MP’s wife forced out after affair (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

MP’s wife forced out after affair

10:49am Thursday 9th November 2006

• Print
• Email
• Share

Popular MP's wife Sarah Gray will be forced to leave her idyllic country home, following her abandonment by her husband, North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

Mother-of-three Mrs Gray, 51, faces an uncertain future following Mr Gray's decision to leave her after 26 years to be with countryside campaigner Philippa Mayo.

The rented house, a £500,000 cottage in Slaughterford, was chosen by the the couple when Mr Gray was elected in 1997 and is used as his constituency office.

The close friend of Mrs Gray says she knows she will have to find somewhere else. The friend said: "Obviously she will have to leave as James has to use it as his constituency office.

"She will look for a house somewhere with the children."

The friend said: "Sarah is devastated and hurt by his behaviour and life will be hard initially after a 26 year career as wife, mother, and MP's wife."

The friend believes Mr Gray faced a difficult challenge when he faces members of his local Conservative Association executive committee next week.

She said people were angry with his betrayal of his wife especially as his 19-month affair with Mrs Mayo, 44, a mother-of-three and wife of a London barrister, continued while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

• Print
• Email
• Share