GORDON Brown has set out an ambitious timetable for a third Scotland Act that would devolve new powers to Holyrood if Scots reject independence in next week's referendum.
The former Prime Minister last night unveiled proposals to have draft legislation in place by the end of January to transfer significant powers over tax and welfare.
It comes amid claims from the Yes camp it is a panic measure as a poll published today shows the two sides in the debate running neck and neck, each on 41 per cent support among those certain to vote, with just nine days to go to the poll.
It is understood the process, which would include an "intensive" month-long consultation with Scottish trades unions, charities and other groups later this year, has the backing of the three main UK parties.
However, the nature of Mr Brown's announcement, bypassing Prime Minister David Cameron and ahead of an expected cross-party statement tomorrow, caused consternation and prompted claims by the Yes campaign it was a panic measure.
Today's TNS survey was the third in the space of a few days to reveal a huge swing towards Yes over the past month.
The tightening race, now considered too close to call by polling experts, continued to affect the pound yesterday, as sterling fell to its lowest level in 10 months against the dollar amid market uncertainty over the consequence of Scotland leaving the UK.
Shares in a number of leading Scottish firms, including RBS, Lloyds and Stagecoach, also fell.
In an article in The New York Times, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said Scots should "be afraid, be very afraid" of the danger to the economy of keeping the pound, especially without a formal agreement with the rest of the UK.
However, the main attention yesterday was on Mr Brown. Addressing a campaign rally in Loanhead, Midlothian, he outlined a process for Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to agree on a package of new powers for the Scottish Parliament and have draft legislation in place by the end of January.
The three parties have published broadly similar proposals to hand Holyrood greater control over income tax and elements of the welfare system, although they disagree on the details.
It is expected the parties will all commit to implementing an agreed plan whatever the result of next May's Westminster election, if Scots vote to remain part of the UK.
Mr Brown said: "Quite simply, Scottish voters deserve to know to the fullest extent possible about how new powers as ambitious as possible will be delivered as soon as possible within the UK.
"And so we are demanding a tight timetable with tough deadlines and streamlined procedures. A No vote on September 18 will not be an end point, but the starting gun for action on September 19 when, straight away, we will kick off a plan to deliver the enhanced devolution we want."
Mr Brown said he approached the UK Government over the plans last week. He hopes John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, will confirm the timetable tomorrow.
If approved, a "command paper" will be produced next month setting out common ground between the parties and highlighting the differences they need to resolve. A consultation with civic Scotland bodies would be followed by a White Paper in November, with a draft Bill being prepared in time for Burns Night on January 25. The Scottish Parliament would be consulted between November and January.
Labour leader Ed Miliband has promised to enact the legislation if he becomes Prime Minister next May "with the utmost speed".
Addressing the TUC conference in Liverpool, he said: "A vote for No represents a vote for significantly enhanced devolution.
"Gordon Brown and Scottish Labour are right to propose a timetable to give us deadlines for delivery for a new Scotland Act, not an Act agreed between Westminster politicians but based on the aspirations of the people of Scotland."
His comments followed criticism of Chancellor George Osborne, who raised false expectations at the weekend that powers over and above those already discussed by the main UK parties would be transferred to Holyrood.
At Westminster, it appears Mr Cameron's planned visit to Scotland this week has been cancelled.
After two Whitehall sources confirmed it last week, No 10 stressed it had made no such announcement but explained the "Prime Minister will be in Scotland ahead of the referendum, talking specifically about ... the case he is making. There's been no change to that plan". This means he is due north of the border next week.
His spokesman brushed off questions about Mr Cameron's lack of traditional door-to-door canvassing, noting how he had on at least three occasions met undecided voters and people were well aware of his strong pro-Union views.
Later, a party source confirmed there would be at least one Conservative Cabinet Minister visiting Scotland this week but refused to say anything further.
One senior Tory backbencher noted: "I suspect the PM has been told not to go to Scotland because it will inflame hatred of the Conservatives and that will make things worse."
A spokesman for Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the No campaign was now "trying to airbrush David Cameron out of the picture" .
The spokesman added: "If the No campaign now regard David Cameron as not even right to campaign in Scotland, by definition still less should he be our Prime Minister. In trying to keep Cameron away, the No campaign are making the Yes case for us."
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