The Conservative Government has been forced into an embarrassing climbdown over plans to restrict Scottish MPs voting rights.

Ministers were facing potential defeat in a Commons vote on 'English votes for English laws' (evel) due to be held on July 15.

Labour, the SNP, the Lib Dems and the DUP were all expected to oppose the proposals, which also caused disquiet on the Tory backbenches.

With a slim Commons majority of just 12, ministers decided to postpone a vote until September at the earliest and redraft the controversial proposals.

The humiliating U-turn followed a discussion between David Cameron and the minister in charge of the policy, Chris Grayling, the Leader of the House.

It comes just days after Mr Grayling announced plans to fast-track a newly beefed-up evel plan.

This would have given English MPs a veto on 'English-only' issues.

The move prompted accusations that the Tories had abandoned the Union.

There were also howls of protest when it emerged that 'English-only' laws included those with a knock-on financial impact on Scotland.

Labour also accused the Tories of attempted gerrymandering, saying the party wanted to artificially increase its Commons majority.

There were also claims that the Conservatives wanted to tie the hands of future Labour governments that failed to win a majority among English MPs.

Ministers insisted that the reforms would "right a wrong" and stop English voters feeling that they had got a raw deal from devolution.

But the party failed to win over a significant number of its own backbenchers.

Some expressed concerns that the change could damage the Union, just months after Scotland voted to remain part of the UK.

Others were displeased that ministers planned to push through a constitutional change using the Standing Orders of the Commons and after only 90 minutes of debate.

In response the government indicated that the redrafted version would attempt to win over Tory MPs.

Ministers have also set up "drop in" sessions for Conservative MPs concerned about the implication of the reforms, while MPs will now debate the new draft for two days.

The government had been tested earlier this week when it almost lost a Commons vote on the use of Standing Orders to bring in evel.

At the eleventh hour ministers decided the party would abstain rather than risk defeat.

SNP MP Pete Wishart said the proposals had "descended into complete shambles, with the UK Government in headlong retreat".

"What this farce underlines is how weak the Tory government is with its wafer-thin majority, and how strong opposition can force them to change course."

Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, accused Cameron of "cack-handed vandalism of the constitution for party political purposes risks wrecking the union".

Former Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael welcomed the U-turn and said ministers had listened "at least to the concerns of their own backbenchers" if not others

He added that any reworked proposals would have to recognise Westminster as the "UK Parliament and not a proxy English Parliament".