Chief Executive
In 2002, MacGregor was named the new Chief Executive of the Conservative Central Office appointed by Iain Duncan Smith on becoming Party leader. In his psychometric evaluation, he was judged to have "a brilliant mind". One of his first actions as chief executive was to push through a £1 million budget cut to stabilise the party's poor finances.
In his role, MacGregor was credited with drafting the speech for the then Chairman of the Conservative Party, Theresa May MP, which described the Tories as "the nasty party". Former front-bencher, John Bercow said MacGregor was "talented" and "extraordinarily imaginative" and had organised a successful 2002 Party conference.
In a dispute over the leadership of Duncan-Smith, Tebbit called for McGregor's dismissal as the party's chief executive in 2002. Tebbit branded MacGregor as "one of the spotty youths" who were trying to make the Tories more socially inclusive. Tebbit said: "I don't think he was a good Chief Executive... I think that he was not a good influence in Central Office." MacGregor was replaced by the former MP, Barry Legg.
Central Office was quoted as saying that MacGregor's departure was "long-planned and by mutual consent". He wanted to become a parliamentary candidate and could not do so while Chief Executive, but he had reportedly clashed with Smith both over policy and organisational issues as well as the vexed issue of Duncan-Smith's wife working for her husband. (See #Betsygate)
Central Office claims were undermined the following day when Michael Portillo MP (a leadership rival to Duncan-Smith), raised fresh doubts about Iain Duncan Smith's leadership of the Conservatives saying he was deeply disappointed by the replacement of Mark MacGregor. Portillo said : "Mark MacGregor and Rick Nye are two of the most talented people that the party has ever employed and their achievements will be badly missed." John Bercow praised MacGregor's loyalty, but also lamented the loss of his talent and creativity, adding "the modernising agenda has been at best, sidelined and at worst, lost".
Read more about this topic: Mark Mac Gregor, Biography, Internal Party Posts
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