As many of you may know, Cornwall was barred recently from attending the British-Irish Council conference on minority languages, making it the only historic nation to be deliberately excluded. There has also been a resumption of the policy of applying pressure on Cornwall to be further submerged into a Southwest England authority. Both of which are problematic, not least because reneges on the UK’s committment through two binding international treaties to treat Cornwall and the Cornish justly and not undermine territorial integrity or identity.
However, it’s not just Cornwall that is at the receiving end of a rough-handed policy, though. John Denham (Labourlist) is pretty scathing of the new government’s approach (here), although the BBC attempts to put an positive spin on the proceedings of the first regions and nations session (here), which now includes combined authorities as well as the national assemblies.
Since the Cornish are a recognised national minority, inclusion as part of the British-Irish Council should be non-negotiable, but it seems that someone at the centre of government has decided Cornwall must be forced into a new arrangement. It seems odd that the new Labour government might follow the practice of the previous administration by deliberately disciminating against the Cornish. Cornish organisations need to be ready to challenge the new government if necessary and seek to hold them to account.
Andrew Climo
Andrew Climo is a Cornish Democracy researcher, historian, analyst, community facilitator and Higher Education consultant.