‘WHEN VIOLENCE REPLACES DEMOCRACY AND DIALOGUE THERE ARE NO WINNERS’

LEADING figures in Welsh life condemned the scenes of violence in Catalonia as police sought to stop the independence referendum taking place.

First Minister Carwyn Jones described the scenes on the streets as “horrific”. Around 460 people were injured, according to Catalan authorities. He said: “When violence replaces democracy and dialogue there are no winners.”

Plaid Cymru AM Adam Price, part of a delegation of international observers, called for the international community to condemn the attempts to stop the vote.

He said: “This is the biggest threat we have seen to the values of democracy and human rights on this continent of Europe since the dark days of fascism and yet we’ve seen silence from the leadership of the European Union. We should be showing solidarity and support the people of Catalonia who are only exercising their basic right to decide their own future.”

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on Theresa May to contact her Spanish counterpart Mariano Rajoy and appeal for an end to the “police violence”.

Cardiff West Labour MP Kevin Brennan said the “Spanish Government should be ashamed” and condemned the violence as “disgraceful”.

Blaenau Gwent Labour AM Alun Davies said: “Using violence to prevent people exercising their right to self-determination is appalling in a west European democracy.”

Rhondda Labour MP Chris Bryant said: “The scenes in Catalonia today are deeply shocking for anyone who loves Spain. Police brutality never wins in the end.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood challenged party leaders to “condemn the violence”.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson should call in the Spanish ambassador to tell him that the police response was “unacceptable”.