In the name of devolution or “the new localism”, a crime may be about to be committed. Despite promises from Alan Johnson, the new health secretary, of no new structural reform to the National Health Service “for the foreseeable future”, ministers appear to be considering giving local government a bigger say in, maybe even control over, the NHS.

Mr Johnson has been the least precise. His announcement of a year-long review of the NHS talks of it ending with improved “local accountability” and “community responsiveness” – which could mean anything.