An Angus councillor who travelled to Catalonia for the independence referendum has described the experience as one of the shining moments of her life.
Julie Bell, SNP councillor for Kirriemuir and Dean, travelled from Scotland with friends in a show of solidarity and said it was an unforgettable experience.
Ms Bell stayed in Girona which is about an hour from Barcelona and her party managed to escape the scenes of violence which were seen elsewhere in the region.
She said they went in a show of solidarity and to stand alongside the Catalan people in support of their right to vote – whichever way that was.
Ms Bell said they also wanted to reciprocate the fantastic support they had received from Catalonia during Scotland’s independence referendum.
The party visited some polling stations and took part in a demonstration and were blown away by the welcome they received from locals.
She said: “The people have been amazing and I won’t ever forget this.
“Some of our party were in kilts and people of all ages were coming up to us and randomly hugging us.
“They were grateful that we were there and it has been quite different to the Barcelona experience.
“I really want to capture some of this energy and bring it home.
“It was multi-generational. When we were in the polling station there were toddlers, teenagers, parents, grandparents, all side by side.”
She said the only thing they had witnessed was a civil servant who showed them a head injury he had sustained at the hands of the Guardia Civil.
She also said the local police in Girona were applauded for the work they were doing in terms of upholding the law and keeping the peace.
Fellow SNP councillor Lynne Devine was also part of the party in Catalonia.
The Forfar ward member described the experience as “absolutely amazing”.
She said she had gone because she felt the Catalan independence battle was so important.
“We were really taken aback by the welcome we received as Scots,” she said.
“They knew all about Scotland and our own referendum and I’m so glad we came here for this.
“We had a lot of support from the people of Catalonia during Indyref and this was our way to reciprocate that.”
