The online petition urging the “UK Government to formally recognize Cornwall as a nation … granting it equal status to Wales and Scotland” closed on 11th September and the mandarins at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published their official response.
It was emailed to all 24,011 individuals who backed the petition. I have spoken to a number of people who received the reply – which ignored the core demands of the ask – and my colleagues have variously described it as “very disappointing,” “tin-eared” and “plain offensive.”
It contained vague generalities about how “devolution is about moving power out of Westminster and back to those who know their areas best,” and how the UK Government recognises the “importance of cultural identities and regional voices.” Apparently, they remain “committed to ensuring effective devolution arrangements to serve the diverse needs of communities across the UK.”
But it then states that “Government does not plan to change Cornwall’s constitutional status” and goes on to reference their plans to create or impose “Strategic Authorities,” which they describe as a “number of councils working together over areas that people recognise and work in.” The statement notes that “Cornwall’s national minority status does not prevent it from partnering with neighbouring authorities,” adding that “this status” – which they are ignoring – “would be preserved in any future devolution arrangement.” But national minority status is not just about culture and language; it is also about public life, territory and governance.
On 16 September, the committee stage of English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill got underway. And thanks to the one Cornish MP who has been appointed to the Committee (Perran Moon), Cornwall got quite a few mentions but the response from the new Minister was predictably confused
Miatta Fahnbulleh (who has taken over from the sacked Jim MacMahon) started by stating the “UK Government absolutely recognise Cornwall’s national minority status” and “we recognise the uniqueness of Cornwall and are trying to operate within that framework.” But she want onto talk about “strategic authorities” and said the “conversation that we want to have with Cornwall is: If you want to drive growth and employment opportunities, and if you want to create jobs in your area, what is the best geography to do that in?” My answer that is a simple one – I want devolution on a Cornwall footprint. But it is clear that the Minister is assuming that Cornwall will be submerged into for a larger “regional” construct including part of SW England. She even said that this “is not to deny Cornwall’s uniqueness and specialness …” What errant nonsense.
Article by Cllr Dick Cole published in the Cornish Guardian (24th September 2025) and West Briton (25th September 2025).