Rajoy reminds May that the EU will negotiate Brexit as a "united" bloc

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, reminded Theresa May in a telephone conversation on Thursday that the EU will negotiate Brexit as a united front, government sources said.

The British prime minister telephoned her Spanish counterpart on Thursday "to comment on the letter from the UK to the EU about Brexit", wrote Rajoy himself on Twitter.

The conversation took place "cordially" said a government source and Rajoy expressed Spain's "support" for Michel Barnier, the European Commission's chief negotiator in the talks to establish the new relationship between London and the 27 remaining states. Rajoy stressed "the EU's united stance with respect to the negotiation" and the necessity to preserve the "integrity of the four freedoms of the European Union".

Rajoy insisted months ago that these four freedoms (movement of people, goods, capital and services) "go together" and the UK cannot select one or two and reject the others.

British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, reiterated May's words in an interview with EFE, on Wednesday and said that there was "no change at the moment".

In a statement sent to members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Manley said: "We want the negotiation to avoid a prolonged situation of uncertainty for European businesses and citizens."

He highlighted the need for an agreement concerning the rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons in the EU "as soon as possible".

The number of Britons who have started the process to become Spanish citizens. The figure has gone up sevenfold since the referendum in June 2016 resulted in Brexit.

The number of topics someone wanting to obtain Spanish nationality should study before taking the nationality test, from history and culture to politics and administration.

The number of Spaniards who have signed the petition asking the EU to introduce an EU citizen passport, in support of the 4.5 million Europeans and Britons at risk of losing rights.