Nicola Sturgeon and Cameron row over Scottish devolution plans

A FURIOUS row erupted yesterday after Scottish Nationalist Party First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused the UK Government of “watering down” greater independence proposals.

Mr Cameron and Ms Sturgeon yesterdayPA

Mr Cameron and Ms Sturgeon yesterday

Prime Minister David Cameron went to Scotland to unveil draft legislation he said gave full effect to the three main Westminster parties’ vow to give the Scottish Parliament more powers.

The 44 draft devolution clauses were published, to be implemented by whoever wins May’s general election, after Scots voted to stay in the UK.

Mr Cameron said the Smith Commission plans, which include giving the Scottish parliament new powers over tax and benefits, delivered “every dot and comma” of the vow.

Ms Sturgeon particularly complained the proposals would let UK minsters veto welfare changes, such as scrapping the so?called “bedroom tax”. Mr Cameron denied such veto existed.

He also criticised Ms Sturgeon’s assertion that her party’s Westminster MPs might drop their voluntary practice of not voting on issues affecting only England.

Lib Dem Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said the SNP just wanted devolution to fail and to have another independence referendum.

Scottish university academics at the Centre on Constitutional Change fuel the row today with a report warning the proposals are confusing and could lead to pressure for more change.

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