Government accused of failing to condemn Spain over Catalonia violence because they’re worried about landing a Brexit deal

THE Cabinet was yesterday accused of failing to condemn Spain over the crackdown in Catalonia - because they're too worried about landing a Brexit deal.

Amid spiraling anger at Madrid’s brutal intervention on Sunday, Lib Dem chief Vince Cable said Boris Johnson was guilty of a “shameful dereliction of duty"; for not criticising the Madrid government.

And he stormed: “It shows how weak this Government has become that it is desperate not to upset the government of an EU country that could veto the final Brexit deal.”

Earlier Chancellor Philip Hammond urged the Spanish authorities to show “restraint” but said: “It’s important to maintain the rule of law.”

The row came as Brussels booted Barcelona out of the running to house the London-based EU Medicines Agency post Brexit.

In a move taken as punishment for the referendum chaos, the Catalan city was ditched from the shortlist to bag the EU drugs regulator.

Barcelona had emerged on a shortlist of five rival bids from a field of 19, with a technical assessment covering provision of office buildings, hotel capacities, tax-breaks and childcare places giving no hint of tthe political backlash.

But when ambassadors gather Friday to pick the winning hosts for the EMA and a smaller European Banking Authority also forced to evacuate London, the Catalan economic and cultural motor won't be considered.

“After Sunday's chaos, Barcelona is OUT “, a diplomat from a fellow eurozone government told The Sun.

“This agency has already had to vacate its London home – what's the point in uprooting families to Barcelona when it too would be facing at least a temporary EU exit if it goes through with quitting Spain.”

The EU yesterday gave Spain a telling off over the handling of Sunday’s independence poll – but ruled the vote illegal.

In a statement, EU bosses called on “all relevant players to move on from confrontation to dialogue”.

They added: “Violence can never be an instrument in politics. We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process in full respect of the Spanish Constitution and of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined therein.”