Jobs set to be axed at Tory HQ

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A party spokesman said as many as 24 jobs will go as the Tories make "significant budget cuts".

Among the expected changes at the Millbank HQ is the effective closure of the party's seven-strong external relations department, which maintains contacts with organisations like trade bodies, pressure groups and charities.

Staffers from the Conservative Research Department have also been told to re-apply for their jobs.

A Conservative spokesman said: "As of yesterday, we began a one-month consultation on 16 to 24 potentially redundant roles.

"Like many organisations in the current economic climate, we need to look very carefully about how we are using our resources and, unfortunately, there is a need to make significant budget cuts."

The most recent statistics on donations released by the Electoral Commission in November showed the Tories falling behind Labour, with about £4 million in gifts from private sources compared with around £5.6 million in the previous quarter. The Conservatives' debts stood at more than £12 million.

Tory accounts for 2007 put the party's payroll costs at almost £10 million for 248 staff, 210 of them based at HQ.