Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said too many people were buying Spanish homes as an investment rather than to live in.

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.