Mary Archer is fiercely protective of her husband's reputation

In an interview with the Radio Times, Mary Archer also hints her husband may seek a role in rebuilding Iraq once he is released from prison after serving a sentence for perjury.

"I think I probably see him very concerned about the aftermath of war in Iraq ... and he may well want to pick up on that."

Lady Archer takes the opportunity of her interview to rail against the way her husband has been singled out by a vengeful media and treated unfairly not just through his trial but during his time in jail.

"I think he was unfairly and ridiculously vilified - the British press love to kick a man when he's down," she said.

"And if he's a Tory celebrity, so much the better."

Out of control?

Lady Archer says her way of coping with the shock of her husband's trial and imprisonment was to throw herself into work.

She also claims to have a "strong ethical code".

But she says that she too has been singled out by the press.

"If I were a furry animal there would be law about hunting me down as I have been hunted down.

I can't rehabilitate Jeffrey's image - he must do that for himself and I'm sure he will Mary Archer

"Pursuing me as I have been - bugging, intimidating me, it's an absolute disgrace. The media are completely out of control."

Lady Archer says contrary to the impression in the press, her husband is "sweet-natured, very enthusiastic, very kind".

She hopes to put her and her husband's perspective across in a forthcoming documentary she has made at the suggestion of another Tory politician who found himself jailed for perjury, Jonathan Aitken.

Asked whether her motivation is to rehabilitate her husband or get her frustration off her chest she says: "It's more the latter.

"I can't rehabilitate Jeffrey's image - he must do that for himself and I'm sure he will."