爱华网In a statement delivered outside Downing Street onFriday morning David Cameron pledged to honour his promise toinitiate substantial constitutional change in the UK. Here is hisspeech in full
The people of Scotland have spoken. It is a clearresult. They have kept our country of four nations together. Likemillions of other people, I am delighted.
As I said during the campaign, it would havebroken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to anend.
And I know that sentiment was shared by people,not just across our country, but also around the world because ofwhat we’ve achieved together in the past and what we can dotogether in the future.
So now it is time for our United Kingdom to cometogether, and to move forward.
A vital part of that will be a balanced settlement– fair to people in Scotland and importantly to everyone inEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well.
Let us first remember why we had this debate – andwhy it was right to do so.
The Scottish National Party was elected inScotland in 2011 and promised a referendum onindependence.
We could have blocked that, we could have put itoff but just as with other big issues, it was right to take - notduck - the big decision.
I am a passionate believer in our United Kingdom –I wanted more than anything for our United Kingdom to staytogether.
But I am also a democrat. And it was right that werespected the SNP’s majority in Holyrood and gave the Scottishpeople their right to have their say.
Let us also remember why it was right to ask thedefinitive question, Yes or No.
Because now the debate has been settled for ageneration or as Alex Salmond has said, perhaps for alifetime.
So there can be no disputes, no re-runs – we haveheard the settled will of the Scottish people.
Scotland voted for a stronger Scottish Parliamentbacked by the strength and security of the United Kingdom and Iwant to congratulate the No campaign for that – for showing peoplethat our nations really are better together.
I also want to pay tribute to Yes Scotland for awell-fought campaign and to say to all those who did vote forindependence: ‘we hear you’.
We now have a chance – a great opportunity – tochange the way the British people are governed, and change it forthe better.
Political leaders on all sides of the debate nowbear a heavy responsibility to come together and workconstructively to advance the interests of people in Scotland, aswell as those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for each andevery citizen of our United Kingdom.
To those in Scotland sceptical of theconstitutional promises made, let me say this we have delivered ondevolution under this Government, and we will do so again in thenext Parliament.
The three pro-union parties have made commitments,clear commitments, on further powers for the ScottishParliament.
We will ensure that they are honoured infull.
And I can announce today that Lord Smith of Kelvin– who so successfully led Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games – has agreedto oversee the process to take forward the devolution commitmentswith powers over tax, spending and welfare all agreed by Novemberand draft legislation published by January.
Just as the people of Scotland will have morepower over their affairs, so it follows that the people of England,Wales and Northern Ireland must have a bigger say overtheirs.
The rights of these voters need to be respected,preserved and enhanced as well.
It is absolutely right that a new and fairsettlement for Scotland should be accompanied by a new and fairsettlement that applies to all parts of our UnitedKingdom.
In Wales, there are proposals to give the WelshGovernment and Assembly more powers.
And I want Wales to be at the heart of the debateon how to make our United Kingdom work for all ournations.
In Northern Ireland, we must work to ensure thatthe devolved institutions function effectively.
I have long believed that a crucial part missingfrom this national discussion is England.
We have heard the voice of Scotland - and now themillions of voices of England must also be heard.
The question of English votes for English laws –the so-called West Lothian question –requires a decisiveanswer.
So, just as Scotland will vote separately in theScottish Parliament on their issues of tax, spending and welfare sotoo England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland, should be ableto vote on these issues and all this must take place in tandemwith, and at the same pace as, the settlement forScotland.
I hope that is going to take place on across-party basis.
I have asked William Hague to draw up theseplans.
We will set up a Cabinet Committee right away andproposals will also be ready to the same timetable
I hope the Labour Party and other parties willcontribute.
It is also important we have wider civicengagement about to improve governance in our United Kingdom,including how to empower our great cities. And we will say moreabout this in the coming days.
This referendum has been hard fought. It hasstirred strong passions. It has electrified politics in Scotland,and caught the imagination of people across the whole of our UnitedKingdom.
It will be remembered as a powerful demonstrationof the strength and vitality of our ancient democracy.
Record numbers registered to vote and recordnumbers cast their vote.
We can all be proud of that.
It has reminded us how fortunate we are that weare able to settle these vital issues at the ballot box, peacefullyand calmly.
Now we must look forward, and turn this into themoment when everyone – whichever way they voted – comes together tobuild that better, brighter future for our entire UnitedKingdom.
