UK party leaders 'tricked' Scots out of independence, says Alex Salmond

Defeated Scottish nationalist chief Alex Salmond yesterday accused Britain's leaders of tricking Scots out of independence after a dispute about how and when to give them more powers.

Salmond, who is stepping down as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after failing to persuade Scots to leave the UK, accused Britain's three main parties of winning Thursday's referendum by making a false promise of new powers.

"I think the vow was something cooked up in desperation for the last few days of the campaign and I think everyone in Scotland now realises that," said Salmond, referring to a pledge by Prime Minister David Cameron and other leaders before the vote to rapidly expand Scottish autonomy in the event of a "No".

"It is the people who were persuaded to vote no who were misled, who were gulled, who were tricked effectively."

All three main parties want to transfer new powers, over tax, spending and welfare, to Scotland. But with eight months before an election, Cameron's Conservatives have become embroiled in a row with the opposition Labour party about when and how that might happen.

The dispute overshadowed the start of Labour's annual conference in Manchester, where leader Ed Miliband was forced to clarify his position.

Watch: Scotland's 'Yes' voters skeptical of new powers promised by London