At today’s meeting of Cornwall Council, Mebyon Kernow councillors Dick Cole and Loveday Jenkin proposed a motion seeking greater devolution for Cornwall. The motion argued that Cornwall merited parity with Wales and Scotland in terms of devolution and sought to “commence negotiations for a more meaningful devolution settlement similar to those enjoyed in the other Celtic parts of the UK (such as a National Assembly of Cornwall or Cornish Parliament).”
The motion was lost by 38 votes to 36. Supporters included all MK, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors, plus all members of the Independent Group – bar one – and three Conservatives. It was opposed by 35 Tories, one “Conservative aligned independent,” one non-aligned independent and the one member of the Independent Group.
Speaking after the vote, Cllr Dick Cole said he was grateful to all the councillors who supported the motion, but was disappointed that “the members of the unitary authority had not come together to seek democratic parity with the other Celtic parts of the UK through a meaningful new democratic settlement for Cornwall.” He said that “it was interesting” that a number of councillors from the Conservative administration had “expressed some sympathy” with the move for more powers for Cornwall, adding that the “campaign continues” and “we will be working hard to build support for proper devolution for Cornwall.”
The motion was as follows:
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.
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 that recent discussions about devolution have not featured consideration of a settlement that would give Cornwall greater parity with 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 (such as 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.