The investigation into former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith by parliament's sleaze watchdog has been further delayed.

In a blow to Duncan Smith, standards watchdog Sir Philip Mawer does not now expect to complete his report until February on the dispute over payments to the Chingford MP's wife.

The report will then go to the Commons standards and privileges committee and if MPs decide to make their own investigation the verdict will not be reached until March.

Duncan Smith is being urged by his friends to keep quiet and stop revealing his bitterness about the way he was ousted as Conservative leader, reports today's Telegraph.