Following the announcement from the leader of Cornwall Council that her administration will not be pushing ahead with the proposal for a directly-elected mayor, Mebyon Kernow has called on all politicians in Cornwall to work together to secure meaningful devolution.

The proposal for a mayor was linked to the Government’s so-called Level 3 “devolution deal,” which MK had criticised as “accommodations with local government” rather than real devolution as in Wales and Scotland.

The leader of Cornwall Council has today confirmed that she will recommend to her ruling Cabinet that the unitary authority pursue an even weaker “Level 2” “devolution deal.”

MK leader Cllr Dick Cole said:

“It was disappointing that the ‘devolution deal’ on offer to the people of Cornwall was so lacking in devolution powers, while the proposal for a ‘local government mayor’ generated a great deal of opposition.

“As a historic Celtic nation, Cornwall needs meaningful devolution. Now that the Conservative administration in Truro has stepped back from the present ‘deal,’ surely it is the time for all politicians in Cornwall to come together to build a compelling case for meaningful devolution, similar to that in the other Celtic parts of the UK.”

Prior to today’s announcement, MK had already tabled a motion to the next Full Council meeting of the unitary authority (18th April), which already has cross-party support.

It is as follows:

In 2014, the UK Government recognised the Cornish as a national minority through the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

It pledged that the Cornish would have the “same status … as the UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.” This was a wide-ranging commitment from the UK state, covering culture, language, heritage, education, territorial integrity and public life.

We, the undersigned, are therefore disappointed at the content of the “devolution deal,” which principally represents accommodations between central government and Cornwall’s unitary authority, rather than a meaningful devolution settlement as achieved in Wales and Scotland.

Cornwall Council resolves to inform the UK Government that we wish to commence negotiations for a more meaningful devolution settlement similar to those enjoyed in the other Celtic parts of the UK (ie. a National Assembly of Cornwall or Cornish Parliament).

Cornwall Council also resolves to request a meeting between the Secretary of State and a cross-party delegation from Cornwall Council as a matter of urgency.

MK will make further comment in the coming days and weeks.