Turnout might reach a 30 year high in the US

It is thought turnout in the American elections could reach 60% - the highest level for more than 30 years.

Baroness Helena Kennedy suggested the UK might be able to learn from how both main parties had mobilised their vote.

She is chairing the Rowntree Trust's new inquiry into the state of British democracy - with Radio 1 DJ Emma B among the members of the commission.

Contentment?

The POWER inquiry will last for up to 18 months, with �800,000 of funds at its disposal.

The 59% turnout at the 2001 general election was an 80-year low and the new inquiry is aimed at looking at the reasons.

Lady Kennedy, a leading QC, told BBC News: "We have got to separate out disaffection and discontent.

Baroness Helena Kennedy is a well-known barrister

"It could be that people are not turning out because they are fairly contented and feel there is not much to choose between the political parties.

"What we want to know is whether that is true or whether distrust means people are finding other ways of expression to their politics."

The Labour peer said the independent commission would also look at whether political institutions established centuries ago were still working.

Moving and grooving?

She pointed to the "extraordinary turnaround" in turnout seen in this year's US presidential elections.

"One of the things to be learned is that both parties mobilised their people in a way they have not felt sufficiently energised to do in previous elections," she said.

"People actually did go right out there and get right onto the ground floor level."

The elections suggested it was not enough for political leaders just to debate on television, they had to be "moving and grooving" with the public, she said.

Roadshow

Lady Kennedy promised the new commission would not be the "great and good" meeting in vaulted rooms in London.

Instead there would be roadshows around the country, both in major cities and rural areas.

She believed people would engage at local level and pointed to the interest shown in the Daily Mirror-run competition to choose a young commissioner, won by 21-year-old Phil Carey.

Among other members of the panel are journalist Ferdinand Mount, a former Downing Street policy unit chief; Women's Institutes chairman Barbara Gill; and TUC deputy general secretary Frances O'Grady.