Scotland's decision to remain in the United Kingdom heralds the start of "top-to-toe" reforms that will transfer more powers to every part of the union, Nick Clegg has said.

The "clamour" for greater autonomy fuelled by the referendum campaign means more controls will now be put "into the hands of the people", the Deputy Prime Minister insisted.

While a "clear" timetable for further devolution to Scotland has been set out, decisions must now be made about "how that then translates into new voting arrangements in Westminster", he said during a visit to a coffee shop in Edinburgh to meet Liberal Democrat activists.

Cross-party support must be sought for the proposals outlined by David Cameron to address the problem, he insisted.

Mr Clegg said: "I think it is essential on all major constitutional issues we should always try, sometimes it's not possible, and proceed on a cross-party basis and that is, as the Prime Minister has confirmed this morning, what we should do.

"These are major constitutional issues. They shouldn't be the play things of one individual party or another."

Former Clerk of the House of Commons Sir William McKay came forward with limited procedural changes last year to address the question of MPs being able to vote on legislation that does not affect their voters.

Mr Clegg pointed to proposals in the report that a new stage could be introduced into parliamentary procedures that would allow only English MPs to "make their views known" on England-only legislation.

He said: "What was first a debate about Scotland led to a clamour for more control, for more power, to be placed in the hands of people and communities up and down the country.

"That's why we need to press ahead with further devolution to Wales following the Silk Commission recommendations, we need to strengthen devolution in Northern Ireland, and crucially, we need to address this huge missing bit of the jigsaw which is England, because for far too long, far too many decisions have been taken on behalf of the towns, cities, villages and counties of England in Westminster and Whitehall.

"The prospect of moving into a new chapter of wholesale top-to-toe constitutional reform, not just for Scotland but across the United Kingdom, is an exciting one that I and my party very much embrace.

"I see today as the beginning of a process, not the end, where we reaffirm what unites us in the United Kingdom but we move towards a phase of much greater decentralisation, devolution and autonomy for all the communities that make up the UK, and crucially that we enter into a new, exciting chapter of constitutional renewal where more power and more control is put into the hands of the people themselves."

Mr Clegg said it had been a "ferociously fought" campaign but urged Yes voters to now get involved in the process for the further devolution of powers, which is being led by Lord Smith of Kelvin.

"It's really important that everyone who cares about Scotland, Yes or No, unionist or nationalist, Conservative or Liberal Democrat, all come together to unite behind the thing that we can deliver together, which is more devolution or powers to Scotland within the United Kingdom," he said.

"But, crucially, that new chapter of Scotland's future in the United Kingdom shouldn't just be written by the politicians.

"It's not going to be just decided by David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Alex Salmond or myself, it's really important that the people who are so energised, and passionate and interested in the referendum, especially those who voted for independence who will be feeling disappointed this morning also get involved."