Just some of the Cornish Team (with Alba's Ray Bell) from the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League (An Kesunyans Keltek Scoren Kernewek) who attended the St. David's Day procession and events in Cardiff, Cymru (Wales) following the invitation received from the Civic Authorities of that city. An estimated 7,000 people took part in the procession alone and there were supporters and participants from all the Celtic Nations.

(Click above thumbnail for larger map)

Main Nationalist Party:

Mebyon Kernow (Cornish for "Sons of Cornwall", often abbrieviated MK)

http://www.mebyonkernow.org

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Representation: Since 11 November 2004, there have been four MK councillors on Kerrier District Council, along with one in Restormel (the party leader Dick Cole) and one in North Cornwall (John Bolitho). One of the MK councillors in Kerrier, Loveday Jenkin, joined the district council government in 2005.

Introduction

The Cornish self-government movement (sometimes referred to as Cornish nationalism) is a social movement which seeks greater autonomy for the area of Cornwall. The movement's advocates argue that Cornwall is not merely a county of England (which is its current legal status) but a duchy and a distinctive nation which has never been formally incorporated into England via an Act of Union. Supporters of Cornish self-government who assert that Cornwall is, or ought to be, a separate legal entity from England do not all necessarily advocate full independence from the United Kingdom (though some do) but they do all seek at least official recognition for Cornwall as one of the constituent countries or home nations of the UK and some form of devolved Government.

Some supporters of Cornish self-government question the legal legitimacy of English rule in Cornwall, due to the failure of the former Parliament of England to ever pass an Act of Union, although their claims are not generally recognised within the United Kingdom (or sometimes within Cornwall itself). However, many see some degree of autonomy as a stepping stone towards this, and are supportive of the Cornish Assembly Campaign.

The Cornish independence movement received unexpected publicity in 2004, when the alternative Christmas message, (featuring The Simpsons) showed Lisa Simpson chanting Rydhsys rag Kernow lemmyn (freedom for Cornwall now) and holding a placard saying "UK OUT OF CORNWALL".

Political Parties and Pressure Groups

Mebyon Kernow is the key political party advocating greater Cornish home rule. Since 2004 Mebyon Kernow has been a member of the Europe-wide political group, the European Free Alliance (alongside the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru - Party of Wales), which has five Members of the European Parliament (two from the SNP, one from Plaid Cymru, one from the Republican Left of Catalonia and one Latvian MEP), and is part of the Greens/EFA group.

The Celtic League and Celtic Congress have a Cornish branch and recognises Cornwall as a Celtic Nation alongside Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales and Brittany. The league is a political pressure group that campaigns for Independence and Celtic co-operation.

The revived Cornish Stannary Parliament acts as a pressure group on Cornish constitutional and cultural issues. The websites of the CSP provides an over view of their main points and current campaigns. The CSP has one of its members in the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN).

In 1977 the Plaid Cymru MP Dafydd Wigley in Parliament asked the Attorney General for England and Wales if he would provide the date upon which enactments of the Charter of Pardon were rescinded. The reply, received on 14th May 1977, stated that a Stannator's right to veto Westminster legislation had never been formally withdrawn.

Cornish Solidarity are a non-partisan political pressure group that calls for the recognition of the ethnic Cornish as a national minority.

John Angarrack of Cornwall 2000, the Human Rights organisation, has written two books to date, Breaking the Chains and Our Future is History. They detail many of the core issues of the Cornish national movement as well as a re-examination of Cornish history.

Tyr Gwyr Gweryn (Cornish for land, truth, people) was originally a focus group formed out of members of 'Cowethas Flamank', a Cornish affairs group, and participants in Kescusulyans Kernow (Conference on Cornwall) having a special interest in the constitution of Cornwall.

History of the Cornish self-government movement

Henry Jenner was an important figure in early 20th-century Cornish national awareness. He made the case for Cornwall's membership in the Celtic Congress, pioneered the movement to revive the Cornish language, and founded the Cornish Gorseth.

Traditionally, much support to Cornish self-government has come from supporters of Welsh self-government, who have often seen the Cornish as their Brythonic Celtic kindred. For example, Mebyon Kernow has a twinning arrangement with the Blaenau Gwent branch of Plaid Cymru.

Some intellectual support for Cornish self-government has come from the Institute of Cornish Studies, affiliated to the University of Exeter.

In 2000, the Cornish Constitutional Convention launched a campaign for a Cornish Assembly. This was a cross-party movement representing many political voices and positions in Cornwall, from Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Solidarity to the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. It collected over 50,000 petition signatures.

Cornwall County Council commissioned an opinion poll by MORI on this subject. The poll was conducted in February 2003 and showed 55% of the Cornish public in favour of an assembly.

A distinct culture/ethnicity?

Many supporters will, in addition to making legal or constitutional arguments, stress that the Cornish are a distinct ethnic group or nation, that people in Cornwall typically refer to 'England' as beginning east of the Tamar, and that there is a Cornish language. If correct they argue the Cornish therefore have a right to national self determination. For further information on these topics, see Cornwall, Constitutional status of Cornwall, Cornish language, Culture of Cornwall, Cornish people etc.

Campaigners in 2001 for the first time prevailed upon the UK census to count Cornish ethnicity as a write-in option on the national census, although there was no separate Cornish tick box. In 2004 school children in Cornwall could also record their ethnicity as Cornish on the schools census. Additionally, the Council of Europe has been applying increasing pressure on the UK government to recognise the Cornish for protection under the Council's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

In the world of Cornish sport also can be found expressions of Cornish national identity. In 2004 a campaign was started to field a Cornish national team in the 2006 commonwealth games.

County or Country?

Some supporters of self-government argue that the de facto constitutional status of Cornwall is a Duchy and country and therefore not a county of England, the Duchy of Cornwall and current UK government deny this claim. Supporters of self-government often point to a lack of cooperation shown by the Duchy of Cornwall authorities when requests are made for an investigation of constitutional issues. In 1997 the Liberal Democrat Andrew George MP attempted to raise a Duchy related question, he was prevented by an injunction that disallows MPs raising any questions in Parliament that are in any way related to the Duchy. At the time he was told it was a "restricted action"; to raise such a Duchy related question might "cast reflections on the sovereign or the royal family" and that there was a "similar injunction on speeches".

Mebyon Kernow state:

Cornwall has a well developed and unique identity, grounded in its culture, language, traditions, history and distinct constitutional position. This forms the bedrock of the growing support for greater Cornish self-government. Cornwall is one of the six Celtic nations; the others being Brittany, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales. These five nations are becoming more confident in their own identities - Ireland is pushing its case at the centre of Europe while Wales and Scotland have won their own assembly and parliament.

They are using their identities as strong political tools - to deliver greater democracy to their people, strengthen their local economies and give them a confidence for the future. Cornwall meanwhile suffers because central government refuses to accept Cornwall as an entity in its own right. Cornish institutions are linked to those of Devon and the wider south west, destroying our identity and damaging our economy.

Our identity could be our greatest asset, nourishing a real sense of place and purpose, providing a unifying element for the whole population of Cornwall. But this identity must be supported and reinforced. The London-based parties (Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats) have failed Cornwall. They have collectively tied Cornwall into south west bodies where our Cornish voice is submerged, they have imposed ill-conceived and unsustainable policies that take no account of the unique nature of Cornwall and refused to devolve political and economic power to our nation.

We must send unambiguous signals to Westminster and Brussels. We must take every chance to make the Cornish case - loudly and consistently – and to demand the decoupling of the institutional merger with parts of SW England. Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall believes that we have a duty to future generations to foster our distinct identity and cultural traditions.

The Cornish language (Kernewek) is the most obvious example of the identity of Cornwall and it must be available to all who want to learn it. Although covered by the Council of Europe’s Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, appropriate levels of government investment in the language’s future has not been forthcoming. MK remains the only political party committed to investment in our national language, both for the training of language teachers and the provision of courses for all ages. Mebyon Kernow is also committed to a National Curriculum for Cornwall, that ensures subjects such as Cornish history, culture and language are taught in all local schools.

Highly recommended:

Mebyon Kernow & Cornish Nationalism

by Bernard Deacon, Dick Cole and Garry Tregidga

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall has been at the forefront of the campaign for Cornish self-government for over 50 years. Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism is the first book to fully address the issue of political nationalism in Cornwall. It traces the growth of a Cornish national consciousness throughout the twentieth century, the foundation of MK in 1951 and its evolution from a cultural pressure group into a fully-fledged political party. Buy here

"..fascinating and detailed...in providing the first and long-awaited definitive academic study of Mebyon Kernow and its position in the wider Cornish movement, this timely book provides a valuable addition both to the growing literature on European sub-state nationalist movements."

Adrian Lee, Cornish Studies

'For anyone with an interest in Cornish politics, Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism is a must for the shelf. It's an enlightening read and refreshingly frank and candid'

Cornish World

'an altogether engaging, inspiring and rousing read'

Western Morning News

This book … is a timely and significant contribution to our understanding of the political diversity of the modern British State

Professor Philip Payton, Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies

This book will fill a much needed place on the shelves of every Cornish bookshop and library and also be of great interest to students of European regionalist and nationalist movements.

Dr Ronald Perry, formally Head of Business Studies, Cornwall College

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall has been at the forefront of the campaign for Cornish self-government for over 50 years. Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism is the first book to fully address the issue of political nationalism in Cornwall. It traces the growth of a Cornish national consciousness throughout the twentieth century, the foundation of MK in 1951 and its evolution from a cultural pressure group into a fully-fledged political party.

Based on a range of primary sources and a number of interviews, this book investigates Mebyon Kernow’s role within the wider Cornish movement, which also generated two breakaway political parties, a revived medieval institution of self-government, a range of short-lived pressure groups and, most recently, 50,000 individual declarations calling for a Cornish Assembly

Bernard Deacon is a Lecturer in Cornish Studies in the University of Exeter's Department of Lifelong Learning. Dr Garry Tregidga is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies and Project Director of the Cornish Audio Visual Archive (CAVA) as well as the chairman of the Cornish History Network. Dick Cole is the Party Leader of Mebyon Kernow - the Party for Cornwall.

KERNOW - CONSERVATIVES PLEDGE TO 'LISTEN TO LOCAL CONCERNS'

The Conservative Party have certainly been trying to shake off their Unionist image in Wales since the appointment of Conservative Leader David Cameron and have adopted policies that have aimed to win Welsh voters, who are now increasingly identifying themselves as Welsh rather than British. Now the Conservatives are turning to another Celtic country in an attempt to woo back some of their support that has been dramatically eroded over the last ten years.

Recently it was announced that the Conservatives have appointed a Shadow Minister for Cornwall with the prospect of creating a Ministry of Cornish Affairs, in a move that has pre-empted the other London political parties and has picked up on the growing realisation by the Cornish movement that their demands have been ignored for too long.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Hereford and Stortford, Mark Prisk, who is originally from the Redruth/Camborne region of Cornwall, was appointed by Mr Cameron, for his strong links to the country. Mr Cameron said:

"I want to ensure that Cornwall's concerns are at the heart of Conservative thinking. So I'm appointing a Shadow Minister for Cornwall, someone who understands the Duchy and who can make sure that the voice of Cornwall is heard. As a Cornishman, Mark Prisk is ideally suited to this task."

Mr Prisk MP attended a special Conference in Cornwall's capital of Truro yesterday, along with the 5 prospective MP's who hope to gain seats at the next General Election (GE). Up until the 1997 General Election, the Conservatives could still expect the support of a sizable chunk of the Cornish electorate, especially in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency.

With the devolution process in full swing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the nationalist parties making up coalition Governments in each, drawing down increasing powers, the Cornish have felt their modest demand of a Cornish Assembly has fallen on deaf ears. Also the decision this week that the Labour Government in Westminster has approved the Liberal Democrat led Cornwall County Council application for Unitary Authority status, has done nothing for Lib Dem support in Cornwall. A Cornish Unitary Authority will make Cornwall into a single Council by effectively getting rid of the District Councils and bolstering the central 'County' authority. The Unitary Authority plan has been widely hailed as undemocratic and was against the wishes of the majority of the Cornish electorate who still want a Cornish Assembly. The five Liberal Democrat MP's who previously threw their support behind the campaign for a Cornish Assembly stood idly by and watched the less ambitious Lib Dem Councillors opt for local government reform instead.

It is highly likely that if the Conservatives display their 'Cornish credentials' leading up to the next GE, they could start to win back the Lib Dem unionist vote. In particular, the new constituency boundary changes that will come into force for the first time at the next General Election, could very well give the Conservatives a winning vote in the new constituency of Truro and Falmouth, especially in view of the fact that Matthew Taylor MP has confirmed he will not stand again.

The Conservative Party move signals a change of attitude to Cornwall and a reversion to a once almost forgotten stance. The new Minister for Cornish Affairs said on Wednesday: "As a Cornishman I'm delighted to have this chance to listen to local people's concerns and to help us develop Conservative policies which will give back to people in Cornwall far more say over their own lives"

Mr Prisk has not specified what he means by this, but it is unlikely that the Conservatives intend to champion the campaign for a Cornish Assembly. After the way the Lib Dems have acted it should be clear to the Cornish electorate that the only party that has been consistent in pushing for greater self government has been Cornwall's own nationalist party, Mebyon Kernow – the party for Cornwall.

This article was compiled for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot

CAMERON PRESSED ON CORNISH ISSUES BY CELTIC LEAGUE

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has congratulated British Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, following the establishment of a specific Ministerial post to cover Cornwall.

However Rhisiart Tal-e-bot has also directed a number of pointed questions to the Conservative leader about his parties attitude to a series of measures which would advance Cornish self-determination (see below).

Dear David Cameron MP

The Celtic League would like to congratulate you and your Party for taking the initiative of creating the Minister of Cornwall post and we look forward to other parties following your example. Cornwall has been neglected for too long by the main political parties and believe that a Ministry of Cornwall department would ensure that its distinct culture, identity, language and economy are treated more squarely with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Further to this development we are also interested to know what the position of the Conservative Party is regarding several other issues, stated below:

Will the Conservative Party be willing to support the establishment of a Cornish development Agency and if not, why?

What is the Conservative Party position on granting Cornwall Unitary Authority status?

Does the Conservative Party support the campaign for a Cornish Assembly and if not, why?

Many thanks for taking the time to consider these questions in full and we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary
Celtic league

CALL FOR CORNISH ASSEMBLY NOW!

North Cornwall District Councillors have backed a call for a directly elected Cornish Assembly. At the meeting of the full council on 10 July, councillors supported a motion calling for a Cornish Assembly with full regional and strategic powers.

Additionally the councillors have called for the establishment of a Cornish Development Agency to give direction to the regeneration of the local economy. Councillors said: "We call on central government to recognise the high level of support in Cornwall for a Cornish Assembly, to put democracy first and to organise a referendum for setting up of such a body."

Chair of the Council, Collin Brewer, said: "This is a different issue to the current debate about the structure of local government in Cornwall. We were reassured by recent statements of Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for the Department of Local Government and Communities on behalf of Government saying that it would not force a unitary structure on local government in two-tier counties such as Cornwall.

"This reinforces the view previously expressed by our members at a recent policy day where the consensus was that NCDC should actively support and explore increased opportunities for joint working and improving value for money in service delivery, rather than any wholesale structural change to local government in Cornwall.

The backing of North Cornwall District Council highlights the growing demand in Cornwall for a directly elected Assembly, since the Cornish Assembly campaign declaration, supported by over 50,000 people was presented to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in 2001.

Thanks to the Celtic League (mailing list) for this story.

Please sign this petition                   

http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box

The English and Welsh have been permitted a tick box option for the next Census 2011, but the government said recently that one of the original indigenous groups of these Isles, the Cornish, are to be refused. The government informs us that only 37,000 people claimed Cornish ethnicity at the last 2001 census (ie.stated they were not English or British) and that this number is "too small" to warrant a tick box as an ethnic group. The Cornish were allocated an ethnic code of '06' for the last census, however to claim to be Cornish you had to first deny being British, by crossing out the British option, and then write in Cornish in the 'others' box.

Additionally the decision to collect information on the Cornish identity was extremely badly publicised and most were unaware of the new code. How many more would have described themselves as Cornish if they did not have to deny being British or if there had been a Cornish tick box ? How many people knew that it was an option ? How many ticked British but feel themselves to be Cornish British?

The Cornish have been made  invisible in previous censuses by the UK government. They are an indigenous national minority of the United Kingdom, possessors of a recognised minority language of these islands under the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. If the UK government has made legal undertakings with the Council of Europe to take "resolute" action in support of the language, how on Earth is it going to measure its compliance with international legal obligations with respect both to this language and to the people associated with it, if it does not include relevant tick boxes in forthcoming censuses ?

There is a government ONS meeting (open to the public) at Cardiff City Hall on 16th March 2007 'to develop views on the content of the 2011 Census' and amongst others, the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League will be attending along with their Welsh brethren giving support.

Please pass this information on and help support the cause!

(Article by 'Free Kernow' posted to our forum)

Petitions, offer the Cornish some support

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to (1) reject Cornwall County Council's bid for unitary status; (2) affirm his support for the principle that political power should be exercised by democratically elected representatives at the most local competent level of government; and (3) introduce legislation to replace Cornwall County Council with a Cornish Assembly, which shall exercise (i) such residual powers as may not be devolved beneficially to lower tiers of government, and (ii) additional strategic powers devolved from central government, including those currently exercised by the South West Regional Assembly and other unelected quangos.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/cornishassembly/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to undertake to examine fully the unique constitutional position of Cornwall, in line with his recent statement on reform of the British Constitution. We welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to building trust in democracy and to empowering citizens and communities. We firmly believe the constitutional case for Cornwall provides strong arguments for a greater degree of Cornish devolution. This has as yet never been acknowledged. On this basis we would urge a thorough investigation of the distinctive constitutional status of Cornwall.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/UniqueCornwall/

Oll an gwella

Philip Hosking

CAMPAIGN FOR CORNISH CAMPAIGNER GAINS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

The campaign to clear the name of a Celtic League Cornwall/Kernow Branch member, arrested last September by the police in Falmouth, continues to gather support from around the world. The man (Tony Leamon) has shown great personal strength by remaining true to his beliefs and conviction despite continued interrogations from the police, an abnormally long police bail and failing physical health. He has also been continuing to work hard to build up the Branch of the League, which has now grown in membership to an all time high.

Offers of financial aid to support the Falmouth man's case have been flooding in, but have so far been refused. One Melbourne, Australia correspondent writes:  "Cornwall and the Cornish people have been the brunt of jokes, poor health, a weak economy and harassment by the public authorities for far too many years. I have read John Angarrack's book 'Our Future is History' and as an ex-pat Cornish man, my thoughts and those of my family are with you right now. Can we help you financially please?"

Another, from New Mexico, USA wrote:

"As an Irishman married to a Falmouth girl, my heart goes out to you. Stand firm against police harassment and remain a committed Cornish man. You are in our prayers."

Well wishers have also written to constituency MP Julia Goldsworthy, calling on her for support against the injustice.

The individual in question commented in a communication with the Celtic League:

"I cannot begin to say how important these messages of support from complete strangers are to me. I am guilty of nothing despite having my home invaded by heavily armed police officers who seized my computer, John Angarrack books and other possessions.

Despite becoming ill and receiving medical treatment as a result of this whole affair, I am grateful to my friends in the Celtic League as well as to those further afield.

I am also glad that the branch to which I belong right here in Cornwall is flourishing and continues to involve itself in a wide variety of human rights campaigns."

It is understood that Camborne & Falmouth M.P. Julia Goldsworthy has been in direct contact with the person subject of the arrest in order to offer assistance and that human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has expressed his interest in the matter.

Bodmin author and researcher, John Angarrack's controversial book 'Our Future is History' appears to have been seized by police officers during raids on other Cornish activists who are unconnected with the Celtic League. The book is readily available in most good book shops in Cornwall and has not yet been banned.

Read Current News about Cornwall.

See also:

• Mebyon Kernow
• The Campaign for a Cornish Assembly
• The Simpsons & Cornwall episode
• Tyr Gwyr Gweryn
• The Cornwall Tapes
• Celtic League
• Celtic Congress
• The Federal Union of European Nationalities
• http://www.cornishnotenglish.com/
• http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box
• http://cornwall-police-watch.blogspot.com/       Heavy handed police tactics in Cornwall.

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