Onus is now on the EU to help broker a solution. It is a

The situation in Catalonia is serious, and we need to be measured and thoughtful in our words if we seek to actually help things.

Scotland has a keen interest in Spain and Catalonia. The SNP is the government of an aspiring state, not a protest movement, and we take our responsibilities seriously.

International and constitutional law matters, and the rule of law is a fundamental principle of international diplomacy.

Of course, we understand and respect the position of the Catalan Government. While Spain has the right to oppose independence, the people of Catalonia must have the ability to determine their own future.

Friday’s Declaration of Independence came about only after repeated calls for dialogue were refused.

But the right to self-determination does not exist in a vacuum. We have a

true and genuine conflict – one side seeking to use democracy to override the rule of law, and the other using disproportionate force to defend constitutional law to override democracy.

Now, more than ever, the priority of all those who consider themselves friends of Spain should be to encourage dialogue to find a way forward that respects democracy and the rule of law.

The European Union has a political and moral responsibility to identify how the situation can be resolved peacefully and democratically.

If we’re to help bring about a sustainable solution we’ll need warm hearts and cool heads.