Mebyon Kernow is pleased that North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire spoke in Prime Minister’s Questions today, and asked Keir Starmer for a meeting with all six Cornish MPs to discuss devolution and the need for a Cornish Assembly.

The Prime Minister has agreed to the meeting but it is worrying that, in his response, he spoke about the “south-west” and “Devon and Torbay” and encouraging “local authorities to work with their neighbours” for wider devolution for their areas.

The question and answer were as follows:

Ben Maquire MP: North Cornwall is an amazing place to live and work, but a top-down approach from Westminster has failed us. Public services are chronically underfunded, with young people forced to move away to pursue careers elsewhere, and affordable housing is a promise that is simply never kept. Will the Prime Minister meet all six Cornish MPs to discuss devolution for Cornwall, with a Cornish assembly that recognises our unique culture, language and national minority status, so that we can finally unleash Cornwall’s economic potential?

The Prime Minister: I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising that. I do believe in transferring power out of Westminster and into the hands of leaders who know their communities best. Those with skin in the game know what is best for their communities. We are already making steps in the south-west by signing the devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay, and I encourage local authorities to work with their neighbours to pursue deeper and wider devolution for their area. I will ensure that the hon. Member has the meeting that he is asking for.