Iain Duncan Smith has blamed the "metropolitan media" for destroying his leadership of the Conservative Party and accused his parliamentary colleagues of failing to understand his "social justice" agenda.

Interviewed in the relaunch edition of Briefing, the official magazine of Roman Catholic bishops to be published on Thursday, the former Tory leader said that the media were part of the "political class" that was out of touch with people in the rest of the country.

He also staunchly defended his wife, whom he allegedly kept on his office payroll against Commons rules.

"If you want to attack me, attack me, but don't for God's sake use my wife," he said.

"She is tougher than all these people. She is stronger than the whole of the parliamentary party plus all of these journalists put together. She would make them look pretty weak."