CLLR DICK COLE CELEBRATES TEN YEARS AS LEADER OF MK

October 4^th 2007 will mark the tenth anniversary of Dick Cole’s election as the leader of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall (MK).

The achievement was marked at MK’s recent Annual Conference when tributes were led by Cllr Loveday Jenkin who presented Dick with a bottle of locally-produced sparkling wine (Camel Valley) on behalf of the Mebyon Kernow members at the meeting who also gave Dick a heartfelt standing ovation.

Speaking on behalf of MK, Cllr Loveday Jenkin said:

“Dick Cole has been an inspirational leader, who has nurtured the growth and development of Mebyon Kernow into a political party fit for the 21^st Century. I am confident, that under his ongoing leadership, MK will continue to be the one political party that will always stand up and fight for the best interests of Cornwall.”

A long-standing member, 40-year-old Dick first joined MK in 1988 and became very active in the Party in the early 1990’s. He was elected onto the Party’s National Executive in 1992 when he also became joint Press and Campaigns Officer. He fought his first election as an MK candidate in 1993, when he stood for election to Cornwall County Council.

In 1997, he became Mebyon Kernow’s tenth Chairman and is now the longest serving leader in the Party’s history. In 1999, he was elected onto Restormel Borough Council.

Commenting on his decade at the helm of the Party, Dick Cole said:

“I am proud that I have been able to play my part in fighting for a better deal for Cornwall through Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall. Our Party has been at the forefront of a large number of campaigns demanding greater self-government for Cornwall, real affordable housing, decent investment in public services and so much more, while opposing the growing tier of unelected and accountable SW quangos which are taking increasing control over Cornwall and its economy.

“My personal highlights of the last ten years include producing the Declaration for a Cornish Assembly, which was signed by over 50,000 people, and becoming the first MK member to be elected onto Restormel Borough Council. It remains a really great privilege to be able to represent my home area as a councillor and to help local people with their problems and concerns.”

Since 1997, Mebyon Kernow has undergone a period of growth and fought more elections than ever before. In the 2007 local elections, seven MK members won seats on District Councils and over twenty members were elected to Town and Parish Councils – winning more seats than the Labour Party in Cornwall.

It has also recently been announced that Dick will be standing in the new constituency of St Austell and Newquay at the next General Election.

Further information on Cllr Dick Cole

Dick Cole is a 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.

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 councillor and has been heavily involved in housing, planning and economic regeneration issues. He 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 by Clay Company 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, as well as undermining the campaign for a Cornish Assembly.