MP and wife in 'time and space' plea for marriage

MP Neil Carmichael and his wife have appealed for "time and space" to reflect on difficulties in their marriage.

Conservative MP for Stroud Mr Carmichael, 51, and his wife Laurence needed privacy to plan for the future, a joint statement from the couple said.

Mr Carmichael became the Stroud Constituency's representative in Westminster two-and-a-half years ago.

He wed Laurence, who works as a senior university lecturer, in 1995. After 17 years of marriage the couple have three teenage children.

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But Mr Carmichael said: "We are experiencing difficulties in our marriage, not least because Laurence has found the exposure to public and political life difficult and, at times, excessively intrusive."

He said: "We are, together, exploring ways forward to support the needs of our family and to resolve this particular problem.

"Nobody else is involved. This is purely an internal family matter and we would be grateful for time and space to reflect on and plan for the future."

In an interview at their home in Paganhill, Mr Carmichael said he and his wife's respective careers were not affected.

The MP studied politics at Nottingham University and worked in business and agriculture before becoming an MP.