By Steve Bargeton, political editor

PRO-UNIONIST opposition parties at Holyrood yesterday signed a blank cheque for a review of devolution that will not even consider the issue of Scottish independence.

In December last year MSPs voted to set up a commission to look at the powers of the Scottish Parliament 10 years on.

The move was not supported by the minority SNP Government because it did not include consideration of independence.

Yesterday Glasgow University chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman, the government’s former chief medical officer both in Scotland and England, was revealed as the head of the commission, officially described as an “independent review” supported by both the Scottish Parliament and the Government in London.

At a press conference Sir Kenneth denied that the commission’s work would be damaged by the fact that it will consider devolution but not independence.

He also denied that Gordon Brown was effectively in the driving seat in deciding the future of devolution.

“I would not have accepted this if I felt this was something being driven from elsewhere,” said Sir Kenneth who said he sees himself as “part of the UK, but a Scot within that.”

“Seventy-seven per cent of the Scottish public don’t think independence is the right way forward.

“All of the work over the last few years makes it pretty clear that’s not an issue right now.

“Certainly for this commission it will not be an issue we will be discussing.

“There are plenty of other issues that are relevant to Scotland and its institutions and its Parliament which will give us plenty to look at.”

Sir Kenneth, who will not be paid for his work in chairing the commission, which hopes to produce an interim report in November.

The commission will be funded jointly by the Scottish Parliament and the UK Government.

But yesterday no details of costs were available. Indeed the Scottish Parliament’s corporate body will not consider the issue until next month.

Questioned about costs, Labour leader Wendy Alexander said, “The important thing is that there is a parliamentary mandate for the use of any taxpayers’ money that will be involved.”

Last night an adviser to First Minister Alex Salmond attacked the commission for not being prepared to consider independence.

“What was supposed to be a Scottish Parliament commission to gain more responsibilities for Scotland has been hijacked by Downing Street and downgraded to a review, which will also examine taking powers back from Holyrood to Westminster,” he said.

“The review excludes the option of independence, which is extraordinary, and has no clear means of reaching agreement, or allowing the people into the process.

“The challenge for the review is two-fold. First, to overcome the clear divisions among the parties involved, and the divisions between the Holyrood parties and Westminster, and agree a detailed scheme for greater responsibilities for Scotland.

“And second, to be prepared to put the scheme on a ballot paper alongside independence so that the people of Scotland can choose their future fairly and democratically in a referendum.

“The Scottish Parliament was established by referendum, and no significant change can happen without a further referendum. We may disagree on the destination, but all parties must agree on the fundamental point that a referendum is the democratic route.”