PRESS RELEASE : Cornwall needs a Parliament, not inadequate “county deal” [November 2022]
The press release issued by Mebyon Kernow on 21 November 2022.
With the UK Government about to publish its proposed “county deal” for Cornwall’s unitary authority, Mebyon Kernow members have hit out at the inadequate nature of the deal.
Members of MK were gathered at Heartlands in Pool for MK’s 2022 National Conference on Saturday (19th November) and also launched a policy document, which makes the case for a Cornish Parliament.
Speaking at the event, MK leader Cllr Dick Cole told delegates that the so-called “devolution” on offer from the UK Government is not devolution at all.
Cllr Cole said: “To the Westminster parties, devolution is not the far-reaching shift of powers away from Westminster, that led to reconvening of the Scottish Parliament and the creation of a Welsh Parliament. To them, it is all about tweaks to local government.”
He criticized London-based political parties for being unable to see Cornwall as anything other than a local government unit and viewing “devolution” as limited accommodations with Cornwall Council, adding it was actually a form of “business as usual,” rather than meaningful democratic change.
Party members at the MK Conference:
– Condemned the UK Government for refusing to treat Cornwall as one of the nations of the United Kingdom and seeking to impose an inadequate local government “county deal;”
– Reaffirmed MK’s view that Cornwall merits devolution parity with Scotland and Wales, through the creation of a Cornish Parliament;
– Mandated MK councillors on the unitary authority to argue for a Cornish Parliament during upcoming discussions on the “county deal,” and
– Challenged other political parties to participate in a “national conversation” about meaningful devolution for Cornwall.
In addition, MK members voted to oppose the proposed imposition of a “local government mayor” on Cornwall Council.
The policy document “Towards a Cornish Parliament” will underpin MK’s ongoing campaign for greater self-government.
