Webchat with Miriam González Durántez, Tues 21st April, 11.30 am

[JustineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to say that Miriam González Durántez - international trade lawyer and wife of Nick Clegg - will be joining us for a webchat tomorrow (Tuesday 21st) at 11.30am.

Miriam a couple of years ago, and has spoken a few times about how she was bowled over by the support of Mumsnetters when she was propelled into the public eye five years ago.

She's fitting in some campaigning for some women LibDem MPs over the next few weeks, whilst continuing to practise as Head of EU Trade and EU Relations at law firm Dechert.

We hope you can join us at 11.30 on Tuesday April 21 to talk to Miriam about careers, campaigning, Mumsnet, and the mixed bag that is being a politician's spouse.

(And before you ask... yes, we are working on having all the major party leaders on before the election, and we're not intending to go too far down the spouse route ourselves - but we know that Miriam and MNers are rather fond of each other and think her insights on the campaign might be interesting .)

If you can't make it on the day, do please post up your questions in advance here.'

[caramelshortbreadnowplease]

Hi Miriam,

Is there anything you really like or find exciting about your husband being in politics?

The negative effects on the family seem obvious, but I wonder what you (or your children) think makes up for all that?

Thanks.

[LadyCatherineDeTurd]

Like you, I've kept my own name on marriage. Like you, I'm often called Mrs Husbandsname by people who know damn well what my actual name is. Does this piss you off and how do you deal with it?

[clottedcreamteawithscone]

Languages were only made compulsory at Primary age from September last year (from age 7). Do you feel this is too late and should pupils be introduced to another language earlier to instill perhaps a love of learning that will then make them want to continue at secondary?

[Dinnerfourone]

Hi Miriam,

I'm not going to be around at 11.30 but wanted to stop in and say how much I admire you.
Working full time, being a mother in the public eye and making time for charity work must be pretty exhausting.

What would be your tips for looking after yourself when juggling so much?

Many posters on here are in the same position, albeit not in the public eye, and the support we get on here and wine and netflix certainly helps.

[happygirl87]

I am a junior lawyer (1.5 years PQE) working in house in the City. In appraisals I am repeatedly told I come across as underconfident, and I find publicising my own strengths in an appropriate way very difficult. I know this is a common issue for women, especially working in a male dominated arena, and just wondered if you had any advice on combatting this?

Also many thanks for your inspiring contribution to Stylist magazine's Life Lessons - I have stuck the clipping on my fridge, in hopes that it will remind me to "know that [I] can compete".

[TheAbbessofBarking]

I'm really interested to know your thoughts on the SNP, given your own background in a country that has a strong separatist movement.

Do you think that the SNP are as dangerous to the country as the Conservatives are making out? What are your thoughts on Nicola Sturgeon?

[magimedi]

*Plenty.

Really hope to see an answer to that one.

[magimedi]

And thanks for the explanation, Justine.

[ChrisQuean]

I'm a senior full time City lawyer, international firm, with two young DCs and a DH sometimes in the public eye (not politics)

My question(s) for Miriam: how do you get time off work to do interviews and Mumsnet webchats without your billable hours target getting shot? Do they bring up your lack of commitment to the firm at your appraisals because you have young children and a public life? What time code are you putting this down to?

Despite your professionalism and career success, are you given leeway not afforded to other lawyers because of bad publicity and reputationalrisk to your firm of not accommodating your time off to help your husband's political career?

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

test

[JustineMumsnet]

Miriam is at the Towers and will kick off any minute now.

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

@LadyCatherineDeTurd

Like you, I've kept my own name on marriage. Like you, I'm often called Mrs Husbandsname by people who know damn well what my actual name is. Does this piss you off and how do you deal with it?

Hi, nice to be here. First time I do this - so go easy with the questions...

I am Spanish and in Spain we keep our father and mother's family name. The people who often call me Mrs Clegg is the conservative media. Those people have called me bad mother, bad wife, human rights abuser.... I have figured out that when they call me Mrs Clegg they are trying to be nice!

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

@Stepatatime

How do you balance your family, home and professional duties? I'm often amazed at how many mothers there are who work full or part time but also end up doing the lions share of the domestic duties. Just interested how it works when you are both successful and prominent professionals - is the issue taken out of the way by bought in support?

We have help at home. And we also have families that help a lot. My mum has come from Spain to help us during the general election and Nick's mum often comes one day per week. I also have a team at work that pick up urgent issues, friends and neighbors who are ready to jump in if there is a disaster... I am privileged.

The issue about 'doing it all' is not for women like me who have jobs that can afford childcare and flexible conditions. The issue is for those that cannot afford childcare and whose jobs are inflexible.

And BTW I do not think these are 'women issues' they are 'family issues'.

[woeface]

Hello Miriam - thanks so much for coming on, I'm a big fan.

Can I ask whether you watched Channel 4's 'Coalition'? And if so, what did you make of it?!

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

@PlentyOfPubeGardens

Hi Miriam,

I was very encouraged to see this in the Lib Dem manifesto:

Carefully monitor the growing evidence base around electronic cigarettes, which appear to be a route by which many people are quitting tobacco, and ensure restrictions on marketing and use are proportionate and evidence based. For example, we support restrictions ton advertising which risks promoting tobacco or targets under 18s, such as those introduced in 2014, but would rule out a statutory ban on ?vaping? in public places.

As Nick is (or was?) a vaper, I imagine this is a topic close to your heart. However, I'm not sure what the point is of this promise when the TPD threatens to outlaw all effective ecigs next year.

As an expert on EU law, can you see any way that Article 20 of the Tobacco Products Directive could be brought in in 2016 without it being a de facto ban on vaping? Is our best bet Totally Wicked's legal challenge to the TPD or is there something we can ask our candidates to actually do to mitigate the worst effects of this legislation?

Nick has stopped vaping now...or so I hope!

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Brilliant question chrisquean.

I'd also like to know if you think a junior associate would be awarded the same leeway in supporting their husband's career?

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

@Bonsoir

Hello Miriam.

Are your children bilingual? How does the trade-off between languages work in your household? Do your children feel more English than Spanish (or vice versa)?

Yes they are. Nick only talks to them in English and I only talk to them in Spanish, but between Nick and I we speak in English. Provided you are strict at not mixing the languages this system seems to work well.

[magimedi]

Would have liked a fuller answer to Plenty's question.

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Really, that's your only response to that well-thought out question that three of us want an answer to?

[tribpot]

I'm going to ask Plenty's question again without the question mark - perhaps Miriam has been over-strict in the 'one question, one answer' rule.

As an expert on EU law, can you see any way that Article 20 of the Tobacco Products Directive could be brought in in 2016 without it being a de facto ban on vaping? [I've deleted the second question for the same reason as above]

[JustineMumsnet]

@PlentyOfPubeGardens

Really, that's your only response to that well-thought out question that three of us want an answer to?

Hang on - Miriam's just typing a further response - hit post a bit early

[MiriamGonzalezDurantez]

@PlentyOfPubeGardens

Hi Miriam,

I was very encouraged to see this in the Lib Dem manifesto:

Carefully monitor the growing evidence base around electronic cigarettes, which appear to be a route by which many people are quitting tobacco, and ensure restrictions on marketing and use are proportionate and evidence based. For example, we support restrictions ton advertising which risks promoting tobacco or targets under 18s, such as those introduced in 2014, but would rule out a statutory ban on ?vaping? in public places.

As Nick is (or was?) a vaper, I imagine this is a topic close to your heart. However, I'm not sure what the point is of this promise when the TPD threatens to outlaw all effective ecigs next year.

As an expert on EU law, can you see any way that Article 20 of the Tobacco Products Directive could be brought in in 2016 without it being a de facto ban on vaping? Is our best bet Totally Wicked's legal challenge to the TPD or is there something we can ask our candidates to actually do to mitigate the worst effects of this legislation?

Being told I need to provide full answer to this - I do not know by heart this particular Directive, but will check and if you give me your email address will let you have my legal views on this (on a pro bono basis!)

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

Thank you very much!

[rachelreallife]

Disappointing answer to Plenty's question there. Was a great question!

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

I have PM'd my email address