MK Newsletters For All
Latest News
MK DISBELIEF AT LOSS OF CONVERGENCE MATCH-FUNDING
MK DISBELIEF AT LOSS OF CONVERGENCE MATCH-FUNDING
Cllr Dick Cole, the Leader of Mebyon Kernow, has hit out at the Government freeze on match funding for Cornwall’s Convergence programme, describing the decision as “foolhardy” and “extremely damaging to the Cornish economy.”
The Treasury has issued a moratorium to the South West Regional Development Agency, which presently administers the scheme, to not provide any further funding for projects under the Convergence programme. A wide range of projects which would give a boost to business and local employment prospects are now under threat.
MK ANGER AT PROPOSAL FOR DEVONWALL CONSTITUENCY
MK ANGER AT PROPOSAL FOR DEVONWALL CONSTITUENCY
Mebyon Kernow demands respect for Cornish border
Mebyon Kernow councillors have hit out at plans from the Conservative / Liberal Democrat Coalition for a review of parliamentary constituencies which could lead to a “Devon and Cornwall” cross-border seat.
The Government this week announced plans for a referendum on an Alternative Vote system for the next General Election, but also proposed a reduction in the number of seats from 650 to 600. Each constituency would have around 78,000 voters and it has been stated that the constituencies should not deviate by more than 5% from this average size. It has been widely predicted that this would lead to a cross-Tamar constituency.
Speaking on behalf of MK, Cornwall Councillor Andrew Long (Callington) said:
“Mebyon Kernow is disappointed that the referendum is only for the Alternative Vote and not a more proportional voting system. And we are extremely angry that the Government may force a cross-Tamar constituency on Cornwall.
“As a democratically-elected councillor from South East Cornwall, I consider it unbelievable that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats can so casually ignore the boundaries of the historic nation of Cornwall.
“MK will fight to ensure that future Cornish constituencies in East Cornwall will not be compromised through the merger of Cornish communities into a dysfunctional seat comprising parts of Devon.”
Camborne councillor Stuart Cullimore meanwhile accused the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who introduced the plans in Parliament, as “disrespectful to Cornwall.”
In the debate, North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson questioned Clegg about the need to respect the “boundary between Cornwall and England,” but Clegg told the House of Commons that the need for equal sized constituencies would outweigh all other considerations.
Cllr Cullimore said:
“I am appalled that the leadership of the Liberal Democrat Party refuses to respect the integrity of Cornwall and is actively promoting a Devonwall constituency.
“We have just been through a General Election and heard Lib Dem soundbite after Lib Dem soundbite about standing up for Cornwall. But now that they are in government with the Tories, they do not even now where Cornwall starts and finishes.”
BUDGET IS REGRESSIVE AND UNFAIR ON THE LESS-WELL-OFF
BUDGET IS REGRESSIVE AND UNFAIR ON THE LESS-WELL-OFF
Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall has condemned the first budget from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, which includes massive cuts in public spending as well as an increase in VAT from January.
The Party has rubbished claims from the Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat allies that the budget is in some way “progressive” and “fair,” pointing out that a study from The Institute for Fiscal Studies shows the cuts “will hit Britain’s poorest families six times harder than the richest.”
MK members quoted include Cllr Dick Cole (St Enoder), Stuart Cullimore (Camborne) and Andrew Long (Callington).
LOCAL ENTREPENEUR TO STAND IN ILLOGAN
LOCAL ENTREPENEUR TO STAND IN ILLOGAN
Stephen Richardson is MK candidate for by-election
Stephen Richardson, 46, who owns a fish & chip shop in Illogan Highway, will be standing for MK in a by-election for a seat on the Illogan Parish Council.
Mr Richardson said:
“I moved to Cornwall almost two years ago with my family. The local community has always been very welcoming and we have embraced and enjoyed Cornish culture. However, I believe that the Cornish identity is under threat - which is a ridiculous state of affairs. There seem to be any number of people lining up to belittle the Cornish way of life, to make it change or deny Cornish people their identity.
“That is why I have joined Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall. They work for ALL of the people of Cornwall and their policies are not dictated by the big London based political parties.
“I would be very proud to be able to put something back into the community that has welcomed me so unreservedly. There are several issues in Illogan that need to be addressed. Besides encouraging the celebration and expression of Cornish culture I want to try and help the Illogan Allotment Society to find land that could be used for allotments.
“Mebyon Kernow has strong environmental policies. Allotments are an excellent example of self-sustaining and educational projects that local communities can organize for themselves.”
The election to elect a Parish Councillor for the Illogan ward of the Illogan Parish Council is to be held on Thursday June 24th.
MK DISBELIEF AT LIB DEM DEAL WITH CONSERVATIVES
MK DISBELIEF AT LIB DEM DEAL WITH CONSERVATIVES
Liberal Democrat actions are opposite of what they said on doorstep
Mebyon Kernow has expressed disbelief at the decision of the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition with the Conservative Party.
MK members have noted that this is in stark contrast to Liberal Democrat pronouncements during the actual election campaign, when the Lib Dems promoted themselves as the party best-placed to stop the Tories.
Commenting on behalf of MK team of candidates, Loveday Jenkin (Camborne and Redruth) said:
“Leaflet after leaflet claimed that only the Lib Dems could stop the Tories and that a vote for Labour, MK or any of the smaller parties would let the Conservatives in the backdoor. They encouraged progressive voters to vote tactically.
“If you study their literature from the recent campaign, you will find them telling us that ‘the Conservatives are out of touch,’ ‘cannot be trusted’ while Paddy Ashdown even told us that ‘Cornwall cannot afford another Conservative Government’.”
“And yet, within hours of the results, the Lib Dems had agreed a deal with the Conservatives – going against everything they said during the election contest.
“It is little wonder that local voters feel dismayed at what has happened and many people who voted tactically feel conned.”
Mebyon Kernow is also concerned at the nature and severity of cuts to the public sector now that David Cameron is in Downing Street.
With this in mind, Party Leader Cllr Dick Cole has challenged Cornwall’s six MPs to back MK’s call for a Commission to investigate fair funding for Cornwall.
“We are extremely concerned at the speed and likely depth of cuts to public services proposed by the coalition. We all know that Cornwall receives less funding than other parts of the UK and is particularly vulnerable to swinging Conservative cuts.
“The immediate challenge for Cornwall’s MPs must be to protect our vital services and to win a Commission to investigate how Cornwall is under-funded and a binding Government commitment to right past wrongs.”
