Fugitive former Catalan minister now in Scotland

Clara Ponsati had been living in Belgium since fleeing Spain

A former member of Catalonia’s regional government has relocated to Scotland from her self-imposed exile in Belgium.

Clara Ponsati revealed on social media that she has returned to working at St Andrews University.

The Catalan former education minister had been in Belgium since fleeing Spain along with ex-regional president Carles Puigdemont and three other former cabinet members following an unsuccessful bid to declare independence from Spain in October, AP reported.

She and the others are said to face arrest if they return to Spain.

A post on Ms Ponsati’s Twitter account, translated from her native language, said: “The Catalan exile arrives in United Kingdom: enjoying my freedom of movement as a European citizen, this week I’ve reinstated at the University of St Andrews.”

It also included what appeared to be a picture of the surrounding coastline.

Former SNP MSP and Scottish Parliament presiding officer Tricia Marwick tweeted: “Welcome @ ClaraPonsati. You have many Friends in Scotland.”

A spokesman for St Andrews University, quoted by The Independent, said: “Professor Clara Ponsati was granted a sabbatical from her post as a senior academic in the School of Economics and Finance to serve as a minister in the Generalitat de Catalunya.

“We are delighted she has returned to her research work at St Andrews.”