Spanish Government claims Scotland could rejoin EU if it splits from the UK
MADRID yesterday stoked Brexit tensions with Theresa May by predicting the UK will break up before Spain – because of Brexit.
In bombshell remarks foreign minister Josep Borrell said Britain would split due to its “weakness”.
Spain's foreign minister told Politico: "I am very much [more] worried about the unity of the United Kingdom than the unity of the Kingdom of Spain.
"I think the United Kingdom will split apart before the Kingdom of Spain."
Mr Borrell said Spain would not stop an independent Scotland joining the EU if it left the UK on a legal basis with Westminster's consent.
Madrid has repeatedly opposed nationalists in Catalonia who want the region to break away from Spain, insisting such a move would be unconstitutional.
Spain has been mired in a political crisis since October last year, when Catalonia's separatist politicians failed in an independence push.
A number of Catalan leaders were arrested, and others fled abroad, after Madrid insisted that a referendum on independence was illegal.
The foreign minister also took a swipe at former PM David Cameron, telling the website: "Mr Cameron will not pass into history as the best prime minister in the history of Britain.
"Cameron played poker with his country at least twice: on Scotland and on Europe."
And Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ratcheted up his bid to hold Britain to ransom by blocking the Brexit deal over Gibraltar.
He vowed to vote against the final agreement unless its made clear any future trade deal won’t automatically cover the Rock.
But Spain’s latest stunt was slammed as cheap electioneering by the UK Government.
Mr Sanchez said Gibraltar “doesn’t belong to the UK” and blasted both the Rock’s chief minister Fabian Picardo and Michel Barnier.
He fumed: “As things are today, a pro-European government will vote ‘No’ on Brexit in these terms.
“If a pro-European government like this one is in this situation, it is that someone in Brussels hasn’t done their job well.”
His remarks were a clear barb at Mr Picardo, who said Madrid’s “language of vetos and exclusions has no place in the modern Europe of today”.
But in a furious riposte, the UK Government’s Solicitor General Robert Buckland accused Mr Sanchez of exploiting talks over the Rock to drum up public support at home.
The left-wing government in Madrid has been blasted by the conservatives for going soft on Gibraltar ahead of crucial regional elections on December 2.
Speaking about Spain’s belligerent stance, Mr Buckland stormed: “It was expected that they would make noises of this nature.
“Perhaps some of the noise we’ve heard is more for internal consumption in Spain.”
No10 also insisted it will not budge on its demand to pursue a trade deal for all of the UK’s territories without hiving off Gibraltar.
Powerful Tory backbencher Bob Neill - head of a cross party group on Gibraltar - urged the Government to slap down the Spanish.
He told The Sun: “This is absolutely not on.
“The Government has been absolutely clear that Gibraltar has to be included both in the Withdrawal Agreement, in the transition and in the future relationship.
“This is the Spanish trying to pull a fast one and I think the EU27 will see right through it.”
“The Government has to be very clear that Gibraltar and the UK leave together - at the same time.”
One Tory MP accused Mr Sanchez of “blatant electioneering” given looming polls in May.
He told The Sun: “I completely understand he has elections coming up and that he’s trying to make a big deal out of it. But I think it’s a political ballet.”
A Commission spokesman said: “We’re aware of Spain’s concerns. The EU’s position on Gibraltar is clear.”
The row came as Germany and France snubbed pleas from Michel Barnier and pushed for tough new demands to be added to the Brexit trade blueprint.
France’s ambassador to the EU told him at a meeting of Member States on Sunday the text must stress that “Brexit should have consequences”.
Meanwhile Germany warned the Frenchman he must make sure the PM’s rejected Chequers plan isn’t given new life “through the backdoor” of the deal.
Alongside tougher demands on fishing and the Level Playing Field, some capitals are also calling for the UK to be tied to EU rules on services.
Mr Barnier has urged Member States not to make incendiary additions to the Political Declaration over fears the deal will be voted down by MPs.
Meanwhile the Netherlands yesterday appeared to break ranks with Brussels by publishing its own detailed plans for coping with a no deal outcome.
The Hague announced a “Great No Deal Bill” granting the government emergency powers to steady the ship if Britain crashes out.
Under the new law ministers could ensure the status quo on citizens’ rights, recognition of UK drivers’ licenses and professional qualifications, and energy links.
Rem Korteweg, from Dutch think tank the Clingendael Institute, said: “The Netherlands is walking a fine line.
“The Commission has been trying to avoid members from making preparations that would make no deal more palatable to UK.”
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