Guaidó closer to £1.3bn in Venezuelan gold after UK court ruling

Lawyers for disputed president, Nicolas Maduro, criticise overturning of appeal court decision

Marathon legal efforts by Venezuela's Juan Guaido to gain control over 1.6bn (1.3bn) of gold reserves held by the Bank of England have come closer to success after the UK supreme court ruled that Britain unequivocally recognises him as head of state.

Although the supreme court referred the case back to the commercial court to study the issue further, it added that it did not believe the UK court could recognise rulings by Venezuela's highest court, the supreme tribunal of justice (STJ), which has already declared Guaido's efforts to gain control of the assets unlawful.