A SACKED Spanish diplomat in Edinburgh was told by his boss that Scottish independence would “open a Pandora’s box of unforeseeable consequences” in Europe.
And the former consul-general to Edinburgh, Miguel Angel Vecino, later remarked to Camilo Villarino, chief of staff for Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, that Nicola Sturgeon was “distant and cold”, as well as lacking empathy.
The details emerged from documents lodged with a Madrid court in an unfair dismissal claim by Vecino and seen by the digital newspaper Vozpopuli.
Vecino arrived in Edinburgh last November, shortly after Borrell said in an interview that he would not oppose the entry into the EU of an independent Scotland if it was done by legal means.
The diplomat mentioned this in several communications, but Villarino warned him in an email at the end of January: “Do not think … the Government of London, that we welcome Scotland’s independence. Because this is not the case. A Pandora’s box would be opened in Europe of unforeseeable consequences. Prudence, therefore.”
A month later, after the First Minister met Vecino at her office, Vecino wrote: “She is someone very distant and cold, who rarely shows any feeling on her face, she only made a gesture twice, with what seems like a lack of empathy.”
He said Sturgeon had “deep convictions and more than pragmatic is opportunistic”, but described her “ignorance” of the international scene as “shocking” for a leader who wanted to achieve independence, adding: “I think not because of ignorance, but because of absolute disinterest.”
When the FM told Holyrood in April that she was seeking a second indyref before May 2021, she told MSPs: “The choice will be between Brexit and the future of Scotland as an independent European nation.”
Villarino told the Edinburgh consul: “Except for the difference, not negligible, that Mrs Sturgeon is more educated, these texts could have been signed by [Catalan] President [Quim] Torra. The ideas, the arguments, even some turns, are the same.
“Never forget that our bet is for the United Kingdom, not for Scotland, even if the British Government does not go through its best times.”
Vecino replied: “In my opinion, we should not bet on anything because it is not our problem. Our job is to observe, inform and be present in the front row to influence as much as possible in our favour, but in no way lean towards one or the other. ... independence is an internal problem of the United Kingdom and ... we should not even think about it.”
The Scottish Government has refused to comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel