Hague tells of baby sorrow to counter sexuality 'slurs'

Mr Hague made the emotional revelation after his special adviser Christopher Myers quit his position amidst "untrue and malicious allegations" regarding his relationship with the Richmond MP.

In a heartfelt and emotional statement Mr Hague said suggestions that 25-year-old Mr Myers' appointment was due to an improper relationship between them were "utterly false" and denied his marriage was in trouble.

He went on to detail how he and Ffion have suffered the trauma of multiple miscarriages and are grieving over the loss of a pregnancy this summer.

But he said that they remained "happily married" and wanted to detail the heartbreak they had experienced to draw a line under any speculation.

His statement and the resignation of Mr Myers came after a high-profile political blogger revealed that the pair shared a hotel room during this year's General Election campaign.

Last night Mr Hague confirmed that the he had occasionally shared hotel rooms with his adviser during the election but added "neither of us would have done so if we had thought that it in any way meant or implied something else".

Mr Myers, was employed by Mr Hague during the campaign as a constituency aide and had worked for the Foreign Secretary as a policy adviser on a salary reported to be 30,000.

Mr Hague dismissed criticisms that Mr Myers lacked the relevant experience for a role in the Foreign Office, saying "he is

easily qualified for the job he holds".

He added: "Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man."

Mr Hague said that with hindsight he should have given greater consideration to what might have been made of him occasionally sharing twin hotel rooms with his adviser..

Mr Myers had now told him that, as a result of the pressure on his family from the "untrue and malicious allegations made about him", he did not wish to continue in his position.

"It is a pity that a talented individual should feel that he needs to leave his job in this way."

The former Tory leader went on to say he and his wife were desperate to start a family but this had "proved more difficult for us than for most couples".

"We have encountered many difficulties and suffered multiple miscarriages, and indeed are still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer. We are aware that the stress of infertility can often strain a marriage, but in our case, thankfully, it has only brought us closer together.

"It has been an immensely traumatic and painful experience but our marriage is strong and we will face whatever the future brings together."

The Foreign Secretary also said that several years ago a Sunday newspaper reported that Ffion was three months pregnant without checking the story with the couple. The story was published shortly after the couple suffered another miscarriage.

He and Ffion had previously refrained from releasing details of the miscarriages due to the distress it would cause their families.

STATEMENT IN FULL

Christopher Myers has demonstrated commitment and political talent over the last eighteen months. He is easily qualified for the job he holds. Any suggestion that his appointment was due to an improper relationship between us is utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man.

This speculation seems to stem from the fact that whilst campaigning before the election we occasionally shared twin hotel rooms. Neither of us would have done so if we had thought that it in any way meant or implied something else.

In hindsight I should have given greater consideration to what might have been made of that, but this is in itself no justification for allegations of this kind, which are untrue and deeply distressing to me, to Ffion and to Christopher......

I have made no secret of the fact that Ffion and I would love to start a family. For many years this has been our goal. Sadly this has proved more difficult for us than for most couples. We have encountered many difficulties and suffered multiple miscarriages, and indeed are still grieving for the loss of a pregnancy this summer. We are aware that the stress of infertility can often strain a marriage, but in our case, thankfully, it has only brought us closer together.

It has been an immensely traumatic and painful experience but our marriage is strong and we will face whatever the future brings together.