MESSRS Cameron, Clegg and Miliband have pledged to hand additional powers to the Scottish Parliament in a very short timeframe.

Now is the time for English MPs together with their colleagues from Wales and Northern Ireland to remind the three leaders that we are not ruled by a triumvirate, but by a democratically-elected parliament and to tell them that there will be no additional powers for Scotland without an equitable devolution plan for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If they allow the plan for Scotland to go ahead first, there is no doubt that a plan for England will be quietly forgotten, as will any changes in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Already we see efforts to fudge a solution: days in Westminster when ‘English’ matters will be voted on by English MPs. What nonsense! Do we also have Welsh days, Scottish days, Northern Irish days? Is this just a way of trying to preserve the Westminster status quo?

Since 1997 Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London have between them 322 additional elected representatives, but there are just nine fewer MPs in Westminster.

Some large cities want to grab additional powers for themselves. The Italian city state experience saw rich and powerful cities surrounded by poverty-stricken smaller towns and rural communities.

A solution requires an English Parliament or Assembly. It needs equal devolution of powers to England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland with the UK Parliament taking responsibility for things such as international relations, defence, UK-wide infrastructure, etc.

Now is the time for a reasoned debate not a political fudge.

MAURICE DURBIN, address supplied.