British expats will be able to stay in Spain ‘even if there is no deal’ says Spanish foreign minister

SPAIN’S foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, has said  British expats will be allowed to continue living in Spain even if Britain doesn’t strike a Brexit deal with the European Union.

The senior government minister speaking on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, said, “I do hope that there will be a deal.

“If there is no deal we will make sure that the lives of ordinary people who are in Spain, the UK people, is not disrupted.

“As you know, the relationship between the UK and Spain is a very close one in terms of economic relations and also social exchanges.

“Over 17 million Brits come to Spain every year and many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way as much as possible.”

Spain is host to the largest number of British citizens living in the EU (308,805) and just over a third are aged 65 and over, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Prime Minister Theresa May is continuing to negotiate withdrawal issues with the EU, including a financial settlement, expats’ rights and Irish border issues.

Spain’s Foreign Minister also responded to questions on Catalan independence saying, “This is a matter to be decided by all of the Spanish people.”

“This is a matter to be decided by all of the Spanish people” – @AlfonsoDastisQ on #Catalonia independence #marr pic.twitter.com/1ALekPy1Uh

— The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) October 22, 2017