William Hague was today forced to issue a statement denying that he is gay and that he was involved in an “improper” relationship with a special adviser.
Chris Myers, a special adviser to Hague as first secretary of state, today resigned, citing the “untrue and malicious” rumours and the pressure the speculation had put on his family.
In a statement, Hague revealed that his wife, Ffion, had suffered multiple miscarriages in recent years, and categorically denied that their marriage was in trouble.
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Hague, who is also foreign secretary, said that the speculation arose from the fact that during the election campaign he had shared a room with Myers, then employed as his campaign aide.
In the past few days some newspapers and websites have carried stories alluding to the sexuality of an unnamed cabinet minister.
On Saturday, the Telegraph published a front-page story saying a cabinet minister was prepread to “take action” against any publication that intended to publish the gay rumours.
On Tuesday, the political gossip blog run by Paul Staines, aka Guido Fawkes, named Hague as the subject of the story.
Today, the Telegraph ran another story saying Hague denied any improper relationship with Myers.
This afternoon, Hague revealed that newspapers had been asking questions about whether his marriage was in trouble, and said the questions were apparently linked to the appointment of Myers as his special adviser.
Hague went on: “Christopher Myers has demonstrated commitment and political talent over the last 18 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.”
Hague said the pair had occasionally shared twin hotel rooms when on the campaign trail for the general election. “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.”
Hague said Myers had decided to quit as a result of the speculation. “It is a pity that a talented individual should feel that he needs to leave his job in this way,” he said.
In a deeply personal section of the statement Hague went on to reveal his wife’s misscarriages.
“Ffion and I believe that everyone has a right to a private life. However, we now feel it necessary to give some background to our marriage because we have had enough of this continued and hurtful speculation about us.
“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.” Hague said he and his wife would not have revealed the fact of the miscarriages had it not been for the “untrue rumours … which repeatedly call our marriage into question”.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010
Kieran
If there is no truth to the rumors, why would Chris Myers resign his position? Is Britain that uptight about homosexuality that two men sleeping in the same hotel room is automatically considered proof that they’re gay? And what does Hague’s wife’s “multiple miscarriages” have to do with whether Hague is secretly hot for his “special adviser”?
SapientHomo
Because of rules that limit Ministers to two special advisers. Chris Myers was hired as his third such adviser.
Andy
He’s spent his career slandering labour as being too nice to dirty queers. His sexuality won’t sink him, but his hypocrisy and lies and fraudulent hiring hopefully will. Good riddance to nasty little shits.
Lefty
If he’s looking for a job now, then I’m looking for a “special adviser”.
God, he’s gorgeous. Shame he’s right-wing. 🙁
Mike
William Hague:
– voted to keep Section 28 (which banned any ‘promotion’ ie discussion of homosexuality in schools
– voted against allowing gay couples to adopt
– voted against allowing lesbian couples access IVF treatment
– didn’t bother showing up on the vote for an equal age of consent or for the vote on Civil Partnerships.
He employed 3 different aides. The other 2 were housed in a different, cheaper hotel from the one Hague stayed in. It was only Myers who got to share a bedroom with him.
He’s been rumoured to be a big fag for years.
Well now that the chickens are coming home to roost, I for one, couldn’t be happier.
He’s homophobic scum!
Lefty
@Mike:
On a similar note, I read on Fagburn what Crispin Blunt, the Conservative MP who came out a few days ago said in a parliamentary speech in 1998:
“I believe it right that our law should discriminate in that limited way between homosexual and heterosexual practice. While I accept that, in law, we should tolerate people’s choices to follow a homosexual life style and practice, I maintain that those are not equivalent to heterosexuality – nor should we pretend that they are. It is also clear that there a much greater strand of homosexuality than of heterosexuality which depends for its gratification on the explpoitation of youth.
“I am sorry if Labour members do not like the truth, but I do not intend to run away from difficult issues.”
http://www.fagburn.com/2010/08/quote-of-day-crispin-blunt.html
Unbelievable.
Nick de Casa
I hate the way the media (apart from those flogging the story of course), and public, are all crying hysterically: “His sexuality is his business, we shouldn’t have to know!” It appears so modern, doesn’t it? Well, its not. Hague has a truly abysmal gay rights voting record. If he is gay/bi, one could assume from all the secrecy and lying that he is not comfortable with it, and indeed somewhat self-loathing. There is no way that would not have affected his judgement when voting on gay rights. The public has the right to know his motivations for voting as such. As brutal as it sounds, if he is going to vote upon the rights of gay people, we have a right to know his sexuality. The public’s hysteria over this just shows how we do not want to accept that homosexuality exists. I like also, how, rumours of someone being gay or always hailed as “lurid” and “scandalous” and “malign”.
Eurgh!
chap star
@Kieran: obvious hes gay just look at him . & i seen him in a gay bar he tryed to suck my willy & i said hoy willy dont be silly me only like girlys
chap star
william hague is as gay as they come , his marrage is fake to make him look like a family man theres loads of em in politics look at dave & nick , it use to be dave & willy hague. they pass rent boys around more than paper work. there satanist masons that are in a elite secret society where they sodomise each other in rituals to there all seeing eye..
truth seeker- tell you no lies