WEST Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has played down rumours that he might lose his job as chairman of the powerful 1922 committee - the group that has a big say in who will be next Conservative Party leader.

Gossip circulating in Westminster says Nicholas Soames, who resigned from the shadow cabinet on Sunday, did so in order to challenge Sir Michael for the prestigious job as head of the Conservative backbenchers.

The executive of the 1922 group will play a key role in deciding how the party will choose its next leader.

But Sir Michael told the Worcester News he did not consider Mr Soames a rival.

"He has put out a statement saying he'd rather have root canal surgery without an anaesthetic than have the job," he said.

"In the last four years, no other candidate has come forward to challenge me."

And he remained tight-lipped on who he thought would succeed Michael Howard.

"If I continue as chairman I am the referee so I'm the one who really cannot express a view at all," he said.

Blair gives MP Jacqui

a new job

A WORCESTERSHIRE MP has been promoted in Tony Blair's post-election reshuffle.

Jacqui Smith, MP since 1997 for Redditch, which includes Inkberrow, held on to her marginal seat last Thursday despite the collapse of MG Rover, which cost many of her constituents their jobs.

She was rewarded last night with a new job in the new Government, designed by the Prime Minister to drive home an irreversible Blairite legacy in his final term.

Ms Smith, formerly Minister of State in the Department of Trade and Industry, has been moved to the Department for Education and Skills, where she will be Schools Minister.

In her new post, Ms Smith will be one of Education Secretary Ruth Kelly's key lieutenants.