United Kingdom ‘won’t recognize’ Catalan’s independence

The UK has said it will not recognise the Catalan parliament’s declaration of independence. Theresa May’s official spokesman said the declaration was based on a vote that had been declared illegal.

The UK prime minister’s spokesman said in a statement: “The UK does not and will not recognise the unilateral declaration of independence made by the Catalan regional parliament. It is based on a vote that was declared illegal by the Spanish courts. We continue to want to see the rule of law upheld, the Spanish constitution respected, and Spanish unity preserved.”

Catalan MPs backed the independence motion 70-10 in a ballot boycotted by the opposition. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return “law, democracy and stability” to Catalonia.