The LibDem deputy leader has launched a stinging attack on Alex Salmond, accusing him of running a "politburo", amid reports the First Minister is targeting his Gordon constituency in next year's general election.

Malcolm Bruce currently holds the seat at Westminster.

He is retiring next year and reports suggest Mr Salmond could stand to become the MP for Gordon after he leaves Bute House.

Mr Bruce told the conference hall that people in the area had rejected independence by a margin of almost two to one. "Everything Alex Salmond has spent his life in politics to do was comprehensively rejected in his own backyard," he said. "The people of Gordon are not impressed".

He went on to accuse the SNP of running a "politburo Scotland" in which services were centralised under control in Edinburgh, including the police.

His comments came as his party backed a motion calling for a UK-wide constitutional convention to look at creating a federal UK.

The LibDems also called on David Cameron to devolve extra powers to Scotland with no strings attached.

The Prime Minister faced accusations that he was trying to gerrymander at Westminster over his plans to restrict Scottish MPs voting rights.

LibDem MP for West Cornwall Andrew George said the "last thing I want is first class and second class members of parliament".

He accused Tories pushing for so-called 'English Votes for English laws' of not understanding how the UK parliament works.

Earlier this week Mr Cameron made a surprise intervention to the debate, calling on Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to accept the result of the referendum. He also reiterated his plans to push ahead for 'English votes'.

The SNP has dismissed claims that Mr Salmond is eyeing a return to Westminister.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "Malcolm Bruce should reflect on the fact that the LibDems were on the same side as Ukip in the independence referendum."