International

Alfred Bosch, Barcelona City Council Republican leader, claimed half of the Catalan government was still in Barcelona and went to work as usual yesterday despite President Carles Puigdemont fleeing to Belgium.
     Members of the Catalan government travelled to Belgium after threats of prosecution from Spain’s central government.
     Madrid has accused the region’s executive of treason following its unilateral declaration of independence.Catalonia’s President declared the region free of Spanish rule after a violent police crackdown on a referendum branded illegal by the central government.
     Mr Bosch of the Republican pro-Independence Party spoke on Newsnight to defiantly reject Spain’s move.
     He said: “Please remind the whole world that there is half of the government in Belgium and the other hand of the Catalan government that is here in Barcelona right now.