Chris Myers, a special adviser to Hague as first secretary of state, resigned, citing the "untrue and malicious" rumours and the pressure on his family.
In a development that took Westminster by surprise, Hague revealed that his wife, Ffion, had suffered multiple miscarriages in recent years. He categorically denied that their marriage was in trouble.
Hague took the highly unusual step of issuing a detailed and intensely personal statement after speculation by some newspapers and political bloggers about his relationship with Myers, who was appointed as his special adviser on 24 May on a government salary believed to have been around £30,000.
A spokesman for Hague said he felt it necessary to reveal such private details of his life to "draw a line" under the rumours.
Questions have been raised in recent weeks about the appointment of Myers, a 25-year old Durham University graduate, as Hague's third special adviser. His predecessors as foreign secretary, David Miliband and Jack Straw, both had two advisers, and David Cameron has promised to cut down on the number of political advisers on the government payroll.
The Guardian
