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Scottish referendum: Miliband queries English powers plan Scottish referendum: Miliband queries English powers plan
(35 minutes later)
Ed Miliband has signalled he will not sign up to David Cameron's plan for a new UK-wide devolution settlement in the wake of the Scottish referendum.Ed Miliband has signalled he will not sign up to David Cameron's plan for a new UK-wide devolution settlement in the wake of the Scottish referendum.
Mr Cameron wants new powers for English MPs at Westminster and enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament to be agreed before the 2015 election. Mr Cameron wants enhanced powers for the Scottish Parliament and new powers for English MPs at Westminster agreed, in draft, before the 2015 election.
But Mr Miliband urged a "constitutional convention" after the election to discuss devolution plans for England. But Mr Miliband wants a "constitutional convention" after the election to discuss devolution plans for England.
And he said the focus should be on new powers for the English regions. And he says the focus should be on new powers for the English regions.
But the Conservatives accused Labour of seeking to "kick the issue into the long grass". But the Conservatives say Labour is simply seeking to "kick the issue into the long grass".
The prime minister has pledged to honour promises made during the independence referendum campaign by the three main Westminster parties to hand greater powers over tax and welfare to the Scottish Parliament and to publish draft legislation before the election. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond says Scottish voters - who rejected independence in Thursday's referendum vote - would be "incandescent" if there was any "slippage" in the UK government's accelerated plans for further Scottish devolution.
The prime minister has pledged to honour promises made during the referendum campaign by his predecessor Gordon Brown - and backed by the main Westminster parties - to hand greater powers over tax and welfare to the Scottish Parliament and to publish draft legislation in January.
Scottish MPsScottish MPs
But he has said that changes are needed, at the same time, to the way England is governed - as well as new powers for Wales and Northern Ireland - to ensure a "new and fair" settlement. But he has said that changes are needed, at the same time, to the way England is governed - as well as new powers for Wales and Northern Ireland - to ensure the settlement is "new and fair".
In particular, he wants a simultaneous review of the role of Scottish MPs at Westminster, amid Tory calls for them to be barred from voting on legislation and other matters only affecting England.In particular, he wants a simultaneous review of the role of Scottish MPs at Westminster, amid Tory calls for them to be barred from voting on legislation and other matters only affecting England.
At the moment, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English-only matters, such as schools and health, but English MPs do not have any say on devolved matters elsewhere in the UK.At the moment, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English-only matters, such as schools and health, but English MPs do not have any say on devolved matters elsewhere in the UK.
Mr Cameron has said he wants draft legislation on the issues agreed by the end of January 2015. Mr Cameron has said he wants progress on the two issues within the next six months.
In response, the Labour leader said he accepted the need for reforms and the process of debate should begin before the general election, to be held on 7 May.In response, the Labour leader said he accepted the need for reforms and the process of debate should begin before the general election, to be held on 7 May.
'Dynamic''Dynamic'
But he effectively rejected the PM's calls for Scottish and English issues to be dealt with "in tandem". But he said new powers for Scotland should be dealt with first, in isolation, and effectively rejected the PM's calls for Scottish and English issues to be dealt with "in tandem".
The BBC's political correspondent Robin Brant said Labour - which has more than 40 Scottish MPs - wanted to decouple future devolution in Scotland from the plan to introduce changes in England and the other nations at the same time. Labour has insisted it is sticking to the same timetable for Scottish devolution set out by Mr Brown - and that legislation can be passed on both issues in the next Parliament if it wins power.
But the BBC's political correspondent Robin Brant said Labour - which has more than 40 Scottish MPs - wanted to decouple future devolution in Scotland from the plan to introduce changes in England and the other nations at the same time.
Mr Miliband said the public must be fully involved in a "comprehensive and credible process" to decided how power is dispersed in England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland.Mr Miliband said the public must be fully involved in a "comprehensive and credible process" to decided how power is dispersed in England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland.
"The Labour Party will not now sit back and put up a 'business as usual' sign over Westminster," he said. "Nor will I allow this moment to be used for narrow party political advantage."The Labour Party will not now sit back and put up a 'business as usual' sign over Westminster," he said. "Nor will I allow this moment to be used for narrow party political advantage.
"We need a response that matches the scale of this moment. That starts with delivering on our promise of further powers to Scotland."We need a response that matches the scale of this moment. That starts with delivering on our promise of further powers to Scotland.
"But other people in Britain, including England, now deserve the chance to shape their own futures with a dynamic devolution settlement.""But other people in Britain, including England, now deserve the chance to shape their own futures with a dynamic devolution settlement."
'More of a voice''More of a voice'
Mr Miliband called for a constitutional convention, in the autumn of 2015 to determine the extent of changes needed outside of Scotland, not merely confined to the "Westminster elite". Mr Miliband says he wants a constitutional convention, in the autumn of 2015 to determine the extent of changes needed outside of Scotland, not merely confined to the "Westminster elite".
He said each English region would produce a series of recommendations "covering how sub-national devolution can be strengthened; how the regions can be given more of a voice in our political system; how we can give further voice to regional and national culture and identity'".He said each English region would produce a series of recommendations "covering how sub-national devolution can be strengthened; how the regions can be given more of a voice in our political system; how we can give further voice to regional and national culture and identity'".
These proposals, he added, would then be debated by the Constitutional Convention, with its recommendations the considered by Parliament. These proposals, he added, would then be debated by the Constitutional Convention, with its recommendations then considered by Parliament.
Mr Miliband said reform of the House of Commons, including the role of English and Scottish MPs, would be considered as part of this as would the case for replacing the House of Lords with a new Senate of the Nations and Regions. Mr Miliband said reform of the House of Commons, including the role of English and Scottish MPs, would be considered as part of this, as would the case for replacing the House of Lords with a new Senate of the Nations and Regions.
'Equal settlement''Equal settlement'
Many Conservative MPs have said they will not accept more powers being devolved to Scotland without fundamental changes at Westminster, including to the formula used to allocate funding to the different nations of the UK.Many Conservative MPs have said they will not accept more powers being devolved to Scotland without fundamental changes at Westminster, including to the formula used to allocate funding to the different nations of the UK.
Tory chairman Grant Shapps said cross-party agreement was needed on such changes.Tory chairman Grant Shapps said cross-party agreement was needed on such changes.
"If he is serious about delivering on our joint commitment to publish draft legislation on devolving more powers to Scotland by January, Ed Miliband must say whether he supports an equal settlement for England - English votes for English laws," he said."If he is serious about delivering on our joint commitment to publish draft legislation on devolving more powers to Scotland by January, Ed Miliband must say whether he supports an equal settlement for England - English votes for English laws," he said.
"But Ed Miliband's proposal would kick this vital issue into the long grass""But Ed Miliband's proposal would kick this vital issue into the long grass"
The Lib Dems has said the so-called "English Question" must be re-examined while UKIP has challenged Labour MPs from Scottish constituencies to pledge not to vote on English-only matters. Mr Salmond, who has announced his intention to step down as SNP leader and Scottish first minister, said the "common front" between the Westminster parties on a timetable for further Scottish devolution appeared to be falling apart.
He suggested that the prime minister had refused to commit to a second reading on a new Scotland Bill during the course of the current Parliament - set to end in April.
The "manner of the vow" presented by Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband during the campaign "was so definite and explicit there could be no going back from it," he claimed.
Labour MP Diane Abbott said the plan seemed to be "unravelling" and Labour may be punished at the general election if it did not deliver on its "solemn promise" on more powers for Holyrood.
The Lib Dems has said the so-called "English question" must be re-examined. Meanwhile UKIP has challenged Labour MPs from Scottish constituencies to pledge not to vote on English-only matters.