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Alex Salmond accuses UK party leaders of tricking Scotland into No vote Alex Salmond accuses UK party leaders of tricking Scotland into No vote
(about 4 hours later)
Alex Salmond has accused the leaders of the three main UK parties of tricking hundreds of thousands of voters into rejecting Scotland's independence by reneging on a last-minute vow of more devolution.Alex Salmond has accused the leaders of the three main UK parties of tricking hundreds of thousands of voters into rejecting Scotland's independence by reneging on a last-minute vow of more devolution.
Scotland's outgoing first minister said the 'vow' by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to quickly introduce greater powers for the Scottish parliament, Holyrood, was "cooked up in desperation" after a surge in support for independence left the polls neck and neck.Scotland's outgoing first minister said the 'vow' by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to quickly introduce greater powers for the Scottish parliament, Holyrood, was "cooked up in desperation" after a surge in support for independence left the polls neck and neck.
Salmond, who announced his resignation on Friday after losing the referendum by 380,000 votes, with 55% of voters rejecting independence, said the UK parties were already reneging on that offer.Salmond, who announced his resignation on Friday after losing the referendum by 380,000 votes, with 55% of voters rejecting independence, said the UK parties were already reneging on that offer.
The Scottish National party (SNP) and other yes campaigners have leapt on a dispute that suddenly emerged between the prime minister, Cameron, and the Labour leader, Miliband, just as the final referendum results were confirmed on Friday morning. The Scottish National party (SNP) and other Yes campaigners have leapt on a dispute that suddenly emerged between Cameron, and Miliband just as the final referendum results were confirmed on Friday morning.
The prime minister said he planned to link reform for Scotland with changes to Scottish MPs' Westminster voting rights and reform in England – a proposal that wrongfooted Labour.The prime minister said he planned to link reform for Scotland with changes to Scottish MPs' Westminster voting rights and reform in England – a proposal that wrongfooted Labour.
The conflict over the so-called West Lothian question – the right of Scotland's MPs to vote on policies that only affect England – blew up again on Sunday morning. Cameron told the Mail on Sunday that Miliband had to explain why Scottish MPs "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". The conflict over the so-called West Lothian question – the right of Scotland's MPs to vote on policies that only affect England – blew up again on Sunday morning. Cameron told the Mail on Sunday that the Labour leader had to explain why Scottish MPs "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".
Miliband retaliated in an interview with the Observer, warning that Cameron risked undermining the unified pro-UK coalition that had won the referendum. "We have just spent two years trying to keep our country together," he said. "We should be incredibly wary of back-of-the-fag-packet solutions that create … two classes of MPs."Miliband retaliated in an interview with the Observer, warning that Cameron risked undermining the unified pro-UK coalition that had won the referendum. "We have just spent two years trying to keep our country together," he said. "We should be incredibly wary of back-of-the-fag-packet solutions that create … two classes of MPs."
Salmond said Cameron's move was driven by fear of a mounting backlash on the Tory backbenches over the offer of more powers for Scotland without cuts in its Treasury funding, and fear that the Eurosceptic UK Independence party would threaten Tory seats by exploiting English resentment.Salmond said Cameron's move was driven by fear of a mounting backlash on the Tory backbenches over the offer of more powers for Scotland without cuts in its Treasury funding, and fear that the Eurosceptic UK Independence party would threaten Tory seats by exploiting English resentment.
"They're at loggerheads," Salmond told BBC1's Sunday Politics programme. "I think that their vow was cooked up in desperation from the last days of the campaign. I think everyone in Scotland now realises that."They're at loggerheads," Salmond told BBC1's Sunday Politics programme. "I think that their vow was cooked up in desperation from the last days of the campaign. I think everyone in Scotland now realises that.
"Incidentally, [the] yes campaign isn't surprised by this development. It's the people who were persuaded to vote no who were misled, who were gulled, who were tricked, effectively. They are the ones who are really angry." "Incidentally, [the] Yes campaign isn't surprised by this development. It's the people who were persuaded to vote no who were misled, who were gulled, who were tricked, effectively. They are the ones who are really angry."
Salmond was interviewed as the pro-independence parties reported a sudden surge in membership applications, with some calling for a new pro-independence cross-party alliance to be formed to fight the 2015 general election in Scotland.Salmond was interviewed as the pro-independence parties reported a sudden surge in membership applications, with some calling for a new pro-independence cross-party alliance to be formed to fight the 2015 general election in Scotland.
The Scottish National party said its membership jumped by more than 4,000 to above 30,000 in the wake of the referendum defeat, while the Scottish Green party said 3,000 people had joined. The Scottish Socialist party said it too had had an unspecified number of new members. The SNP said its membership jumped by more than 4,000 to above 30,000 in the wake of the referendum defeat, while the Scottish Green party said 3,000 people had joined. The Scottish Socialist party said it too had had an unspecified number of new members.
Yes campaigners also accused the UK parties of reneging on their pledge to introduce a motion on greater devolution on Friday, promising a draft bill on extra powers by late January 2015. The text of that motion was published by the pro-UK campaign Better Together to the wire service the Press Association on late Friday evening, and circulated in full to the media on Saturday morning. Yes campaigners also accused the UK parties of reneging on their pledge to introduce a motion on greater devolution on Friday, promising a draft bill on extra powers by late January 2015. The text of that motion was published by the pro-UK campaign Better Together to the Press Association on late Friday evening, and circulated in full to the media on Saturday morning.
But it was not published in Westminster because the House of Commons was not sitting on Friday; Better Together sources said it would appear on the Commons order paper as soon as it resumes after the party conference season. It was not published in Westminster because the House of Commons was not sitting on Friday. Better Together sources said it would appear on the Commons order paper as soon as it resumes after the party conference season.
Downing Street has dismissed Salmond's accusations, insisting the Scottish devolution timetable would be honoured.Downing Street has dismissed Salmond's accusations, insisting the Scottish devolution timetable would be honoured.
"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 No 10 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 No 10 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."
Speaking on BBC1's Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning, Alistair Darling, chairman of Better Together, insisted the devolution package was non-negotiable, and said anyone who obstructed it would pay a heavy price. Speaking on BBC1's Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning, Alistair Darling, the chairman of Better Together, insisted the devolution package was non-negotiable, and said anyone who obstructed it would pay a heavy price.
Miliband said on the same programme the devolution timetable would be honoured, "no ifs, no buts". Miliband said on the same programme that the devolution timetable would be honoured, "no ifs, no buts".
Meanwhile, around 1,000 churchgoers and politicians from all the main parties were due to attend a service of reconciliation at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, organised by the Church of Scotland. Around 1,000 churchgoers and politicians from all the main parties were due to attend a service of reconciliation at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, organised by the Church of Scotland.