BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions was in Cornwall on 1st September and the political debate took place at the Lostwithiel Community Centre. The four guests were the Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer (Bristol), Conservative MP John Glen (Salisbury), Labour MP Luke Pollard (Plymouth) and Alice Thomson, a columnist with the Times newspaper, who I understand lives in Devon. Over the years, it has been the same story with the BBC’s Question Time television show. I think I am right in saying…

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The benefits and perceived disbenefits of a tourist tax are regularly debated in Cornwall, but it is elsewhere that steps are actually being taken to bring in such a new charge. Three months ago, a Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament, which – if agreed by MSPs – would give Scotland’s principal councils the ability to apply a levy in all or parts of their areas, if they wish to do so. The Welsh Government has also confirmed…

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The Conservative member of parliament for North Wiltshire, James Gray, recently enjoyed his “annual pilgrimage” to North Cornwall for his summer holiday. He wrote about this visit in an article on his website, which sought to point out the economic benefits of tourism. Sadly, his piece showed a disturbing lack of empathy with the full-time population of Cornwall. He did state that he sympathised “to some degree” with the “nostalgic longing for houses in charming villages once again being occupied by…

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Seventy-five years ago today, on 5th July 1948, the Health Secretary Nye Bevan launched the National Health Service at Manchester’s Park Hospital. It is well reported that Bevan symbolically met the NHS’s “first patient,” a 13-year-old girl called Sylvia Diggory. She later recalled: “Mr Bevan asked me if I understood the significance of the occasion and told me that it was a milestone in history – the most civilised step any country had ever taken.” In 1948, the fundamental principles behind…

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With the advent of social media in recent years, there has been an increasing number of “commentators” on British society and politics. Some are blatantly party political. Some are less than pleasant. But others can be thought-provoking and very good at challenging arguments put forward by politicians. One of my favourites is former England international rugby hooker Brian Moore, who is very active on twitter and whose approach can be best described as no-nonsense. I was particularly pleased to see his…

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Councillors on Gwynedd Council in North West Wales have voted to take advantage of new rules brought in by the Welsh Parliament, which allow them to control the number of second homes and holiday lets through the planning system. Put simply, people would need planning permission to turn a residential property into some form of holiday accommodation. This will now proceed to a public consultation and it is anticipated that the final decision will be made in 2024. It follows the…

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