TORY leader Iain Duncan Smith may be fighting for his political life over allegations surrounding his wife's employment as his personal secretary.

But for Burnley MP Peter Pike, giving a job in the House of Commons to a member of his own family has only had benefits.

The 66-year-old politician has praised his daughter Jane for the job she does as his House of Commons assistant - and admitted he exploits the family connection to get extra work out of her.

Mr Pike said: "Jane does an excellent job. When one of my staff left last October, she was without a job and had experience of his kind of thing having worked previously for Edinburgh MP Gavin Strang when he was in the Shadow Cabinet.

"I took her on part-time as a temporary measure and it worked so she became permanent. She has been answering the phone to constituents, fellow politicians and journalists since she was a small child."

"It is a busy office and we receive and send out 400 to 500 letters a week. Jane - and the rest of my staff - work far more than the 37 hours they are contracted to do. In Jane's case, it is sometimes easier to get a family member to put in extra hours than someone else."

Jane, 34, added: "There are down sides for working for your dad but I do know him, his job and Burnley very well. He does get a lot of extra hours out of me!

"When I was a child I was always answering the phone for him and when I left university I worked unpaid as his researcher for a while.

Neither she nor her father - who also employed his wife Sheila for a few years as his assistant after being elected in 1983 - would comment on the allegations against Mr and Mrs Duncan Smith. But Mr Pike said: "There is nothing wrong with employing family members as long as they are doing the work they are paid for. Indeed, in some ways it can help in this place.''

And Jane commented: "I think this is more about undermining Mr Duncan Smith as Tory leader than anything else.''

Jane is contracted to work 37 hours a week but often does at least four 12-hour days for her dad. As his secretary and researcher she is paid on an official Parliamentary scale that runs from £14,462 to £25,174, though neither she or her father would disclose exactly what she is paid on grounds of employee confidentiality. But Mr Pike said: "When an MP like me is approaching retirement, it becomes quite difficult to get staff. People want a permanent job with a future. It's worked out very well. She knows about the Commons and knows me so it is very helpful. She certainly earns her money.

"She is paid the rate for the job on the appropriate Parliamentary scale. I employ three staff and last year had to dip into my own pocket for £3,000 when my office costs allowances of just over £60,000 did not cover their salaries, equipment and other costs like stationery, postage and phone bills."