Emily Thornberry MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on events in Catalonia today, said:

“Police violence in Catalonia today is shocking, and the Spanish government should take action to end it now.

"While we believe disputes over sovereignty should be resolved in accordance with rules and laws, and any referendum on these issues needs to be both democratic and fair, it is unacceptable for the Spanish authorities to overreact to today’s events through aggressive police action and the forcible closure of polling stations.

"They must respect the right to peaceful protest, and all sides must strive to come together and reach a political solution to this constitutional crisis. Violence of any sort will simply worsen divisions, and make a resolution harder to reach.”