November 2025

No to Devonwall – good news

Mebyon Kernow has welcomed the announcement from Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which rules out the threat of a Devonwall Mayoral Strategic Authority [MSA] being imposed on Cornwall. In a letter to the leader of Cornwall Council, Cllr Leigh Frost, the minister stated that the UK Government “is minded, on an exceptional basis, to work” with Cornwall Council “to explore designating the council as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority.” The letter added that: “Any…

Read more

“Planning in Cornwall is so frustrating”

Comment from Cllr Dick Cole – Leader of Mebyon Kernow

I am getting increasingly frustrated by the planning process in Cornwall. As I have written before, Westminster has imposed an inappropriate, unsustainable and undeliverable housing target on Cornwall, which means that council officers have taken the view that we no longer have a “five-year land supply.” In this scenario, the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework states that a “tilted balance” comes into play and housing applications should be approved unless “adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the…

Read more

Good News for Cornish

Mebyon Kernow has welcomed the announcement from the UK Government that the Cornish language will be protected through part three of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Cornish had previously been covered by part two of the Charter, and had been the only Celtic language in the UK not covered by the more extensive part three. Party Leader, Cllr Dick Cole, said “It is really positive news that the Government has confirmed that Cornish will be covered by Part…

Read more

Nowodhow Da rag Kernewek

Mebyon Kernow re dhynerghis deklaryans an Governans RU may fydh yeth Kernewek gwithys der Rann Tri a’n Chartour Europek rag Yethow Ranndiryel po Minoryta. Kernewek o kudhys kyns gans Rann Dew a’n Chartour ha re bia an unnsel yeth Keltek nag o gudhys gans an Rann Tri moyha efan. Yn-medh Hembrenkyas a’n Parti, Klr Dick Cole “Ass yw nowodhow fest posedhek an Governans a wra afydhya bos Kernewek kudhys gans Rann Tri a’n Chartour rag Yethow Ranndiryel po Minoryta. Gans henna…

Read more

Government statement on Cornish

The UK Government has just published a press release about the budget and what it means for “Cornwall and the South West.” It includes confirmation that the Cornish language will be protected through part three of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It has previously only been covered by part two of the Charter. The relevant statement was as follows: “Promoting Cornwall’s strengths and investing in its opportunities also means championing its unique identity. The revival of the Cornish…

Read more

Time for a Cornwall Police Force

Comment from Cllr Dick Cole – Leader of Mebyon Kernow

The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has just confirmed that elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are to be abolished. I understand that the PCCs will continue in post until May 2028, when the next set of elections would have been held. Labour is describing the introduction of PCCs by David Cameron’s Government in 2012 as a “failed experiment.” They are promising that there will be savings, which will “fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country.” One PCC has…

Read more