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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Charlotte Hawes

How Liz Truss' husband forgave her affair and how they got marriage back on track

Liz Truss recently moved in to Number 10 Downing Street with her husband Hugh O'Leary and their two teenage daughters following her win in the Tory leadership race last month.

However, things have not always been plain sailing for the married pair, as it came to light in 2000 that Ms Truss was having an affair with former Tory MP Mark Field, then Shadow Minister for London... and her political mentor.

The relationship began in 2004 and reportedly ended in 2005, but the affair wasn't revealed until a year later - six years on from Ms Truss' wedding to her long-term partner.

Following the revelations, the former Tory MP's marriage to investment banker Michele Acton broke down while Ms Truss' relationship remained intact.

But what did Hugh O'Leary say about his wife's affair and how did he forgive the now-Prime Minister?

Here's everything you need to know.

How did Liz Truss and Hugh O'Leary meet?

Liz Truss and Hugh O'Leary met in 1997 (Liz Truss/instagram)

Ms Truss and Mr O'Leary met at a Tory party conference in 1997 and they went on to endure an awkward first date together after she recommended going to an ice rink.

Mr O'Leary ended up spraining his ankle on the rink, which made a memorable first date for the pair.

How did Liz Truss' husband forgive her affair with Mark Field?

Liz Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary tied the knot in 2000 (PA)

Seven years into their relationship - and four into their marriage - Ms Truss embarked on an affair with her then-mentor, Mr Field.

When news broke of the liaison, both Ms Truss and her husband remained tightlipped on the situation, although Mr O'Leary ended up sticking by his wife.

When asked about the affair by the Daily Mail, Mr O’Leary said: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

The pair continued to work on things behind closed doors and Mr O'Leary supported his wife throughout her campaign for PM.

The pair even made their first high-profile joint appearance when Ms Truss won the contest last month.

What did Liz Truss say about the affair?

Liz Truss became prime minister last month (Getty Images)

While her husband was reluctant to talk about the affair, Ms Truss claimed that her marriage was actually 'stronger' after the affair and it had been a learning experience for the now-PM.

Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press in November 2009, she said: "I've very much learned from the past. We are coming up to our 10th wedding anniversary. Since this happened we have become a lot stronger.

"I am sorry about the affair, it was a mistake. The main person I am sorry to is my husband. We have now made that up and moved on from that."

Ten years later, in 2019, she told You magazine “I am really happily married” after sharing a rare Instagram snap on Valentine's Day, which was gushingly captioned: "Love of my life. #happyvalentinesday."

How did the Conservative Party react to the affair?

The scandalous affair between Ms Truss and Mr Field caused uproar within the Conservative Party at the time.

Activists were furious about the fling - and Ms Truss faced being axed as a Parliamentary candidate for the South West Norfolk seat.

David Cameron, who was the Conservative Party leader at the time, was pushing to increase the number of female MPs in his party, who were dubbed 'Cameron Cuties'.

Ms Truss had been picked from an elite list of candidates approved by the party's high command - and members were angry that Conservative Campaign HQ didn't warn them when they asked if she had any skeletons in her closet before they selected her.

Deputy party chairman John Maples was ordered to write to the activists in Norfolk saying sorry for the way her selection was handled.

The shadow women's minister, Baroness Morris of Bolton, intervened, saying that having an extramarital affair should not stand in the way of someone entering Westminster

The Baroness asked activists not to sack Ms Truss, saying that "in this day and age" it was not a reason to stop someone from becoming an MP.

Mr Cameron was forced to issue an apology to party activists to save Ms Truss' career and insisted she was the right woman for the job.

Speaking at the time, the former PM said: "She is an excellent candidate and I very much hope she will be the candidate."

Ms Truss managed to ride out the storm and was elected as an MP for the first time in March 2010.

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