Read in Catalan

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, this Thursday called for Catalonia's right to self-determination to be respected. In response to a question from a backbencher in the Scottish Parliament, she said that it's "of concern" is for a state, like Spain, "to deny the right of a people to democratically express their will".

"The right of self-determination is an important international principle and I hope very much it will be respected in Catalonia and everywhere else," she said. Sturgeon also noted the agreement between London and Edinburgh for the referendum on Scottish independence on 18th September 2014 as a  "shining example" that could be used as a "template... by others elsewhere in the world".

"It is of course entirely legitimate for Spain to oppose independence for Catalonia, but what I think is of concern anywhere is for a state to deny the right of a people to democratically express their will," said the First Minister at Holyrood today.

Sturgeon's comments followed a statement from her government's External Affairs secretary, Fiona Hyslop, which said "all peoples have the right to self-determination".

Alex Salmond

Nicola Sturgeon's predecessor, Alex Salmond, showed his support for the 1st October referendum this Thursday. This came via a photograph on social media of him holding a copy of pro-Scottish independence newspaper The National with a large Sí (Yes) on a background estelada, the pro-independence variant of the Catalan flag.

Salmond wasn't the only one to respond to the newspaper's call to pose with the poster. A number of ordinary members of the public also offered their contributions.