Clegg's wife refuses to take on election role

THE wife of Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has ruled out playing a prominent role in his election campaign.

Miriam Gonzalez Durantez is "willing to help" the Liberal Democrats, but as an international lawyer and mother of three most of her time is accounted for.

Labour leader Gordon Brown and Conservative counterpart David Cameron have indicated their wives will be employed as vote-winning weapons as they attempt to present a more personal image to the electorate.

In a television interview scheduled to be broadcast tonight on ITV, the Cleggs will talk about their relationship and home life.

They have spoken to Mary Nightingale about falling in love and choosing names for their sons, but Gonzalez Durantez said she would not push forward any "sugar-coated image" of herself.

Objecting to the description a "political wife", she said: "I'm the wife of a politician. I don't have a role, I'm just married to him."

Asked if she would join the campaign trail along with Sarah Brown and Samantha Cameron, she said: "I am willing of course to help Nick, because he is my husband.

"I'm willing to help the party because I'm willing to help what I defend. There is a core set of principles that I just cannot wait to see them implemented in the country."

But she said that she did not "have the luxury of having a job that I can simply abandon for five weeks".