The Spanish government is against negotiations with anyone apart from the UK government. Mariano Rajoy, the prime minister, has already said that Madrid would oppose any separate deal

Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a bespoke Scottish Brexit have suffered a setback after they were rejected by the Spanish government.

The first minister published proposals earlier this week for Scotland to stay in the European single market after Brexit, even if the rest of the UK withdraws when it leaves the European Union.

She said she hoped that the UK government would back this separate Scottish deal and that it would find support within Europe. But within a day of launching her proposals, Ms Sturgeon’s plan was dismissed by senior Spanish politicians.

Jorge Toledo, the Spanish secretary of state for the European Union, said: “If the UK leaves the single market, the whole UK will leave the single market. There is only one negotiator, the