The Conservatives have not ruled out a policy of charging people to see their GP.

Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was among a number of options being "looked at" as part of a wide-ranging review of health policy.

I haven't sacked anybody

Iain Duncan Smith

Mr Duncan Smith also denied "sacking" former party chairman David Davis.

In an interview with BBC Two's Newsnight, the Tory leader dismissed as "flim flam" suggestions he had taken advantage of Mr Davis' absence on holiday to get rid of him.

'Dark forces'

Mr Davis' surprise move to shadow Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was widely interpreted as a demotion for a man suspected of having designs on the leader's job for himself.

Shadow Commons leader Eric Forth, was quoted in the press as saying "dark forces" were behind Mr Davis' replacement by Theresa May, which took place while Mr Davis was on holiday in Florida.

But Mr Duncan Smith insisted the move was a response Tony Blair's cabinet reshuffle earlier this year, which handed a "beefed-up" role to Mr Prescott.

'Done a good job'

The Tory leader said: "I haven't sacked anybody.

"If you sack somebody they disappear out of their job and they are not employed any longer.

"David has done a good job and I think he will be absolutely perfect to take on the deputy prime minister."

He added: "David and I talked about it. David has accepted that job.

"I happen to think he'll do a very good job."

He denied moving Mr Davis because he thought the former party chairman was looking to succeed him as leader.

Health policy

Mr Duncan Smith also insisted the Tories had concrete ideas for reforming the health service and other public services.

But he refused to be tied down on specific details - and would not rule out the idea of charging people to see their GP.

"I will look at it, but I will also look at whether insurance is a good idea," he told Newsnight.

"I will look at whether general taxation is the most efficient way of financing a health service.

"What I don't agree is the government's view that there is only one way to run a health service, which is the way we run it now.

"The way we run it now is clearly not working."

Winning next election

He added: "I will let you know, in good time, how we will deliver this broader health service, which will include greater private and greater voluntary provision, and how we will pay for it."

The reforms would include more decision-making at a local level, he added.

He also insisted he was serious about winning the next general election.

And he repeated his assertion that - contrary to suggestions by his own strategy director Dominic Cumming, he would be at the forefront of the campaign to keep the pound.