Iain Duncan Smith was behind anti-gay smears directed at William Hague and his campaign team during the 1997 party leadership campaign, according to a book by one of John Redwood's key aides.

The book, "Guilty Men", by Hwyel Williams, claims that Duncan Smith was rebuked by Redwood after briefing journalists that Hague's campaign was being run by "bachelor boys".

Steve Norris, a vice-chairman of the party and a supporter of Kenneth Clarke, said: "Duncan Smith says he believes in an open and tolerant party. I suspect a number of people will need even more convincing of that now."