Clegg to be father for third time

(David Sandison)

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is to be a father for the third time, his spokeswoman announced today.

Mr Clegg and his wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez are expecting their third child in February.

Mr Clegg said: "Miriam and I are lucky to have two wonderful little boys, but we'd always hoped to have a third child.

"So we are thrilled to bits that next February, all being well, our sons will have a little brother or sister."

The announcement comes one week before the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth - the first which Mr Clegg will attend as party leader.

Mr Clegg was elected Lib Dem leader in December 2007, two months after the resignation of Menzies Campbell.

At the age of 41, Mr Clegg is the youngest of the party leaders, beating Tory leader David Cameron by three months.

Following his election as MP for Sheffield Hallam in 2005, Mr Clegg was immediately promoted to the front bench as Europe spokesman and was later made home affairs spokesman.