Article by Cllr Dick Cole published in the Cornish Guardian newspaper (23rd October 2024)

In last week’s PMQs, it was great to see North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire ask Kier Starmer to “meet all six Cornish MPs to discuss devolution for Cornwall, with a Cornish Assembly that recognises our unique culture, language and national minority status …”

I am pleased that the PM has agreed to a meeting, but I found the bulk of his response to be disturbing. He did not acknowledge Cornwall’s unique place within the UK, but instead spoke about the “south-west” and “Devon and Torbay” and encouraging “local authorities to work with their neighbours” in terms of devolution proposals – which would go against exactly what Ben Maguire and others are seeking.

I sincerely hope that Cornwall’s parliamentarians will be able to make a persuasive case at this upcoming meeting.

In terms of other democratic reforms, there has been considerable debate within Labour about the House of Lords. Their manifesto promised modernisation of the institution and contained a commitment to replace it with an “alternative second chamber that is more representative of the regions and nations.”

Linked to this, last week also saw the Second Reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which will lead to the removal of the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the second chamber. This seems like a wasted opportunity to me. Surely, in 2024, there should a greater ambition to bring forward much more far-reaching reforms.

I found myself agreeing most strongly with what Pete Wishart, the SNP spokesperson, had to say in the associated debate. He agreed with the proposers of the Bill that it is wrong that “places should be reserved in our legislature for a curious subset of a particular class of person, based on birthright,” but added that it was equally wrong that places should be reserved for 26 bishops from the Church of England.

But he went on to ponder how the temptation is always there for the PM to “stuff the chamber full of friends and the politically useful,” and there are now rumours circulated about him creating over 100 new lords to ease legislation through the upper house. Pete Wishart was especially critical of “the donors, the cronies and the placemen” gifted a “role in running our country” because of their ”ability to give substantial amounts of money to one of the three major establishment political parties in this House.” He is so right.

And here is a thought. Why don’t we just abolish the House of Lords and the money saved can be used to improve the democratic structures of the UK, which could and should include a National Assembly or Parliament for Cornwall.