Former adviser travelled with William Hague on Afghan trip

William Hague's former special adviser Christopher Myers travelled with him on a trip to Afghanistan and Bahrain this year, it emerged today. Myers quit his post last week citing the pressure of "untrue and malicious allegations" after it was revealed that he and the foreign secretary had shared a hotel bedroom. Critics had questioned why Hague needed a third special adviser, whose background was not in foreign policy, at a time when the coalition government had vowed to reduce the public payroll. The flights to, and accommodation in, Afghanistan in January were paid for by the Ministry of Defence. Hague, then shadow foreign secretary, paid for the Bahrain leg of the trip. "Shadow ministers are always allowed to take advisers on such visits," said a source close to Hague. "There was no additional cost to the taxpayer. To suggest anything wrong occurred is nonsense." Last week, Hague denied ever having had a gay relationship and said his wife, Ffion, had suffered several miscarriages. Yesterday, he wrote on the micro-blogging service Twitter: "Feel I must say a big thank you from Ffion and me for the huge public support, on Twitter, in letters and in emails." Michael Gove, the education secretary, interviewed on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show today, described Hague as "one of the most gifted politicians of our time". He said: "I feel admiration for the dignity with which [Hague] has always handled himself. There have been all sorts of attempts in the past to throw stuff at him, not least when he was leader. William is a real asset to frontline politics. We are lucky to have him in public service."