Today marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Declaration for a Cornish Assembly campaign by Mebyon Kernow. The declaration was backed by over 50,000 people during 2000 and 2001, and became an important part of the cross-party campaign for greater self-government.

Commenting about the anniversary, MK leader Cllr Dick Cole, who drafted the declaration, said: “Twenty-five years on, we are continuing to push for meaningful devolution. It is as important an issue today as it was in 2000.

“In the House of Commons today – in response to a question from Perran Moon MP – the Prime Minister stated that ‘we do recognise Cornish national minority status – not just the proud language, history and culture of Cornwall, but its bright future.’

“The UK Government has a lot to do to actually act on the national minority status of the Cornish, and a good start would have been for the United Kingdom Government to finally act on the declarations and confirm a meaningful devolution settlement for Cornwall.”

The above photograph from 2000 features Cllr Dick Cole, plus Hilda Wasley and Conan Jenkin.