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Unlock Democracy

Giving mayors more power does not necessarily give the public more control. That depends on whether people can hold them to account. The Devolution Act makes some provision in this space, beefing up local scrutiny committees. That is welcome. But scrutiny can only go so far, particularly when establishing something as basic as who a mayor has met, and what they discussed, is far harder than it should be.

Andy Burnham’s announcement of a National Commission on Electoral Reform might not have been the headline-grabbing moment of his conference speech. But it could prove to be one of the most consequential.

Trial by jury occupies a unique place in Britain's constitutional tradition. Long before the emergence of universal suffrage or representative democracy, it gave ordinary citizens a direct role in the administration of justice and, in doing so, established an enduring check on the power of the state.