A SCOTS MP was bemused yesterday after learning that Spain had spied on him as he took part in a London protest with members of the Catalan delegation to the UK.

Ronnie Cowan and Joanna Cherry were among MPs pictured at a protest supporting the political prisoners in Catalonia.

It was among leaked documents – to which The National has access – sent to a Madrid court considering a Spanish Government attempt to close Catalan diplomatic missions abroad.

Cowan said he had gone to a number of events organised by the Catalans and was happy to do so.

He added: “It comes as a surprise to me. I don’t know what they’re trying to do or prove, but I’m very open in my support of the Catalan delegation and their right to express their desire for self-determination.

“That’s a matter for the people of Catalonia, but they have every right to say they want to investigate if that is the path they want to down and I’m supporting their right to express that will and I’m doing it openly. I’ve nothing to hide. If they want to talk to me they can come and talk to me.

“These people are working for Catalonia to impress upon people what it is and should be, and they have a democratic right to do so. If the Spanish Government want to argue about it they should come and talk and tell us what they have to say. They’ve never offered to do that.”

His SNP colleague Douglas Chapman, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Catalonia, said its activities were well documented in the media.

“Anything we do in Parliament is on the public record. We are not supported financially, directly or in kind, by any Catalan organisation or business,” he said.

“We have managed to foster good relations with the Catalan representative office in London but we would be equally keen to meet with anyone from the Spanish Embassy.

“The situation in Spain and Catalonia will require to end in a political solution, despite the current issues, to consider how the people of Catalonia can express their desire for further power and self-determination.”

Catalan Foreign Affairs Minister, Alfred Bosch, said the documents included synopses of confidential communications between Catalan leaders and diplomats.

He challenged his Spanish counterpart Josep Borrell to explain what state resources were being used to spy on Catalan politicians, claiming that the diplomatic missions in Germany and Switzerland had also been targeted. Bosch said: “Borrell must show his face and take responsibility for what we know. And if necessary, he must resign.”

The leaked documents focus on an interview The National conducted with Catalan vice-president Pere Aragonès, during which “he highlighted ‘the political activities’ carried out by the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia in London”.

There is a mention of SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford and other SNP MPs who wore yellow ties during PMQs, to show solidarity with the Catalan independence prisoners.

They revealed the spies’ presence at the SNP’s October conference, as well as Nicola Sturgeon’s social media remarks over the trials: “Scotland’s Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that ‘these trials of elected politicians should concern all democrats ... I am sending my best wishes today to the Catalan President and those facing trial’.”

Borrell said: “The autonomous communities have a constitutionally recognised right to have delegations abroad.

“If afterwards it is seen that they do activities that can be considered completely unrelated to their function, then they will have to explain to the courts.”