Spanish government to shift the clocks back to banish Franco memory

Spain could well be aligned with Britain on the world clock again soon as the country's labour minister has said the government is considering a move to roll the clocks back by an hour.

Historically, Spain was part of Greenwich Mean Time like the UK and neighbours Portugal, but the country was pushed forward by one hour during the Second World War in an attempt by dictator Francisco Franco to bring it closer to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Franco presided over a dictatorship in Spain from his side's victory in the civil war in the late 1930s until his death in 1975.

Many in the country have called for the change in an attempt to bring its working practices in line with the rest of Europe, and as a result increase its poor record of productivity.

"We want our workdays to finish at six o’clock and to achieve this we will work towards striking a deal with representatives from both companies and trade unions," said Labour minister Fátima Báñez.

Spaniards traditionally work longer hours than most of their European neighbours, with most finishing an average work day at 7pm or later.

Prime minister Mariano Rajoy's Popular party is expected to receive support from the fellow right Citizens party, as well as the socialist party, granting the legislation a likely passage through the Spanish parliament.