A new poll has placed the independence campaigns at a dead heat as Gordon Brown attempted to seize back the initiative for No by announcing a devolution timetable.
However, the former prime minister’s intervention caused confusion among the Better Together parties, with Downing Street not informed before the demands on UK Government policy were made.
Addressing a Miners’ Welfare in Midlothian on Monday evening, the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP laid out “a tight timetable with tough deadlines” for his initiative.
He said: “The Scottish people will expect nothing less not only because that is the right thing to do, but because we need an agreed timetable with deadlines for delivery and a roadmap to our goal.”
The plan starts on September 19, with a “command paper” to be published by the UK Government by the end of October, a white paper in November following discussions with civic society, and a new Scotland Bill in January.
Mr Brown added: “Labour since Keir Hardie has been the party of Home Rule for Scotland within the United Kingdom so the plan for a stronger Scottish Parliament we seek agreement on is for nothing else than a modern form of Scottish Home Rule within the United Kingdom, published by St Andrew’s Day on November 30, with the draft laws around January 25 interestingly enough by Burns Night.”
Although apparently blind sighted, Downing Street said it was “relaxed” about the timetable.
A No 10 spokesman said: “We welcome this Labour initiative.”
A source added: “This is exactly the sort of thing which the Scottish parties have been discussing in recent weeks.”
A hastily arranged press conference will take place today where the Scottish leaders of the pro-UK parties will “flesh out the detail” of Mr Brown’s announcement.
First Minister Alex Salmond said plans to increase the powers of the devolved Edinburgh parliament were a “panicky measure” announced without credibility, because the Yes Scotland campaign for independence was “winning on the ground”.
Speaking on behalf of Yes Scotland, former Scottish Labour Party chairman and Labour for Independence campaigner Bob Thomson said: “This smacks of utter panic and desperation by the No campaign as they lose their lead in the polls.”
A TNS poll published today puts support for both the Yes and No campaigns at 42%, with 18% undecided, compared with 46% No and 38% Yes respectively in the previous month.
Tom Costley, head of TNS Scotland, said: “This poll reveals a remarkable shift in voting intentions.”