IDS: Betsy has been through 'shades of hell'

In a rare public statement, Betsy Duncan Smith said: "We want to put the terrible time behind us and move on."

Her husband was cleared of any wrong doing over the running of his office.

It follows an inquiry by Parliament's watchdog into claims Mrs Duncan Smith did not do enough to justify her salary as her husband's diary secretary.

'Shades of hell'

The watchdog dismissed that complaint but said two officials were paid out of the wrong funds for party work.

The Commons standards committee said the arrangements were not ideal but concluded he had not broken MPs' rules.

After the news was announced, Mrs Duncan Smith used the opportunity to speak out for the first time about how the claims had affected her family.

The last six months have been horrendous - horrendous for my husband, horrendous for me and our family Betsy Duncan Smith

Flanked by her husband, she said: "We have always said we would be cleared of this allegation and today we have been cleared.

"The last six months have been horrendous - horrendous for my husband, horrendous for me and our family.

"We want to put the terrible time behind us and move on."

Mr Duncan Smith welcomed the outcome of the inquiry, adding that the whole episode had been a "very difficult time for us".

His family was now looking forward to "getting on with our lives, he said.

"My wife has been through all shades of hell in the last six months and I am immensely pleased on her part as much as on my own that this wonderful woman has been cleared alongside me," he told Sky News.

He said "office politics being what it is", no office would stand up to six months of scrutiny.

A Tory Party spokesman said: "We welcome this report which is an unambiguous vindication of Iain Duncan Smith. He emerges with his honour and reputation intact."