Richmond MP forced to make statement over relationship (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Richmond MP forced to make statement over relationship

8:30am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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WILLIAM HAGUE last night revealed in a highly-personal statement that he and his wife, Ffion, have suffered the heartache of multiple miscarriages.

The revelation came after one of Mr Hague’s advisors resigned following “untrue and deeply distressing” rumours of an improper relationship between the pair.

Christopher Myers, 25, who studied at Durham University, said he was leaving because of “pressure on his family from the untrue and malicious allegations made about him”.

Mr Hague, who married Ffion in 1997, issued the statement last night in an attempt to draw a line under the allegations, which have been circulating over the internet.

The Richmond MP and Foreign Secretary said it was important to provide background information about his relationship with Ffion following reports that his marriage was in difficulty.

“I have made no secret of the fact that Ffion and I would love to start a family,” he said.

“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.”

He said suggestions that Mr Myers’ appointment was due to an improper relationship between them were “utterly false, as is any suggestion that I have ever been involved in a relationship with any man”.

Last night, friends in North Yorkshire rallied round him following his revelations about the miscarriages.

Senior Conservative county councillor Carl Les has been a friend since Mr Hague won the constituency 21 years ago.

“I am very sorry to hear of the problems and I would offer my full support to William and Ffion at what must have been a difficult time for them,” he said.

“As a father of two myself, I can understand what they must have been going through and my heart goes out to them.”

Graham Robb, Mr Hague’s former press officer, described the allegations involving Mr Myers as “trashy innuendo from trashy people”.

He said: “It is such a shame that the politics of personal destruction have led him to make this statement.

“There will be unerring support from every constituent in Richmond for a guy who has been such a brilliant MP and has been subjected to such a smear campaign.”

Mr Myers grew up in North Yorkshire and was employed by Mr Hague during the General Election campaign as a constituency aide. He had worked for the Foreign Secretary as a policy advisor on a salary reported to be £30,000.

Mr Hague admitted to “occasionally”

sharing twin hotel rooms with Mr Myers during the election.

But he added: “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.”

He said Mr Myers had quit as a result of the pressure put on his family due to the “untrue and malicious allegations”

made about him. Mr Hague added: “It is a pity that a talented individual should feel that he needs to leave his job in this way.”

The advisor’s qualifications had been questioned by some commentators, who believed he lacked experience for his job in the Foreign Office.

But Mr Hague praised Mr Myers, who had “demonstrated commitment”.