MK will always put the interests of Cornwall ahead of any narrow party political advantage

It has been announced that the leader of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, Cllr Dick Cole, will be standing in the new constituency of St Austell and Newquay at the next General Election.

Forty-year-old Dick is a local Cornishman, whose family have lived in the Indian Queens / Fraddon area for many generations. Schooled at Indian Queens and in Newquay, he worked in agriculture during the 1980s before going to university in Wales. He now works as an archaeologist and lives in Fraddon with his wife Ann.

Active in local politics for nearly twenty years, Dick is a campaigner on the issues that matter to one and all – fair funding for our public services, affordable housing for local people and an end to the council tax. He has played a prominent role in campaigns for greater local control and wrote the ‘Declaration for a Cornish Assembly’ which was signed by over 50,000 people in 2001.

Dick has served his local community (St Enoder Ward) on Restormel Borough Council for the last eight years. He has a proud track record as a hardworking and effective local councillor and has been heavily involved in housing, planning and economic regeneration issues. Dick is the Chairman of Restormel’s ‘Policy and Scrutiny 4’ Committee which is working to develop new planning policies to help build much-needed affordable homes for local families. He has also been involved with a number of initiatives in the China Clay Area and sits on the multi-agency Clay Area Taskforce set up following the announcement of job losses at Imerys.

Dick has also used his position as a councillor to campaign against a single waste incinerator in Mid Cornwall and he put forward the successful motion at Restormel Borough Council to call for a Public Inquiry on this issue.

He has also opposed Liberal Democrat plans for a single unitary authority, because he believes that centralising local decision-making onto a single site in Truro will seriously hit democracy and weaken Cornwall’s ability to deliver quality local services.

Dick is a member of St Enoder Parish Council and the Chairman of a steering group of volunteers which is producing a Parish Plan for St Enoder Parish. He is also involved with a large number of local groups in his area and has been personally responsible for a number of successful grant applications for community buildings and play equipment.

Speaking after his selection as a candidate for the forthcoming election, Dick Cole said:

“I am pleased to be standing in the coming General Election as an MK candidate because I believe it is important that local people have the opportunity to vote for a political party that is 100% committed to Cornwall. MK will always put the interests of Cornwall and its communities ahead of any narrow party political advantage.

“The best way to demand a better deal for Cornwall is by sending a strong message to central government by voting for Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall.”