UK News 13-10-2003 Question Mark Over IDS Finances who: Iain Duncan Smith what: Continues to deny allegations that he paid his wife for work she did not do where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Iain Duncan Smith was fighting for his reputation and his job last night after it was alleged that he made improper payments to his wife from parliamentary funds," says The Telegraph, which has already been threatened with legal action for publishing the story which haunted the Tory leader throughout last week`s Party conference in Blackpool. Mr Duncan Smith has invited Sir Philip Mawer, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, to investigate claims that the Party leader`s wife, Betsy, was paid for work she did not do, explains The Financial Times. "Mr Duncan Smith insists she worked the 25 hours a week for which she was paid". Meanwhile, investigative journalist Michael Crick will also present his evidence to the contrary. "It is now 11 days since his lawyers said there were people who would back him up," says Mr Crick, quoted in The Scotsman. "I thought Mr Duncan Smith said he was going to sue - is he or not? This is all very strange." Meanwhile, reports The Independent, shadow home secretary and Old Etonian Oliver Letwin, "who declared last week he would rather beg than send his children to a London state school, is considering a plan that would mean children in council care being sent to private boarding schools such as Eton". [... more]

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