THE Catalan foreign affairs minister has called for a UK-wide debate about Spanish state spying on British MPs.
Speaking ahead of a visit to London yesterday, Alfred Bosch said he believed there should be discussions in the UK over what has happened and whether it deserved “some kind of response”.
The issue emerged after the Spanish Government sought the intervention of the courts to stop activities of Catalan diplomatic missions in Germany, the UK and Switzerland – alleging they were promoting secessionism.
A large dossier it submitted as evidence is said to have included synopses of confidential communications between Catalan leaders and diplomats.
Bosch said: “We believe this is not acceptable, we think that there should be some sort of debate in Scotland and England and Wales about what has happened and whether this deserves some kind of a response.
“We think this is really a scandal.”
The dossier of evidence contained pictures of MPs at a protest supporting political prisoners in Catalonia, including the SNP’s Ronnie Cowan and Joanna Cherry.
And last week Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams said it appeared members of his party, the SNP and the Conservatives were subject to cover surveillance by agents of the Spanish Government as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Catalonia.
He told MPs in the House of Commons of concerns over “spying by a supposedly friendly country”.
Bosch said the delegations which the Spanish Government were trying to shut down were “completely legitimate and necessary”.
He said: “They are saying we are operating against the Spanish state.
“We have a different view – we are working for the economy, for companies, for tourism, for culture – we are doing all that, basically that is the bulk of our job.
“If someone asks us, we explain what the political position of the Catalan government is.”
Spanish foreign minister Josep Borrell has previously said the autonomous communities have a “constitutionally recognised right” to have delegations abroad – but would have to explain to the courts if they do activities “unrelated to their function”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel