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Divisions on devolution among party leaders threan blacklash in Scotland

News analysis

LONDON, Sept 21 (KUNA) -- The UK political leaders are still trading blows on Scotland after the union was saved following the decisive victory of the No campaign.
In the Mail on Sunday newspaper, Prime minister David Cameron challenges the opposition Labour to explain why they don't support the same rights for England as they do for Scotland.
There's a "crying need" for English votes for English laws, he claims.
For his part, Labour leader Ed Miliband tells the Observer newspaper today that he won't support "back of the fag packet solutions" (people doing its casually and swiftly).
He appears upset that Cameron didn't call him on Friday after the positive outcome of the referendum ("I don't care really...That is how he is."). Last Friday Downing Street were bullish that they had "put the disgruntled and dispossessed backbench MPS back in their boxes on the matter of home rule for England, the commentators said. The row blew up when it was revealed that Cameron failed to consult cabinet over the referendum question and the timing of the vote. For his part, the Leader of the Liberal Democratic party Nick Clegg has also penned a piece for The Sunday Times that manages to attack Labour for ignoring England.
Elsewhere, The Mail on Sunday claims the YouGov/Sunday Times poll putting Yes ahead two weeks ago cost the country 45 billion pounds as it provoked turbulence in financial markets and a sharp drop in the pound.
Meanwhile, Cameron has insisted his plan to link further Scottish devolution to the process of making sure only English MPs can vote on English laws was necessary to address a "basic unfairness" in the constitution.
He called on Labour leader to either work together with him or explain to the people of the UK why he would not tackle the "fundamentally unjust" situation which means Scottish MPs can vote on laws which do not apply to their constituents.
The move came after former prime minister Gordon Brown insisted yesterday he would make sure Cameron, Miliband and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg stick to the proposed timetable for setting out future powers for Scotland.
Cameron's insistence that the new settlement for Scotland should go hand in hand with efforts to answer the so-called West Lothian question about the rights of Scottish and English MPs at Westminster has been met with wariness from Labour, which has most of Scotland's 59 seats, although Miliband has insisted the party will ensure that the timetable for further devolution will not slip, commentators noted.
But Deputy Prime Minister Clegg warned that Cameron's decision to link the issues could see him forced to renege on his promise to the people of Scotland.
The cross-party consensus forged between the three leaders has shattered following Cameron's announcement, which came shortly after Scottish voters rejected independence by 55% to 45%.
Cameron insisted the timetable setting out the next stages of the devolution process would be met: "New powers over tax, spending and welfare are on their way to Scotland.
"The timetable is brisk, but achievable: a White Paper by November, and draft legislation published by January.
"It would have to be passed in the next Parliament", Cameron insisted.
The fallout from the Scottish referendum result has overshadowed the start of the annual party conference season and as Labour activists gathered in Manchester, northern England.
For his part, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, who resigned after his dream of independence was rejected by Scottish voters, said some of those who had voted to remain in the union had been "tricked" by the Westminster leaders over the promise of new powers.
In the meantime Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps told the BBC the devolution vow would be honoured by the Westminster parties but accused Miliband of "weak leadership". (end) he.gta