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| Labour warns of 'two classes of MP' if England-only votes go ahead | Labour warns of 'two classes of MP' if England-only votes go ahead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour has warned against creating "two classes of MP", as parties continue to clash over how to deal with Scottish voters' rejection of independence. | Labour has warned against creating "two classes of MP", as parties continue to clash over how to deal with Scottish voters' rejection of independence. |
| David Cameron wants English MPs to decide on England-only laws as more power is devolved to Scotland. | David Cameron wants English MPs to decide on England-only laws as more power is devolved to Scotland. |
| But shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn rejected this and called for more time to discuss the next steps towards constitutional change. | But shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn rejected this and called for more time to discuss the next steps towards constitutional change. |
| The Conservatives said they wanted a "new and fair" settlement for the UK. | The Conservatives said they wanted a "new and fair" settlement for the UK. |
| They insisted this could happen on a cross-party basis. | They insisted this could happen on a cross-party basis. |
| Scotland voted on Thursday to stay in the United Kingdom by about 55% to 45%, but the pressure is now on the Westminster parties to fulfil their promise of more powers for Holyrood. | Scotland voted on Thursday to stay in the United Kingdom by about 55% to 45%, but the pressure is now on the Westminster parties to fulfil their promise of more powers for Holyrood. |
| 'Conflated' | 'Conflated' |
| Labour is beginning its annual conference - its last before next May's general election - in Manchester this weekend. | |
| As he arrived, party leader Ed Miliband said: "The last few months have been about keeping our country together. The next eight months will be how we can change our country together." | |
| Mr Miliband has said he will not sign up to restrictions on which MPs can vote on English laws and is calling instead for a constitutional convention to be set up after next May's general election to decide what should happen. | |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Benn attacked the prime minister, saying: "He conflated on the one hand a very solemn promise that all three parties made to the people of Scotland about further devolution of power... with making decisions about how we're going to change the way in which our democracy works." | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Benn attacked the prime minister, saying: "He conflated on the one hand a very solemn promise that all three parties made to the people of Scotland about further devolution of power... with making decisions about how we're going to change the way in which our democracy works." |
| He added: "You can't have two classes of MP. I mean this is something that [former prime minister William] Gladstone had to grapple with over a hundred years ago. | He added: "You can't have two classes of MP. I mean this is something that [former prime minister William] Gladstone had to grapple with over a hundred years ago. |
| "And the thing we want to start with, actually, is devolving power down to the communities of England. And that's why our constitutional convention process is going to start with doing exactly that." | "And the thing we want to start with, actually, is devolving power down to the communities of England. And that's why our constitutional convention process is going to start with doing exactly that." |
| Of Scotland's 59 MPs, 41 represent Labour and one is a Conservative. | Of Scotland's 59 MPs, 41 represent Labour and one is a Conservative. |
| 'Cross-party' | 'Cross-party' |
| Several backbench Tory MPs have warned that devolving more powers to Scotland will increase constitutional imbalance and unfairness if Scottish MPs continue voting on issues affecting England only. | Several backbench Tory MPs have warned that devolving more powers to Scotland will increase constitutional imbalance and unfairness if Scottish MPs continue voting on issues affecting England only. |
| Mr Cameron has promised draft legislation by the end of January on handing more powers over tax, spending and welfare to Scotland, which would come into effect after the general election. | Mr Cameron has promised draft legislation by the end of January on handing more powers over tax, spending and welfare to Scotland, which would come into effect after the general election. |
| He has also asked House of Commons leader William Hague to draw up plans to restrict votes on English matters to English MPs - and promised a more wide-ranging shake-up of the constitution. | He has also asked House of Commons leader William Hague to draw up plans to restrict votes on English matters to English MPs - and promised a more wide-ranging shake-up of the constitution. |
| Following Mr Benn's comments, Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: "As the prime minister has said, we need a new and fair settlement not just for Scotland - but for every part of the United Kingdom. | Following Mr Benn's comments, Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: "As the prime minister has said, we need a new and fair settlement not just for Scotland - but for every part of the United Kingdom. |
| "And we want to work on a cross-party basis to make that happen." | "And we want to work on a cross-party basis to make that happen." |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond, who announced he was standing down after losing Thursday's referendum, has warned that the timetable for constitutional change is slipping. | SNP leader Alex Salmond, who announced he was standing down after losing Thursday's referendum, has warned that the timetable for constitutional change is slipping. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - who backs further Scottish devolution and plans for some England-only powers at Westminster - has supported calls for decentralisation of tax and spending powers to "city regions". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg - who backs further Scottish devolution and plans for some England-only powers at Westminster - has supported calls for decentralisation of tax and spending powers to "city regions". |
| UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has written to all Scottish MPs asking them not to vote on English issues. | UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has written to all Scottish MPs asking them not to vote on English issues. |