James Gray whose controversial remarks about the Scottish Parliament led to his resignationNorth Wiltshire MP James Gray is unrepentant for voicing controversial views on the Scottish Parliament that led to his resignation after just a week in the job of shadow Scottish secretary.

The Glasgow born MP said he was feeling "very laid back" about his hasty withdrawal from the front bench but was glad his comments had given the West Lothian question which permits Scottish MPs to vote on purely English matters the publicity it deserves.

Mr Gray, 51, said: "My resignation has brought publicity to this issue and I think that's a good thing because this isn't a problem that is going to go away."

Mr Gray handed in his resignation on Thursday after causing

outrage among Conservative colleagues in Scotland with his suggestion that Members of Scottish Parliament should be abolished.

Mr Gray is reported to have suggested getting rid of Members of the Scottish Parliament so that Scottish MPs could deal with Scottish business at Holyrood and UK business at Westminster.

Mr Gray said: "Mr Blair managed to introduce top-up fees in England by 17 votes in the House of Commons and there were more than 17 Scots voting in England for that.

"Yet the Scottish Labour Party were opposed to them when it was the Scottish vote and that's crazy. It brings the whole devolution question into disrepute and it needs to be sorted out because sooner of later the people of England will rebel."

Mr Gray, who has been on the Tory front bench for the past six years, said he had received tremendous support from people in North Wiltshire and was enjoying his return to the back bench.

He said: "It's nice to get back to being a back bencher something I haven't done since 1998 and it'll give me more time for North Wiltshire and my family."

However Mr Gray, whose wife Sarah has recently been diagnosed with cancer, is hopeful that he will

return to the front bench by Christmas.

"I hope to take an active part in the selection of the new leadership and when that person is in their place I would hope that they would consider me to have the powers to be useful in the new administration," he said.

"I very much enjoyed my time as shadow countryside and shadow defence and on top of that I have interests in foreign policy as well as other areas."

In his letter of resignation to Tory leader Michael Howard, Mr Gray stated: "Although I fully support the party's policy on devolution, I understand that the words I used in recent interviews might be open to interpretation.

"I would not want there to be any misunderstanding and I have no wish to embarrass the party in Scotland, or you.

"For this reason I believe the right course for me is to resign."