Renfrewshire MP calls on UK Government to condemn Spanish Government violence

Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has called for the UK Government to condemn actions taken by the Spanish government in the Catalonian referendum which took on the 1st of October.

Parliament returned this week, meeting for the first time since the violence in Catalonia, and Mr Newlands used the opportunity to challenge the UK Government’s Leader of the House to condemn the violence inflicted on the people of Catalonia by the Spanish Government.

The Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire North called on the UK government to support calls for the Spanish Government to enter talks with their Catalonian counterparts.

Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:

“The campaigning group Human Rights Watch have recently released a report which strongly condemns the violence that engulfed the people of Catalonia during their referendum a few weeks back, including highlight the assault of a 70-year old as she waited to vote.

“The violence that engulfed the streets of Catalonia was completely unacceptable and most reasonable people were rightly appalled at the actions of the Spanish Government.

“Unfortunately, the UK Government were, and remain, silent in their condemnation of the Spanish Government and the violent methods that they approved of.

“The UK Government cannot ignore this state-sponsored violence that took place in Catalonia. They must speak out and urge the Spanish Government to find a way forward which satisfies all parties involved.”