Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, said: “If any British buyer ever has to pay 100 per cent tax on a property purchase in Spain, I will eat my sombrero. The Spanish prime minister’s comments are squarely for domestic consumption.

Spain is planning to impose a tax of up to 100% on the value of properties bought by non-residents from countries outside the EU, such as the UK. Announcing the move, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the "unprecedented" measure was necessary to meet the country's housing emergency.

Spain is planning a raft of measures to address its brewing housing crisis, including an up to 100% tax on properties bought by non-European Union residents