PM 'treating public like fools'

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The Tory leader wrote to Mr Brown calling on him to explain his comments at Prime Minister's Questions. Ms Alexander, meanwhile, was resisting calls to quit amid claims by rival parties that her position was "untenable" following Mr Brown's intervention in the Commons.

The latest row erupted after Mr Cameron challenged the Prime Minister over whether he agreed with Ms Alexander's call in a weekend television interview for a referendum on independence.

To the astonishment of opposition MPs, Mr Brown retorted: "That is not what she has said", adding that she had simply been trying to expose the "hollowness" of the position of the Scottish National Party on the issue.

In the Commons, an incredulous Mr Cameron replied that the Prime Minister appeared to be "losing touch with reality".

In his letter, he quoted Ms Alexander as saying "I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people", "We shouldn't delay until the fag end of this parliament", "Bring it on", and "It's time for them (the SNP) to put up or shut up".

The letter continued: "Today, you denied she had called for a referendum now. Perhaps then you could explain what she meant by all this? Anyone who listened to Wendy Alexander's remarks could be in no doubt that she meant a referendum should be held - and it shouldn't be delayed. To pretend otherwise is once again treating people like fools."

As the row over Ms Alexander's unexpected policy change continued to reverberate through Holyrood and Westminster, she faced claims that Mr Brown had "hung her out to dry" by refusing to endorse her referendum call.

Mr Brown told the Commons that any decisions should await the outcome of the Calman Commission review of devolution set up jointly by the three main pro-Union parties - Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. "I hope we can see progress in that commission and we will review the progress before making any further decisions," he said.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said that Ms Alexander's position was now "completely untenable".