Nick Clegg Under Fire After Wife Declares Gibraltar Spanish

Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister, is facing pressure to publicly assert Gibraltar's British status after his wife, Miriam González Durántez, stated during a Spanish television interview that the territory belongs to Spain. González Durántez, who is running in Spain's national elections with her new political party, Democracia21, made the remarks while promoting her campaign.

The comments have drawn criticism, particularly given the British state titles held by the couple. They also come in the wake of a recent agreement between the UK and Brussels that places Gibraltar within the EU's Schengen free movement zone, a deal described by some as a "surrender" pact. This agreement abolished the Spain-Gibraltar border crossing, requiring Britons to present passports to Spanish officials and potentially face entry refusal, despite Gibraltar being British territory.

London and Madrid have long disputed control over Gibraltar, a strategically important peninsula at a major maritime choke point. This dispute dates back to the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, which ceded the territory to Britain. The status of Gibraltar became a significant issue during Brexit negotiations, with Spain attempting to leverage the discussions to regain ownership.

During her appearance on the Spanish TV program "En Boca de Todos," González Durántez was asked directly if she believed Gibraltar was Spanish. She responded, "Clearly yes." When pressed on whether she and her husband argued about the issue, she stated, "We have our own independent minds, don't we?" She added that her husband would "defend his position, and I'll defend mine."

Former Tory Brexit minister David Jones commented that while Clegg is not responsible for his wife's views, he "must surely have views of his own" and should "confirm the factual position: that Gibraltar is as British as his former constituency, Sheffield Hallam, and will always remain so."

Tory MP Mark Francois echoed this sentiment, reminding Lady Clegg that Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly in a referendum to remain British. He noted that while Spain is a NATO ally, this does not grant them claim to the territory.

Sir Nick, who was knighted in 2018 for his service as Deputy Prime Minister, has previously alluded to his wife's views on Gibraltar's status. In a 2010 parliamentary exchange, he reportedly joked that Gibraltar was a "sensitive topic" in his household.

González Durántez launched her liberal party, Democracia21, in Madrid on Saturday, aiming to promote transparency in Spanish politics amidst recent corruption scandals involving the Socialist and People's parties. Sir Nick was present at the party's launch. The couple, who previously resided in California while Sir Nick worked for Facebook, now divide their time between Spain and London.

Sir Nick's office was contacted for comment regarding his personal stance on Gibraltar's sovereignty.