British lawyer defends ousted Catalan leader

A British human rights lawyer is to represent Carles Puigdemont, the ousted Catalan independence leader, at the United Nations, arguing Spain violated, via “repressive” legal means, his right to take part in political life.

Speaking in Brussels last night after Mr Puigdemont dropped his bid to return as president, Ben Emmerson QC accused Spain’s government of “squeezing the life” out of the independence movement.

Mr Emmerson is already representing three other Catalan separatist who were imprisoned.