Even with Scotland on board, the UK is probably headed toward federalism

As part of their effort to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom, Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and his two fellow major party leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) and Ed Miliband (Labour), pledged to give Scotland's parliament "extensive new powers," up to and including raising taxes for health care, if necessary.

On Friday, Cameron said that not only Scotland, but also Northern Ireland, Wales, and England should have more autonomy. "We now have a chance — a great opportunity — to change the way the British people are governed, and change it for the better," he said. "Just as Scotland will vote separately in the Scottish Parliament on their issues of tax, spending, and welfare, so too England, as well as Wales and Northern Ireland, should be able to vote on these issues."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up