Despite the government doing its best to ignore local expertise on Covid, mayors are showing how democracy should work
Suddenly mayors matter. The 20 years since elected mayors were introduced half-heartedly by Tony Blair in 2000 had been years of obscurity. Now coronavirus has thrust them into the spotlight. We hear daily from Andy Burnham, “leader of the north”, from Liverpool’s Steve Rotheram, Birmingham’s Andy Street, Sheffield’s Dan Jarvis and London’s Sadiq Khan. The prime minister must consult, even “negotiate” with them over lockdown. So is the country breaking apart – or perhaps becoming a little more democratic?
Related: Lockdown: what do England’s frustrated regional mayors want?
