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Parliamentarian: ‘Pledge’ of More Powers for Scotland Sparks Calls for English Parliament

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A No vote in the Scottish independence referendum to be held Thursday should lead to the devolution of government in England and the establishment of an English Parliament, John Redwood, a Conservative member of parliament and former Secretary of State for Wales, has told RIA Novosti.

LONDON, September 17 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – A No vote in the Scottish independence referendum to be held Thursday should lead to the devolution of government in England and the establishment of an English Parliament, John Redwood, a Conservative member of parliament and former Secretary of State for Wales, has told RIA Novosti.

"If they [the Scots] do vote to stay, as many of us hope and expect, it will be on new terms. Anything that Scotland wants England should be given as well. I welcome the new spirit in Scotland for an equal partnership. That means an English Parliament for us," Redwood said.

"If Scotland votes to stay they will do so with beefed up devolution. It will be different," Redwood added.

Redwood's comments come as hostility appeared to grow among Westminster members of parliament representing English constituencies" anger over the recent promise by the leaders of the three main UK parties to grant additional powers to Scotland if voters reject independence.

Fellow Conservative Member of Parliament Christopher Chope told reporters Tuesday, "My constituents are saying 'hang on a minute, you can't have a devo max settlement for Scotland, which we're paying for, without having a look at the balance of competences and powers within the United Kingdom as a whole." I certainly think that the people in Scotland should recognize that this is a pledge, in inverted commas, by party leaders, but that is not a guarantee that it would be implemented in the United Kingdom parliament."

Redwood agreed with Chope's comments adding, "We will know for sure that around half the Scots want to leave us immediately and many of the other half want to sup with us only with a very long spoon. The very least we should insist on is the same devolution of government to England within the residual union that Scotland will enjoy."

"It's high time England also got the government it voted for, at least for all devolved matters," Redwood told RIA Novosti.

Last month veteran Labor Member of Parliament Sir Tam Dalyell told RIA Novosti he strongly opposed more powers for the devolved Scottish parliament and when asked what he thought of the UK party leaders "pledge" for more powers in the event of a No vote responded, "I think they're out of their mind."

"If they were saying you can have more control over firearms or whatever, well I am relaxed about it. But once you start devolving powers over different forms of tax that is a different matter," Dalyell added.

Scots will take part in an independence referendum to be held Thursday, September 18, and will be asked one question, "Should Scotland become an independent country?"

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