The open door

Cassandra Nash

SPAIN’S government has 23 ministers and 14 of them are women, successors to Federica Montseny, Spain’s first female minister and one of the first in Europe.

Montseny was born in Madrid in 1905 although her parents, both teachers and both anarchists, were Catalan by birth. She was initially home ­ schooled but studied Philosophy and Literature at Barcelona University where she joined the National Confederation of Labour (CNT) and wrote for anarchist publications.

The Republican Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero offered Montseny the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance in November 1936, four months after Franco’s uprising had precipitated the Civil War.

She remained there until May 1937 when she resigned in protest at the government’s treatment of anarchists in Barcelona. During that time she introduced a short ­ lived Abortion Law and opened centres where prostitutes found accommodation and training to help them seek alternative employment.

Montseny and her family fled to France in February 1939 when the Civil War was all but lost. She died in Toulouse in January 1994 and one of her daughters, Vida, later said ­ not without bitterness ­ that Federica had turned her back on the role of wife and mother to devote herself to politics and the rights of women.

Forty­five years were to pass before Spain had another female minister, when Soledad Becerril was Minister of Culture in Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo’s Union de Centro Democratico (UCD) government from December 1981 until December 1982.

In all there have been 61 female ministers since the Transition to democracy on Franco’s death in 1975.

The majority of Montseny and Becerril’s successors have belonged ­ or belong ­ to the PSOE socialist party and the conservative Partido Popular.

There have also been Independent ministers affiliated to no party at all, two from Podemos and one from Spain’s PCE communist party.

What Federica Montseny would have made of her successors and their policies is beside the point. She was there first and she held the door open for them.

WHAT an inspiration to women and young girls, pursuing her passion and making it her life’s work. It is so easy these days to go down the route of a normal job. There is one thing that doesn’t get enough attention to it, and it is the arts. If you have a passion, hobbies and think it could be something, do it. You don’t know where you could end up. You could be like Debbie and have a fantastic career and create a spectacular community. I hope I’ll be able to go to one of the workshops she was talking about some day. Thank you, Debbie, if you’re reading this, you have inspired me to pick up my paintbrushes after so long and I have just bought your book, I can’t wait to read it.

Victoria, Arboleas

Thinking of Estela

IT is such a tragic thing when you hear about people getting into accidents, Estela was going to be one of the greats and you can tell. It is so awful when this happens, it makes you think about everything and just how lucky you must be and feel to be able to get up in the morning. After reading the story I felt an overwhelming sense of I need to get up and enjoy my day because she would only love to be here to do that. Such a young woman too. I am only sending best wishes and strength to her family and the cycling community.

Emily, UK

Dear Leapy

YOU’D certainly get my vote. A brilliant Manifesto, especially about the ‘Asylum seekers’. Don’t reply because I’m not online, sending this by mail boxes email.

Regards

Marcia van der Wal, Altea

MY husband and I are absolutely with you and love your manifesto. Little worried about overseas aid as, if we don’t, then the Chinese or the Russians will. But otherwise fabulous. Go on, go for it. Love love love.

Jeff and Jane

Judi Dench

IT is sad to hear that Judi Dench is no longer able to read her scripts due to her failing eyesight, but I find that with her expertise, charm and quick wit that Judi might not have needed a script anyway. She is a strong and powerful woman and the fact that she has said that she isn’t thinking of giving up acting anytime is just what we need to hear. Imagine being 88 and as fit and as amazing as she is, going to the Oscars, filming movies, my favourites must be the Bond films and her role in Philomena, well it was just so heartwarming and breaking. The fact that she can play so many characters and wear so many ‘hats’ is stupendous, she has worked in the film industry for a very long time and even on stage in shows!

Saddened, Benidorm

Bee stings

I THINK some people just don’t know what to be at these days. The fact that Gwyneth Paltrow has said that bees’ stings are natural Botox, I don’t know what to believe. Ladies, gents or anyone who thinks they need any of these enhancers or take awayers just remember that you are beautiful inside and out. I can understand that it can increase confidence and that you can feel better about yourself but your little quirks, the smile lines are what show that you have had a fantastic and happy life, that you have character and something special too. Do as you please, but think about what you do and where you get it done, I have seen too many of those botched programmes and I hope that nobody ever experiences that.

Alexandra, Fuengirola

Hip fractures

LINDA if I had known that I think I would have had some better luck and I would have drunk more tea! If anyone doesn’t know what I am talking about apparently more protein and tea, or coffee could reduce hip fractures in women. So, if you don’t drink tea, get drinking it now! The pain of a hip fracture is something you should take seriously, and I am telling you now, it is no joke. From here on out I’ll be making sure the girls and granddaughters are drinking more tea and coffee. I am so glad to hear about this and if you have any more tips, keep them coming! If we can avoid more things like that with something so simple, then I’ll be getting all the tea bags I can get.

Vanessa, Almeria

Leapy laws

I HAVE just read your manifesto ... I agree 100 per cent with the laws you would like to introduce to England. I feel sure if you could send this as a questionnaire to every adult in England, the majority would tick yes to each ruling.And to those who disagreed they could return to their original homeland. I wish you every succes.

Although we have lived in Spain for some 22 years and would never wish to return to England, we still keep up with how life is for family and friends back there.

Regards Wanda