Ed Miliband has warned against rushing into “back of the envelope” constitutional change in England as he issued a personal “guarantee” that Scots would get more powers.
Prime Minister David Cameron was under fire yesterday as the fall-out from the independence referendum dominated the first day of Labour’s autumn conference in Manchester.
Mr Miliband insisted the UK leaders would not renege on their pre-referendum “vow” to devolve more responsibilities to Holyrood, amid claims that promises were already being broken.
Senior Labour figures are furious with Mr Cameron for directly linking the new powers to resolving the West Lothian question and introducing English votes for English laws.
Under the prime minister’s plan – announced one hour after the referendum result on Friday morning – Mr Miliband could find himself leader of a future government that would be unable to command a majority on key devolved issues in England.
Mr Miliband said Scotland had voted for change and it would be delivered.
“Labour will guarantee that change, with more powers coming to the Scottish Parliament on the timetable we agreed during the campaign,” he added.
Pressed on the English votes for English laws move in an intervew yesterday, Mr Milband said: “We have got to look at all of these issues. We will look at any proposals that people come forward with.
“There isn’t a simple answer to this question. We have been wrestling with this issue for 120 years, ever since we were talking about Irish home rule.
“I’m open to the idea of greater scrutiny of legislation by English MPs. But we can’t do it in a back of the envelope, fag packet way.
“We spent two years trying to keep our country together – let’s have a proper constitutional convention, let’s look at these issues.”
Attacking Mr Cameron, Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna said: “What you are seeing is the prime minister here behave in a dishonourable way and in bad faith, because he has been seeking to link English votes for English MPs to the issue of Scottish devolution and what was agreed before the referendum.”
Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown also accused Mr Cameron of behaving in a “pretty disgraceful” and “extremely foolish” way.
The prime minister will meet Conservative MPs today to discuss further devolution in England.
He said yesterday: “This moment must not just be about securing Scotland’s future in the UK – and celebrating that fact – but settling other questions whose time has come.
“The challenge is to make sure our UK works for all nations.”
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