Iain Duncan Smith attempted to fire an aide who warned him of a potential investigation into the running of his private office.

Vanessa Gearson was instead moved from the Conservative leader's office into another party post after lawyers advised that the sacking would constitute unfair dismissal.

At the weekend it was revealed that the BBC's Newsnight programme pulled the plug on a broadcast highlighting allegations that Duncan Smith had improperly employed his wife with taxpayers' money.