As William Hague's aide resigns over rumours surrounding their relationship, the Foreign Secretary himself has declared the allegations unfounded.
In recent days, various newspapers and websites have reported on suggestions that Hague, 49, and his aide, Christopher Myers, 25, have enjoyed a personal relationship.
The suggestions came after political blogger Paul Staines, who writes under the pseudonym Guido Fawkes, claimed they shared a hotel room during the run-up to May's general election.
But in a
statement issued last night, 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.
"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."
As part of his move to extinguish the rumours, the former Conservative Party
leader disclosed that he and his wife Ffion had suffered trouble conceiving.
"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," he said.
"It has been an
immensely traumatic and painful experience but our marriage is strong
and we will face whatever the future brings together. We wish everyone
to know that we are very happily married."