In the afternoon session of today’s MK Conference, party members agreed six motions. The topics covered included Cornish control over planning and housing, Homechoice, the cost of living crisis, election strategy, devolution and the situation in Gaza.

The full wording of the motions is as follows:

Motion E: Cornish control of planning and housing

Mebyon Kernow has a proud record of campaigning for a Cornish Parliament that would ensure that all decisions about planning and housing are taken in Cornwall. This would include the production of a Cornish National Planning Policy Framework to replace the NPPF produced by central government, which would allow all policies and targets to be agreed in Cornwall without interference from Whitehall.

But the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, recently declared that he wanted to “bulldoze” the planning system and, in one interview, he said that “we need to ensure that planning goes up a level so it’s not so localised.” Other Labour officials have spoken about regional (SW) master-plans.

This Conference reaffirms MK’s commitment to full control over all aspects of planning and housing, and challenges the UK Labour Party to also commit to full Cornish control over planning and housing.

Motion F: Homechoice

Over the last two decades, numerous developments have been built across Cornwall, which include affordable housing controlled through Section 106 legal agreements. In rural areas, the legal agreements usually give preference to households from the host (primary) parish, before cascading out to surrounding (secondary) parishes. Many developments are supported by local communities

Cornwall Council and partners have been carrying out a review of the Homechoice system, which allocates publicly-owned affordable homes. It is being proposed that the cascade goes out to secondary parishes “by band” prior to meeting all need within the primary parish – which goes against the legal agreements as written.

It is the view of MK councillors on the unitary authority that the proposal is inappropriate and would undermine the provision of proper local-needs housing in the future.

This Conference  calls on Cornwall Council to guarantee that it will apply all Section 106 agreements as written, in order to safeguard proper local-needs housing for Cornish communities.

Motion G: Cost of Living Crisis

The Welsh Government brought together a group of 18 experts with considerable expertise, drawn from a range of organisations, to advise them on the Cost of Living Crisis and what actions should be taken to mitigate the impact of the people of their country.

It notes that a survey by Public Health Wales shows that 44% of respondents reported their mental health was negatively affected by the rising cost of living, while almost 80% of residents reported they were “very worried” or “somewhat worried” by the crisis, with a quarter of respondents saying the rising costs were causing them substantial stress and anxiety. It presented significant data about how people were going without essentials or skipping meals, and struggling to make ends meet.

The report makes a series of detailed recommendations to the Welsh Parliament. The situation in Cornwall is similar to that in Wales, but the lack of a Cornish Parliament means there is less scope to bring forward bespoke initiatives relating to low-income households, housing, personal debt and much more.

This Conference reaffirms its commitment to the creation of a Cornish Parliament with the ability to support those struggling with the Cost of Living Crisis but, in the meantime, calls on the UK Government to bring forward significant public investment to support those in need in Cornwall.

Motion H: Election Strategy

Over the last 18 months, the National Executive has considered MK’s electoral strategy on a number of occasions. There has been a broad consensus that the main priority must be the 2025 Cornwall Council and associated town and parish council polls. There has not, however, been any such consensus on parliamentary contests and significant concerns that the closeness of a costly General Election campaign could adversely affect MK’s impact at the next set of local elections.

This Conference agrees the following:

(i) Mebyon Kernow confirms its priority is the 2025 Cornwall Council and associated town and parish council polls.

(ii) Mebyon Kernow does not – as a central party – put forward a full slate of candidates at the next General Election, but makes it clear that local constituency parties can put forward a candidate if they wish, particularly if it is considered the related publicity will directly benefit the Cornwall Council and associated town and parish council elections.

(iii) Mebyon Kernow will continue to use the lead-up to the General Election to put pressure on the Westminster parties to commit to meaningful devolution for Cornwall.

Motion I: Devolution

The Conservative administration at Cornwall Council has chosen not to proceed with the so-called “Level 3 devolution deal,” which MK condemned as not being a devolution deal at all. It was frankly just about tweaks to local government. The Tories have now confirmed that they will be looking to agree an even more insubstantial “Level 2 devolution deal.”

Cornwall Council has however signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Welsh Government and become a participating member of the Celtic Forum, which held its inaugural meeting at Rennes. In addition, the leader of the unitary authority recently attended the British-Irish Council‟s ministerial meeting on Indigenous, Minority and Lesser-Used (IML) Languages in Jersey.

This Conference:

(i) Welcomes the contacts being made with other Celtic nations, but considers it ridiculous that, at the same time, the Conservative administration in Truro is still refusing to consider “devolution” in any context other than through the constraints of an “English” local government system.

(ii) Agrees that if the Collaboration Agreement and the Celtic Forum, plus a presence at the British-Irish Council, are to prove truly meaningful, pressure must be exerted on Westminster and Whitehall to treat Cornwall as a constituent national part of the UK state and to deliver meaningful devolution and greater democratic parity with Wales and Scotland.

Motion J: Gaza

This Conference:

(i) Condemns the horrific killings by Hamas and the taking of hostages on October 7.

(ii) Condemns the horrific attacks on Gaza and its civilian population by Israeli forces.

(iii) Calls for the urgent release of all hostages and an end to the siege of Gaza to allow vital supplies of food, fuel, medicine and water to reach the civilian population.

(iv) Notes the growing calls for a humanitarian ceasefire from the United Nations and its aid agencies.

(v) Calls for an immediate ceasefire.