In the morning session of today’s MK Conference, party members agreed took part in inclusivity workshop (see above image) and passed four motions. The topics covered included the Coast Path around Cornwall, tolls on the Tamar Bridge, a tourist tax and the BBC.
The full wording of the motions is as follows:
Motion A: Reclaiming the Coast Path for Cornwall
A Coast Path around the whole of Cornwall first came into being in 1973. Five years later, it was submerged into the South West Coast Path. The UK Government is creating an England Coast Path and, in May 2023, to mark the coronation of the new monarch, the UK Government announced that the England Coast Path would be renamed the King Charles III England Coast Path.
The proponents of the scheme have given no consideration to Cornwall’s nationhood and the national minority status of the Cornish people, and the authorities have deemed that the 286 miles of coastal path to the west of the Tamar should be part of an English Coast Path.
The emergence of the Tamara Coast to Coast Way, linking Cornwall’s northern and southern shores, further means that people can walk the entire circuit of the nation of Cornwall – Kylgh Kernow.
This Conference confirms that Mebyon Kernow will campaign to reclaim Cornwall’s Coast Path so that it can be identified as a national trail for Cornwall, as part of Kylgh Kernow.
Motion B: End to tolls on Tamar Bridge
On 29th July, more than 300 people marched across the Tamar Bridge in protest at the continuation of expensive tolls. A number of MK members attended the march in solidarity and Cllr Andrew Long spoke at the associated rally.
This Conference:
(i) Notes that other key bridges such as the Severn crossings are toll-free, whereas many ferry services receive significant public investment / subsidy (for example, from the Scottish Parliament),
(ii) Reiterates its support for an end to the tolls on the Tamar Bridge and confirms its full support for the Tamar Toll Action Group.
(iii) Calls on central government to guarantee funding for the ferry service between Torpoint and Plymouth.
Motion C: Powers to introduce a tourist tax.
A Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament, which – when agreed by MSPs – will give Scotland’s principal councils the ability to apply a tourist tax or levy in all or parts of their areas, if they wish to do so.
The Welsh Government has also confirmed that it intends to bring forward similar legislation for a levy during the present parliamentary term. The results of a public consultation have recently been published, which show that 58% backed the proposal. Support was even stronger in areas that attract a large number of tourists.
This Conference:
(i) Notes that, as the UK Government fails to deliver fair funding for Cornwall, Mebyon Kernow has a duty and a responsibility to build the case for a tourist tax to help safeguard local services all-year-round.
(ii) Demands that elected politicians in Cornwall – through a Cornish Parliament – secure the power to decide whether or not there should be a tourist tax to the west of the Tamar.
An amendment was successfully moved to call for a full register of all holiday accommodation properties in Cornwall.
Motion D: The BBC
The BBC is in the process of making cuts to “local” radio, which means that more programmes on Radio Cornwall will be shared with English counties.
This Conference agrees the following:
(i) Mebyon Kernow notes its disappointment that the BBC is failing to treat Cornwall as a distinct national unit within the UK state and has failed to act upon the national minority status of the Cornish people.
(ii) As we approach the 10th anniversary of the recognition of the Cornish people as a national minority, Mebyon Kernow challenges the BBC bring forward plans for a publicly-funded BBC Cornwall / BBC Kernow [both radio and television] on a par with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales.