A senior Conservative has backed calls for Scotland to mediate between Spain and Catalonia.

Ian Duncan MEP has long argued that a Scottish-style vote is the best way to settle the Catalan question.

This weekend Catalan independence supporters won a majority of seats - but not votes - in their "regional" parliament, propelling them in to a constitutional conflict with Madrid politicians dead set against a referendum.

The Scottish Government immediately offered its assistance and expertise to both sides following last year's referendum.

Mr Duncan has now said he is willing to do the same.

Speaking from Brussels, he said: "Before I am a unionist and a Conservative, I am a democrat.

"I would be happy to try and help. There may be people who are more suitable but we have the experience of the Scottish and UK Governments in the Edinburgh Agreement.

"But this process certainly needs some help.

"At some point these two sides must get in to a room and discuss this issue.

There has to be a democratic solution and the people of Catalonia must be able to make their decision in a safe and supported way."

Mr Duncan stressed that it was up to the people of Catalonia to decide their future. Catalans appear as divided on the issue as Scots, with same 48 per cent voting for avowedly separatist parties in Sunday's elections and some 39 per cent for anti-independence slates. Many remain ambivalent and both Yes and No sides claimed victory on Sunday.

Mr Duncan specifically criticised the way Madrid authorities have reacted to the surge in independence sentiment in Catalonia.

He said, referring to unionists, that "one side seems particularly unwilling to reach out".

Mr Duncan's remarks came after Catalan President Artur Mas was told he would be prosecuted for holding what prosecutors say was illegal independence referendum last year.

Just two days after his election victory, Mr Mas was told he will face formal charges of civil disobedience and "usurpation" of powers.

Mr Duncan said he was "dumbfounded" by this legal action, which Catalan authorities said was delayed until the outcome of regional elections in Catalonia.

He said: "The future of Catalonia must be settled in the ballot box and not in the courtroom. Then we hear that the president has been arraigned before the court for civil disobedience. I can't help but think that this will not end well."

Catalan "independentistes" have seized on the prosecution as an example of the legalistic intransigence from Madrid authorities that has done much to spark Mr Mas's victory on Sunday.

However, Spain has stuck rigidly to its constitutional position that any referendum on independence would be illegal.

Mr Mas's previous administration had tried to carry out a Scottish-style vote in November 9, 2014. Mr Duncan was a foreign observer for this ballot, widely seen as a protest consultation rather than a serious attempt at a legally-binding plebiscite.

The Herald on Monday revealed a delicate diplomatic approach from Scotland to mediate between Spain and Catalonia.

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for external affairs, said: "The constitutional arrangements in Scotland and the UK are clearly different to those of Spain and Catalonia but should we be invited we stand ready to share our experiences with Spain and Catalonia."

Sources in Barcelona suggested that Spain would be uncomfortable with any mediation, not least from Scottish nationalists.

However, a cross-party Scottish group that included unionists may be an easier sell, they said.