Women will hold reins after Salmond

A leading figure in the Scottish National Party said yesterday there was “no doubt” Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon (pictured), would be the party’s next leader after Alex Salmond.

That would lead to an unprecedented position in Scottish politics, with all three of the main parties led by women.

Ruth Davidson is leader of the Scottish Tories (Conservatives) and through changes that would bar Scottish MPs from voting on solely English matters, Gove told the Times that “it would be impossible to move forward without making sure you have change both in Scotland and England”.

After the No campaign’s victory was announced on Friday, Prime Minister David Cameron said that, as more powers headed north to Scotland, millions of English voices also needed to be heard. The Prime Minister said the question of ensuring English votes for English laws should be addressed “in tandem and at the same pace” as Scottish devolution.

Tomorrow, Cameron is summonJohann Lamont leader of Scottish Labour.

The former SNP leader Gordon Wilson said there would be an election only if Sturgeon herself objected to being simply “crowned” without a vote.

Widely seen as having conducted herself well during the campaign for ing key Tory figures to his country estate, Chequers, to discuss how to press ahead with plans to limit the role of Scottish MPs. Those attending the constitutional summit include former Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, former Welsh Secretary John Redwood and Bernard Jenkin, chair of the public administration select committee.

Jenkin said that it was correct for Cameron to insist that changes to the role that Scottish MPs have in scrutinising English legislation be pegged to the same timetable as further devolution for Scotland. “The credibility of all English parties standing at the next independence, and as a less divisive figure than Salmond, Sturgeon said she could think of “no greater privilege” than to lead the SNP.

The Scottish Parliament has achieved Nordic levels of female representation — 35 per cent of its MSPs are women, although that has dropped slightly from 1999 when the first intake to the new Parliament saw women make up almost 40 per cent.

— Observer election is dependent on this. That is why the Prime Minister is right to say the two processes should be in tandem,” he said.

Jenkin argues that Scottish MPs have been left with “power but no legitimacy” by devolution, and claims that resentment is growing about the iniquity of the system, as well as the commitment to Scots receiving £1600 ($3210) a head more in public spending.

Demanding an “effective English parliament” he says: “The growl in England is now a roar . . . if we falter in this now, this unfairness and resentment will fester.” said the risks were too great over the currency, EU membership, the economy, jobs and prices said they were driven by a strong attachment to the UK said it was the promise of new powers for Scotland that would result in “the best of both worlds”. said they were most concerned that decisions about Scotland be taken in Scotland said they felt the future would be brighter as an independent country said they wanted to ensure they would no longer be ruled by Tory governments.