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Scottish referendum: Downing St dismisses 'reneging' claims Scottish referendum: Alex Salmond says 'No' voters were 'tricked'
(about 1 hour later)
Downing Street has dismissed claims from Alex Salmond that Westminster leaders are "reneging" on their pledge to devolve more powers to Scotland. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has said "No" voters in last week's independence referendum were "tricked" by a late vow of more devolved powers.
Scotland's first minister said he believed voters had been tricked into opposing independence by the late vow. He accused the three main party leaders of "reneging" on the pledge they made days before Thursday's referendum which he claimed won the "No" vote.
A Commons motion this week is to set out a timetable which the UK parties say will deliver further devolution. Voters in Scotland rejected independence by 55% to 45%.
Downing Street insisted the timetable would be followed, while Alistair Darling said it was non-negotiable. No 10 dismissed his claims, as the three parties continue to disagree over handling the process of devolution.
Mr Darling, the head of the Better Together campaign, will be among around 1,000 people - including other politicians from across the divide - attending a service of reconciliation at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh later, which will be led by the moderator of the Church of Scotland. It comes as about 1,000 people, including politicians from across the divide, prepare to attend a service of reconciliation at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
'Misled' Tight timetable
It comes after voters in Scotland rejected independence in last Thursday's historic referendum by 55% to 45%.
Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg all vowed before the referendum that Scotland would be given additional powers if it rejected independence.Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg all vowed before the referendum that Scotland would be given additional powers if it rejected independence.
Under the plans, the legislation would be delivered by whichever government comes into office at next year's General Election. Under the plans, the legislation would be delivered by whichever government comes into office at next year's general election.
A motion to be laid before the UK parliament by the three parties on Monday sets out steps to deliver further devolution to Scotland within a tight timetable.
Downing Street insisted the timetable would be followed, while Better Together campaign leader Alistair Darling said it was non-negotiable.
But there is continuing disagreement between the three Westminster parties over how the process of devolution should be handled.
David Cameron wants changes to move in tandem with plans to make sure only English MPs can vote on English laws - but Labour wants a slower process with further debate.
The Lib Dems have warned Mr Cameron's decision to link the issues could see him forced to renege on his promise to the people of Scotland.
Further powers: Parliamentary motionFurther powers: Parliamentary motion
That this House...That this House...
The SNP has said that a deadline to present the motion to Parliament on the day after last Thursday's referendum has already been missed. Mr Salmond told the BBC the pledge made by the three main UK party leaders days before Thursday's referendum had won the historic vote for the "No" side.
And it has argued that the timetable for more devolution is now defined by Westminster, and not Scotland. Speaking to the Sunday Politics programme - to be broadcast later - Mr Salmond said he believed "No" voters would be angry at having been "misled", "gulled" and "tricked" by the leaders' pledge.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, Mr Salmond said he believed the late vow of new powers made by the leaders of the three main UK parties had won the referendum for the "No" side. He also accused the Westminster parties of going back on their promise to start the process immediately after the referendum. Better Together had told Scottish voters the motion would be presented to parliament on Friday.
But he predicted "No" voters would already be angry at having been "misled", "gulled" and "tricked" by the pledge. "I am actually not surprised they are cavilling and reneging on commitments, I am only surprised by the speed at which they are doing it. They seem to be totally shameless in these matters," he said.
He said: "I am actually not surprised they are cavilling and reneging on commitments, I am only surprised by the speed at which they are doing it. They seem to be totally shameless in these matters.
"The prime minister wants to link change in Scotland to change in England. He wants to do that because he has difficulty in carrying his backbenchers on this and they are under pressure from UKIP."The prime minister wants to link change in Scotland to change in England. He wants to do that because he has difficulty in carrying his backbenchers on this and they are under pressure from UKIP.
"The Labour leadership of course are frightened of any changes in England which leave them without a majority in the House of Commons on English matters."The Labour leadership of course are frightened of any changes in England which leave them without a majority in the House of Commons on English matters.
"I think the vow was something cooked up in desperation for the last few days of the campaign and I think everyone in Scotland now realises that". "I think the vow was something cooked up in desperation for the last few days of the campaign and I think everyone in Scotland now realises that."
Mr Salmond, who announced on Friday that he will be stepping down as first minister and SNP leader in November, said there were "one or two things" that he would have changed about the "Yes" campaign, and said he would reveal them in his forthcoming book.
He repeated his belief that referendums on the constitution were a once-in-a-generation event, but said circumstances such as a UK exit from the EU might change that.
'Very heavy price'
Responding to Mr Salmond's accusations, Downing Street said the "three pro-union parties" had "made clear commitments on further powers" for Scotland and the government had "set out a clear timetable".Responding to Mr Salmond's accusations, Downing Street said the "three pro-union parties" had "made clear commitments on further powers" for Scotland and the government had "set out a clear timetable".
"Lord Smith of Kelvin has agreed to oversee the process to take forward the devolution commitments with powers over tax, spending and welfare all agreed by November and draft legislation published by January," a spokesman said."Lord Smith of Kelvin has agreed to oversee the process to take forward the devolution commitments with powers over tax, spending and welfare all agreed by November and draft legislation published by January," a spokesman said.
"This government has delivered on devolution and we will do so again.""This government has delivered on devolution and we will do so again."
Echoing similar comments made by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday, Mr Darling insisted the pledge for more powers would be acted upon within the stated timetable.Echoing similar comments made by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday, Mr Darling insisted the pledge for more powers would be acted upon within the stated timetable.
"The agreement reached between the three parties is non-negotiable," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, to be broadcast on Sunday morning. "The agreement reached between the three parties is non-negotiable," he told the Marr programme.
"It was promised, it's got to be delivered, and anyone who welches on that will pay a very heavy price for years to come.""It was promised, it's got to be delivered, and anyone who welches on that will pay a very heavy price for years to come."
His Labour colleague, Douglas Alexander, said previous work surrounding the Calman Commission proposals, many of which were adopted in the Scotland Act 2012, showed that the parties "have a track record of being able to work together to deliver change in Scotland".
Mr Alexander also said individual reports from each of the three parties on further Scottish devolution identified "broad areas of consensus and common ground in areas of powers to be devolved".
On the wider issue of further devolution across the rest of the UK, Mr Darling said the powers of the Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies needed to be looked at, with the case for transferring greater economic powers to English cities and the size of the House of Lords.On the wider issue of further devolution across the rest of the UK, Mr Darling said the powers of the Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies needed to be looked at, with the case for transferring greater economic powers to English cities and the size of the House of Lords.
"This can't just be a matter for politicians, the British public is entitled also to express a view," Mr Darling said."This can't just be a matter for politicians, the British public is entitled also to express a view," Mr Darling said.
The prime minister has proposed a system where only MPs from England would vote on English issues in parliament.The prime minister has proposed a system where only MPs from England would vote on English issues in parliament.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Cameron challenged his Labour counterpart to explain why Scottish MPs at Westminster "should be able to vote to vary income tax rates in England, when the Scottish Parliament is going to be setting Scottish income tax rates in Scotland".Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Cameron challenged his Labour counterpart to explain why Scottish MPs at Westminster "should be able to vote to vary income tax rates in England, when the Scottish Parliament is going to be setting Scottish income tax rates in Scotland".
But in an interview with the Observer newspaper, Mr Miliband warned: "We have just spent two years trying to keep our country together.But in an interview with the Observer newspaper, Mr Miliband warned: "We have just spent two years trying to keep our country together.
"We should be incredibly wary of back-of-the-fag-packet solutions that create... two classes of MPs.""We should be incredibly wary of back-of-the-fag-packet solutions that create... two classes of MPs."
Mr Clegg, writing in the Sunday Times, insisted there could be "no ifs, no buts" about delivering the extra powers promised to Scotland, and the package "cannot be made contingent on other constitutional reforms".
"Of course we need a solution to this dilemma but, by appearing to link it to the delivery of further devolution to Scotland, they risk reneging on the commitment made to the Scottish people that, in the event of a 'No' vote, new powers would come what may," he wrote.
'Common ground''Common ground'
As part of Sunday's church event, politicians of all parties will light a single candle, symbolising a commitment to work together in the best interests of the country.As part of Sunday's church event, politicians of all parties will light a single candle, symbolising a commitment to work together in the best interests of the country.
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander will also each give a reading.Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander will also each give a reading.
Similar sentiments are expected to be aired at churches around Scotland after the Moderator, Rt Rev John Chalmers, wrote to the Kirk's 800 ministers.Similar sentiments are expected to be aired at churches around Scotland after the Moderator, Rt Rev John Chalmers, wrote to the Kirk's 800 ministers.
Mr Chalmers is expected to tell the gathering: "How we voted on one particular day does not define who we are.Mr Chalmers is expected to tell the gathering: "How we voted on one particular day does not define who we are.
"How we work together to put in place the democratic will of the Scottish people will be defining - both for us as individuals and for us we as we work to redefine our place within the United Kingdom.""How we work together to put in place the democratic will of the Scottish people will be defining - both for us as individuals and for us we as we work to redefine our place within the United Kingdom."