Ertach Kernow Plus - Cornish Devolution & Devonwall Battle
The Cornish people have a red line they are holding firm on. It's on the east bank of the River Tamar and the Cornish border with England. There's no crossing it to join with Devon in any political union.
More will be added to this blog as the situation develops
For those who would like more information of Cornish identity and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities checkout the Celtic Nations Kernow website
Click the Page Link: Cornish Identity - Celtic Nation Kernow
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The Cornish Democracy Unit at the Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter.
The duchy's six Labour and Lib Dem MPs have endorsed a report suggesting the creation of a 60-member Welsh-style Cornish assembly, the Senedh Kernow.
View the report by clicking this link: The Cornish Democracy Unit at the Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter.
Another Devonwall battle looms as suggestions that Cornwall be joined with Devon as part of a larger devolved unit. Cornwall has already rejected the proposed political union with Devon relating to a Westminster Parliamentary constituency. Last years proposals for acceptance of a English mayoral county devolution deal was quashed in the face of huge opposition. Calls for an improved devolution deal for Cornwall in recognition of the unique position of Cornish people as a recognised national ethnic minority along with the Scots, Welsh and Irish continues.
There has been a recent suggestion made by Jim McMahon the Labour government Minister of State for ‘Local Government and English Devolution’, who stated that his preferred footprint for a devolution deal would be a ‘Devon and Cornwall’ block as part of the Westminster governments plans for devolution. This has been strongly rejected by Mebyon Kernow, The Party for Cornwall. There would be a strong backlash from the people of Cornwall against any plans that take this approach and sure to be resisted by MP’s and councillors from across the political spectrum. Has this minister no idea regarding the strength of feeling held here in Cornwall. Our Cornish history and culture has always been one of resistance against infringement of our national borders and Devonwall.
Regardless of any ethnic, national or cultural arguments there is no doubt that this proposal would lead to Cornwall and the Cornish voice being subsumed and lost into Devon and England by the greater voting majority that would take place. Some two thirds of the proposed assembly would be from Devon and any chance of Cornwall being able to take any control of its own issues would be lost. Already within Cornwall Council there are a number of members from the ruling Tory party who have accepted that this merger is inevitable and this fifth column supporting a political Devonwall. including some within the cabinet, should be strongly opposed.
Ben Maguire the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall wrote on X/Twitter ‘Cornwall’s voice would undoubtedly get lost if combined with other South West authorities. Since my election I have been fighting for a bespoke Cornish devolution deal which addresses Cornwall’s unique needs and cultural identity.’
No! Olly Monk, the Cornish people will never accept a merged body with Devon. Cornwall is a nation and the Cornish people are a recognised ethnic minority. Are you one of those English people who come to Cornwall and still don't understand the pride Cornwall has in its separate Cornish identity based on its historic borders? Fortunately there are many English people who do and support Cornish ideals of nationhood. Any form of political Devonwall is an anathema to Cornish people.
If so perhaps you should question whether you are suited to representing Cornish people on Cornwall Council.
Article by Cllr Dick Cole published in the Cornish Guardian and West Briton newspapers (27th November 2024)
It has been widely reported that, at a meeting of the organisation known as South West Councils, Jim McMahon (Minister of State for “Local Government and English Devolution”), stated that his preferred footprint for a devolution deal would be “Devon and Cornwall” block. This was certainly a talking point at the National Conference of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, which took place in Truro on Saturday.
In what I am sure was a departure from most such political gatherings, I was actually very complimentary about what Cornwall’s new MPs had been saying on this topic. In my keynote address to party members, I spoke about how politicians in Cornwall had been sending a clear collective message to Westminster since the July General Election, backing meaningful devolution linked to a full recognition of Cornwall’s unique place within the United Kingdom.
I commended Liberal Democrat MPs Andrew George and Ben Maguire for, within ten days of the General Election, sending a letter to the Prime Minister calling for a Cornish Assembly. I also praised Ben and Labour MP Perran Moon, respectively, for calling for a “Cornish Legislative Assembly” and promising to seek “an Assembly similar to that of our Celtic cousins in Wales” in their maiden speeches. And I paid tribute to all six MPs for joining the group leaders on the unitary authority in signing a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister, which sought “a devolution settlement enshrined in law that reflects the status Cornwall shares with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in all areas of economic, social, political and cultural life.”
Unbelievably, central government has yet to formally respond to any of these representations and it is shocking that the Minister is making comments about the future governance of Cornwall that disregard what Cornish MPs and councillors are saying.
In my speech I also noted that an English Devolution Bill is likely to be published within weeks and called on MPs to strongly reject any concept of a “Devonwall” combined authority, and to push for a “Cornish Devolution Bill” and a Celtic-style devolution settlement, which gives us greater parity with Scotland and Wales.
I am pleased that the Democracy Unit at the Institute of Cornish Studies is publishing a document that also seeks a bespoke devolution settlement for Cornwall, and that it has a foreword from Cornwall’s MPs welcoming the report.
At this pivotal time, I hope that they will be able use their influence to get the new UK Government to act on this report and other representations.
Devolution: Cornwall - Ben Maguire MP (Liberal Democrat -North Cornwall)
Question for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by Ben Maguire MP (Liberal Democrat -North Cornwall) tabled on 24 October 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving legislative powers to a Cornish Assembly.
Answered on 1 November 2024 by Jim McMahon MP (Minister of State - Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is committed to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities; we believe that economic prosperity, productivity, and social cohesion are best addressed by devolving powers to local areas who best understand the needs of their communities. An ambitious new framework for English devolution will be published in due course. We intend this framework will set out an attractive, far-reaching offer which will increase devolution across all parts of England, including Cornwall. I am also pleased we have recently confirmed we are minded to progress a non-mayoral devolution agreement as part of the county’s journey to deeper devolution.