IDS allies seek revenge over Betsygate

Allies of Iain Duncan Smith were today seeking revenge against party figures they claim were behind the Betsygate furore.

They were demanding disciplinary action against plotters they blame for allegations that the former Tory leader improperly paid his wife Betsy from public funds.

An official investigation is set to clear Mr and Mrs Duncan Smith of dishonestly using his MP's allowances to inflate the family income, according to leaks at the weekend.

But the Chingford and Woodford Green MP is expected to be criticised for the chaotic management of his private office which saw two other aides paid from his parliamentary office fund when they should have been on the Conservative Party payroll. One MP who served in Mr Duncan Smith's team called for an investigation by the Tory party's board into their belief that the entire affair was manipulated by factions trying to destroy his leadership.

"I have never had any doubt that Iain would be cleared of dishonesty," said the MP. "It was clear all along that certain individuals were trying to undermine his leadership through these allegations in a most unfair and destructive manner. The party must take action to prevent such a plot ever happening again.

"There should be a reckoning now, if only to serve as a warning to anyone who might be tempted to plot against Michael Howard in the same way."

Among witnesses summoned to the inquiry by standards commissioner Sir Philip Mawer was former IDS aide Vanessa Gearson, now standing as a candidate in Cheltenham.

The probe was triggered when a memo expressing concern about payments to Betsy Duncan Smith written by Dr Gearson and sent to various officials was leaked. Sir Philip's report will now be debated in private by senior MPs.