Scottish Secretary pledges to work with Alexander

DES Browne, the Scottish Secretary, has pledged to work with Wendy Alexander, Labour's new leader-elect in Scotland, despite claims they were at odds on devolution.

The two senior Labour politicians had appeared to hold differing views on giving more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

On Tuesday, when Ms Alexander emerged as the only candidate to succeed Jack McConnell as Scottish Labour leader, she said that she was prepared to look at more fiscal autonomy for Holyrood. Earlier, Mr Browne was reported to have said those who wanted more powers for the Scottish Parliament were a "Trojan horse" for independence.

However, during a visit to Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Browne insisted there was no difference of opinion with Ms Alexander. He said his remarks were directed at the white paper published last week by the SNP Executive which contained plans for an independence referendum.

He said: "I don't see devolution as a Trojan horse towards independence. I said the white paper the Executive published last week was a Trojan horse to independence."

And, on the issue of powers for Holyrood, he added: "The Scottish Parliament has increasingly obtained more powers in the context of the settlement. There are discussions that will go on over a long period and we are at the beginning of that process."

Mr Browne was in the capital to visit the Edinburgh Waterfront area, the largest urban regeneration project in Britain.