What a mess

exercised over the use of disabled parking spaces to ensure those that need them can use them without difficulty. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN

Mugiemoss Road Bucksburn, Aberdeen Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s hamfisted handling of Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont’s wildcat referendum and that brutal overreaction on the day by police authorities were bad enough without Madrid direct rule increasing tensions.

Unfortunately, Catalonia gets the worst of both worlds with the Brussels cold shoulder and – Brexit apart – the remaining 27 EU member States not wanting increased numbers with secessions. Brussels itself sits on that political Flanders/wallonia tectonic plate.

Whatever else an independent Scotland offers it’s not easy access to European Union. Scottish Ministers should take care pronouncing on Catalonia for self-determination as demands could arise in the Northern Isles or elsewhere in the independent Scotland!

Catalonia is learning, with jobs lost from businesses moving out, that money knows no nationality!