The excitement of devolution

Britain is becoming a more interesting place. Driven by various political and economic forces, the government has decided to experiment with devolution. Next week the people of Scotland will elect their first parliament for 300 years (p 1166) and those of Wales an assembly (p 1167). If the “peace process” continues in Northern Ireland it too will eventually have elections. Devolution is also under way in many other countries, and this theme issue on health in a devolving world considers Sweden (p 1156), Finland (p 1198), Canada (p 1201), and Spain (p 1204).

The …