VENEZUELA’S self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido won the latest stage of the legal battle with President Nicolas Maduro in London today over gold bullion held in the Bank of England.

A High Court judge considered arguments over whether judgments made by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela, the highest Venezuelan constitutional court, should be recognised by British judges.

Ms Justice Cockerill ruled in favour of Mr Guaido and said there was “no basis” for the recognition of judgments.

Two rival boards of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) are battling to secure the release of more than £1 billion of gold being withheld from the Latin American country.

A spokesman for the Maduro Board said an appeal is being considered.

Lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla said: “The BCV remains concerned that the cumulative effect of the judgments of the English court appears to accord a simple statement by the UK government recognising as a head of state a person with no effective control or power over any part of that state.”

The Supreme Court ruled in December that Mr Maduro is not recognised by the British government as president of Venezuela “for any purpose,” despite winning the 2018 elections.

A Venezuela Solidarity Campaign spokesperson told the Star: “The fight goes on to end the BoE’s theft of Venezuela’s gold.

“Recognising Juan Guaido as the ‘president’ of Venezuela is totally out of step with most of the international community and indeed the majority of right-wing opposition supporters in Venezuela itself.

“It is time for the UK to solely recognise the elected, legitimate government of President Maduro, and return the gold to the people of Venezuela who it belongs to.”

Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the gold should be returned to Venezuela “where it can be used to provide health and public services to the people, not kept in a vault in London.”