William Hague's special adviser Christopher Myers quits

Guido Fawkes ran a story yesterday,  Exclusive: Hague Shared Night in Hotel Bedroom with SpAd on his blog just yesterday.

Hours later Guido then ran this follow up story, FCO Says Hague/Myers Relationship Professional.

Then first thing this morning Iain Dale posted this story on his blog, Guido Fawkes Should Cease & Desist.

I wasn't going to say anything about this for fear of breathing new life into the story, but I can't stay silent any longer. However, I'll keep it brief.

The campaign against William Hague on the Guido Fawkes blog is nothing short of reprehensible. The lies, smears and innuendo are pathetic.

Then this afternoon William Hague's Special Adviser, Christopher Myers resigned.

Hours later William Hague issued this very personal statement:

“I feel it is necessary to issue this personal statement in response to press and internet speculation over the last ten days. Earlier this year a Sunday newspaper began questioning whether my marriage to Ffion was in trouble, and last week another media outlet asked whether there was a statement about our supposed separation. This seemed to be linked to equally untrue speculation surrounding the appointment of Christopher Myers as a Special Adviser. 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.

He has now told me that, as a result of the pressure on his family from the untrue and malicious allegations made about him, he does 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. 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. Several years ago one Sunday paper reported that Ffion was three months pregnant, without ever checking the story with us. This made even more difficult the fact that we had only just experienced another disappointment. 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. I will not be making any further comment on these matters.”

The final word then goes to Iain Dale who wrote this post - A Bleak Day For Political Blogging.

UPDATE 07:12am 2nd September
This morning I spotted on my blogroll a posting from Norfolk Blogger titled Stunning hypocrisy from William Hague?

"Now today William Hague has released a statement making clear that false allegations made against him are untrue and have no basis in fact. This must be very upsetting for William Hague. So why won't William Hague or his department do the same for Craig Murray and clear his name?"

Although William Hague isn't responsible for what happened to Craig Murray, he could actually have responded himself to Craig's letter and therefore ensure people are aware that Craig Murray has been cleared of all charges and draw a line under this episode of Craig's life, allowing him to move on.

UPDATE 07:34am 2nd September
A great post by Stephen Tall on Lib Dem Voice called Half a defence of Paul Staines (aka Guido Fawkes), this is seriously worth a read.  Some very good points put by Stephen that make you sit up and look again.

Tories and homophobia - have they really changed?

Well done to the Independent on Sunday for digging on this story. Roger Helmer, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands claims homophobia doesn't exist, in fact he writes on his blog "Straight Talking" that homophobia is "merely a propaganda device designed to denigrate and stigmatise those holding conventional opinions".

This coming from the same Tory MEP who defended homophobic Michal Kaminski, the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group which the British Tories are now part of in Europe.

Although Michal Kaminski and Margaret Thatcher have something in common, no not Section 28, it is their admiration for General Augusto Pinochet!

Michal Kaminski, the head of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, is under fire himself over his controversial views, his one-time membership of the far-right National Rebirth party (NOP) and his opposition to an apology for Polish involvement in a wartime massacre of Jews in the town of Jedwabne.

Anyway, back to Roger Helmer, the MEP who describes himself as having liberal views towards homosexuality but is dead set against gay marriage. Hardly liberal.

Honestly, what an absolute buffoon, how dare he say homophobia doesn't exist, what about those people all around the world beaten to death because they are gay, I was attacked when I was much younger because I was gay, in Nottingham, the person who attacked me did purely because I was gay, he had followed from Gatsby's, the main gay pub at that time and he hurled homophobic abuse at me for well over an hour before he threw the first punch, so Mr. Helmer I can categorically say you are talking out of your arse!

I cannot say I am surprised, this is a Member of the same Party who brought us Section 28, the same Party that controlled Kent County Council under Sandy Bruce-Lockhart who introduced their own version of Section 28 after the law had been repealed.

Senior Tories like Michael Howard MP, William Hague MP, Baroness Young and David Wilshire MP were vocal supporters of Section 28.

Leopards do not change their spots and neither have the Conservatives. I accept the younger newer members may have, and most of those don't remember the bad old days and can't understand folk like me getting worked up about it, but I do, I do remember it.

So my challenge to David Cameron, sack Roger Helmer if you disagree with him or back him?

My message to Roger Helmer, go and meet some gay people, yes real ones, constituents in your region and ask them if homophobia exists?