Lord Archer's friend Stephan Shakespeare has said he considers the judgement against the former MP "harsh" and "a bitter blow".

Mr Shakespeare told BBC News 24 that Mr Archer had done the right thing by standing down as a candidate for London mayor.

"But it was being a member of the party which he loved which really mattered to him," he said.

"He has been punished for something which happened 13 years ago. The last two and a half years (as prospective candidate for London mayor) he has worked terribly hard for his party.

"He was right to withdraw from the race. But I think this is a little harsh."

However another friend of Lord Archer, Andrew Lansley, MP for South Cambridgeshire, said he had "no quibbles" with the committee's decision.

"I feel that his long record of service to the party should be some mitigation," said Mr Lansley.

"And I am pleased that by imposing this length of ban the ethics committee seems to have taken into account that mitigation."

'Humiliating'

Labour's campaign co-ordinator Ian McCartney said: "The Archer scandal has taken another humiliating turn for Hague.

"He declared that Jeffrey Archer's political career was over - now we learn that it is only on hold for five years and then he'll be entitled to make yet another comeback.

"Isn't it astonishing that a man expelled in shame today was so wholeheartedly backed by William Hague and Michael Portillo just a few short months ago?

"This sorry saga is yet more proof of William Hague's poor judgement and weak leadership."

'Half-hearted'

Malcolm Bruce, chairman of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party, said: "If Jeffrey Archer has been expelled from the Conservatives for five years then what would someone have to do to be expelled for life?

"It is a half-hearted decision which shows the sorry state of the Tory party.

"It is incredible that after all Jeffrey Archer has done that they would even contemplate letting him back in," he added.

At Lord Archer's home in Granchester, Cambridge, the lights were on and a car was parked in the drive but there was no reply at the door.