Catalan independence leaders seek to re-engage weary public

Pro-independence speaker of regional parliament laments disunity and failure to speak to all of society

The pro-independence speaker of Catalonia's parliament has admitted that internal disunity and a failure to engage with all of Catalan society has hampered the secessionist cause, but believes separatist MPs could for the first time clinch more than 50% of the vote in the looming regional election.

The wealthy region in north-east Spain is likely to hold a snap election early next year after its separatist president, Quim Torra, was barred from public office by the supreme court.