Nick Clegg’s wife joins WSTA panellists at ‘Brexit’ conference

The WSTA has named two further panellists who will join JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin and former trade minister Lord Price at its Brexit-focused annual conference next week, including the wife of former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Miriam González Durántez with former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

Miriam González Durántez, partner at law firm Dechert LLP, the wife of former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and Sir Simon Fraser, managing partner of business consultants Flint Global, and former head of the UK foreign office, will join Martin and Lord Price for a debate, led by former ITV political correspondent Alex Forrest, on the difficulties and opportunities Brexit could bring for the drinks industry.

Durántez is a partner of international law firm Dechert LLP where she is co-chair of the firm’s international trade and government regulation practice, focusing on international and EU trade law and policy.

She previously served seven years as a senior member of the cabinet for EU external relations commissioners Chris Patten and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, where she had responsibility for EU relations and trade with the Middle East, the US and Latin America, and as a FCO adviser during the UK presidency of the European Union.

Sir Simon Fraser served for five years (2010 to 2015) as Head of the UK Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service, and has also led the UK Department for Business. Prior to that he served as chief of staff to the European trade commissioner in Brussels, and as director general for European policy at the Foreign Office.

Tim Martin, who built the Wetherspoon pub chain from the ground up, and is an outspoken supporter of Brexit, will take part in a one-on-one interview with Forrest prior to the panel session, as will The Rt Hon Lord Price. It will mark one of the first opportunities that Lord Price will have given his views on Brexit, since his resignation as Minister of State for trade policy.

Sir Simon Fraser

“It’s been a particularly turbulent 12 months, in which we’ve seen Article 50’s triggering and a snap General Election that produced a surprising result,” said WSTA chief executive Miles Beale.

“Since our last conference, we are more educated, better prepared and clearer about what we want our Government to deliver for our industry, but it’s still a time of great uncertainty.

“We know there will be challenging times ahead for our members and our aim is to work together to find the best way through which allows our industry’s historic trade flows to remain intact. But we need also to look to the future and global opportunities.”

This year’s conference will take place on 12 September at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in London. For more information visit wsta.com.