Hague gets back to business after putting record straight over 'improper relationship'

Foreign Secretary William Hague will attempt to get back to business as usual today after issuing an extraordinarily personal statement denying speculation about an improper relationship with a male aide.

Mr Hague said his special adviser Christopher Myers had resigned as a result of the "pressure" put on his family due to the "untrue and malicious allegations made about him".

The Foreign Secretary also dismissed reports that his marriage was in trouble, revealing for the first time he and wife Ffion have suffered the trauma of multiple miscarriages, including one this summer.

Mr Hague is due to meet his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle for talks at the Foreign Office today as he attempts to draw a line under the situation, which was fuelled by internet speculation about the nature of his relationship with Mr Myers.

In his statement yesterday Mr Hague said: "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 Myers, 25, was employed by Mr Hague during the general election campaign as a constituency aide and had worked for the Foreign Secretary as a policy advisor on a salary reported to be £30,000.

Mr Hague admitted to "occasionally" sharing 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."

Following reports that his marriage was in difficulty, the Foreign Secretary took the unusual step of revealing aspects of his private life with Ffion, who he married in 1997.

Mr Hague said: "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."

Mr Hague acknowledged that releasing his statement would cause "distress" for their families but insisted he had to reveal the "straightforward truth".

He said: "We have never made this information public because of the distress it would cause to our families and would not do so now were it not for the untrue rumours circulating which repeatedly call our marriage into question.

"We wish everyone to know that we are very happily married.

"It is very regrettable to have to make this personal statement, but we have often said to each other 'if only they knew the truth...'

"Well, this is the straightforward truth."