On Friday 13th September, the proponents of a so-called “Great South West” region [covering Cornwall and the English counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset] congregated at Exeter.

Mebyon Kernow is calling on all politicians serving communities to the west of the Tamar to actively oppose the “Great South West” project undermining Cornwall achieving greater powers for itself.

Speaking following a meeting of MK’s National Executive Committee, which also took place on 13th September, Cllr Dick Cole issued the following statement:

“We object most strongly to Cornwall being submerged into a ‘Great South West.’ It is our view that the promotion of such an amorphous construct and the associated talk of ‘combined authorities’ or ‘regional mayors’ could undermine Cornwall securing a meaningful devolution settlement.

“The ‘partnership’ seeks to build a ‘powerhouse brand’ for their ‘region’ – but Cornwall already has a ‘powerhouse” identity that comes from our nationhood, which we need the UK Government to fully recognise and act upon.”

In Westminster, there is an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the “Great South West.” Mebyon Kernow is calling for MPs and members of the House of Lords come together to form an APPG for Cornwall.