SCOTTISH Secretary Alistair Carmichael has hit out at George Osborne after the Chancellor questioned the SNP's right to hold the balance of power at Westminster.
In what will be seen as a major rift , Mr Carmichael accused his cabinet colleague of a lack of respect for the political process.
Earlier this week Mr Osborne told MPs on the Treasury Committee that the next Chancellor should not be "beholden on Scottish nationalist votes".
In what Labour MPs believe was a breach of the cross-party SmIth Commission agreement he also said Scottish MPs should be barred from voting on aspects of the Budget.
Speaking at Westminster, Mr Carmichael said: "Anybody who is elected to the UK Parliament will have a right to have a say in who forms the next government."
In what will be seen as a specific jibe at Mr Osborne, he added: "If you are going to respect the integrity of the UK parliament... I don't think that you can take any other approach."
On the issue of restricting Scottish MPs voting rights Mr Carmichael also said: "Scottish MPs should continue to vote on the Budget and I see no reason for that to change.
"Income tax, for example, is a shared tax ... and I don't think that is going to change even after the (new) Scotland Act."
He said that there were some "anomalies" with the current system, but said that the challenge was "not to create fresh ones, which is what you risk with #English votes for English laws'".
He also disagreed with the Chancellor that it would go against the spirit of the Smith Commission if Holyrood was to create its own second "top up" state pension.
"The power is there for as top up. It is for the Scottish Parliament to decide what it wants to do with the power," he said.
"If the letter of the Smith Commission gives (MSPs) the power, than I don't see how it can go against the spirit (of the agreement)".
On Wednesday, Mr Osborne suggested that it would be "very unfair" if Labour relied on SNP votes to get its Budget through.
On proposals for 'English votes for English laws', expected to be unveiled soon by the Conservatives, he said: "I do think they will have to apply on areas connected with the Budget."
The SNP has suggested that it could back a Labour administration in exchange for significant concessions on issues such as Trident and Home Rule.
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