Dhe’m brys vy / In my Opinion: Blog

The Representation of the People Bill 2026 is a UK Government bill which is a further revision to electoral law. Since the Great Reform Act of 1832 there have been many amendments through various Acts of Parliament increasing the franchise, this being the most extensive for decades.

One might ask what has this to do with Cornwall and the Cornish people. In itself nothing different from other peoples within the United Kingdom. However, there is one amendment submitted by the Reform Party, which fundamentally discriminates against Celtic interests in use of the Cornish, Irish and Scottish Gaelic languages.

Reform’s amendment states all election publications to be in English or Welsh.

(1) A person shall not print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any bill, placard, poster or printed document to which section 110(1) of this Act applies unless the material is in the English language or the Welsh language.

(2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—

• (a) in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine or to both;
• (b) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.

It is incredible to even think that normal people would be penalised and possibly jailed because they've used their native Celtic language. This amendment is a major affront to native ethnic minorities within the United Kingdom. Although they have included Cymraeg (Welsh) the exclusion of all the other Celtic languages, including Kernewek illustrates that Reform is a party primarily for England and the English. Should they gain power what would prevent them making moves against Cymru. 

In Kernow the Reform Party group at Konsel Kernow has continued to show their contempt for Cornish culture and language. Reform have been the only party opposing recognition of our right to nationhood, as well as any support for Kernewek. How any true Cornish person or those who love Kernow could be a member of or support such a party is unbelievable.

Mebyon Kernow, The Party for Cornwall have reacted strongly. Konsel Kernow Councillor Loveday Jenkin, who is also Deputy Grand Bard of Gorsedh Kernow commented:

'It is ludicrous that Reform UK are seeking to outlaw and criminalise the use of Celtic languages such as Cornish, Irish and Scottish Gaelic (as well as Romani) on election materials.'

'I also find it extremely worrying that Reform MPs have such little respect for the Cornish language and the national minority status of the Cornish people. Instead of supporting one of the UK’s historic Celtic languages, they want to send anyone using Cornish on an election leaflet to jail. Madness!'

'The clause is so daft that it would even ban Mebyon Kernow activists from campaigning as we would not be allowed to use our party name on election materials – as it is in Cornish!'

A similar amendment has been submitted by Conservative Party members with exclusions. In its members explanatory statement they say this would not involve materials produced in the ‘native languages of the British Islands such as in English, Welsh, Cornish, Ulster Scots, Irish, et al’, or in British Sign Language (BSL) or Braille. This does not discriminate against these indigenous Celtic languages of the United Kingdom.

No doubt wiser heads will prevail regarding this particular amendments to the Bill and this will not be passed. It does emphasise the danger the Reform Party would be to Cornish culture if it won the next General Election. We may be being taxed up to and beyond death by the Labour Party and our economy slowing down through ill thought economic policies. But it seems that Reform endangers not just Kernow's cultural heritage but all the cultures of the United Kingdom’s Celtic nations.

Kernow Bys Vykken!!

14/07/2026