LIKE many people, I’m delighted that the Scottish people voted so decisively to remain part of the United Kingdom.

As I said last week, I’m a unionist, born in Wales, living in England, and proud to be British, so I’m relieved at the outcome.

Of course, that’s not the end of the story. We now have a chance to change the way we’re all governed for the better.

The three main parties have made commitments on further powers for the Scottish Parliament and it’s important that they are honoured.

But just as Scotland will decide separately on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too England and the other nations should be able to decide these issues for themselves.

It’s become known as ‘English votes for English laws’.

All this must take place in tandem with, and at the same pace as, the settlement for Scotland.

The Prime Minister has asked William Hague to draw up these plans. I very much hope this can happen on a cross-party basis.

However, so far Labour appears to be dragging its feet. Ed Miliband’s proposal for a ‘constitutional convention’ would kick this vital issue into the long grass.

The government is moving ahead with a clear timetable to get this settled before the General Election, which is the right approach.

If Labour refuse to work with us, then they will have to explain to the rest of the UK why they shouldn’t have the same powers as are rightly being given to Scotland.

It’s also important that we have wider civic engagement when it comes to improving governance in the United Kingdom.

There will be an opportunity for everyone to have their say, including people who have no political affiliations It’s important that this is not just seen through the prism of party politics – it’s far more important than that!

This all comes down to one word: fairness. It’s simply not fair that Scottish MPs can decide, for instance, how much tax we pay in England. Or what the level of various benefits should be. Or how much should be spent on our roads or schools or hospitals.

Those should be matters for English MPs alone to decide, just as the Scottish Parliament should decide those issues north of the border.

It’s known officially as the ‘West Lothian Question’ but I like to think of it as the ‘West Swindon Question’, because it’s an issue that affects us as much as the Scots.

The referendum may be over, but its implications will be felt for some time.

I will be working hard to promote a new, fair settlement that works for Scotland and for the rest of our thankfully still United Kingdom.