Tackling whispering campaign head-on

IT IS AMAZING how people in high places or at the top of their professions display a blind spot over how other people might perceive them. William Hague was forced to acknowledge that he was, perhaps, a little naive over how some people would make assumptions and jump to conclusions about his relationship with one of his aides.

To Mr Hague, it was perfectly innocent and businesslike, but the nudge-nudge, wink-wink brigade made something more of it.

The foreign secretary has taken an extraordinarily brave and dignified decision to speak publicly about his private life, including the suffering of his wife over their attempts to have a baby, to tackle the whispering campaign head-on.

Much of this appears to have been conducted in the murky depths of the internet, always a haven for those who wish to spread allegations without having to account for themselves. It’s the downside of the web and what makes us so wary of it.

Mr Hague would concede that he made himself vulnerable to rumour-mongers, but we have to respect his attempt to draw a line under it.