former Westminster councillor and ally of Dame Shirley Porter, he was provisionally found guilty of "gerrymandering" by the district auditor in 1994 but later cleared.

Right-wingers blamed Mr MacGregor for the failure of Nikki Page, a former model, to reach the Tory shortlist for Mayor of London. His friends called the charge unfounded. He is to become campaign director for Steve Norris, the former transport minister expected to be the Tory candidate in next year's election.