Call for assembly after devolution deal dropped

FRESH calls have been made for Cornwall to have its own Cornish Assembly or Parliament, similar to those in Wales and Scotland.

A cross-party motion is set to go to a meeting of Cornwall Council next week requesting talks with Secretary of State Michael Gove to get “meaningful devolution” for Cornwall.

The motion, led by Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole, has been put forward following the decision by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet to abandon plans to secure a Level 3 devolution deal, which required a directly elected Mayor to lead the authority.

Council leader Linda Taylor announced the decision to drop the bid last week, after public consultation found 69% of people were against the idea.

The council’s Cabinet last week agreed that it would no longer seek a Level 3 deal but instead start negotiations with the Government to secure a Level 2 deal, which would not require a mayor, and try to secure as many of the elements of the Level 3 deal as possible. The Government has already stated that a £360million investment fund which was in the Level 3 deal would not be available under a Level 2 deal.

Cllr Cole has been an outspoken critic of the proposals which had been considered by the council, saying that they were not true devolution and that the authority should have been pressing for far greater powers, responsibilities and funding to be devolved to Cornwall from Westminster.

In the recommendation to full council which will be presented at the meeting on Tuesday, it states: “In 2014, the UK Government recognised the Cornish as a national minority through the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It pledged that the Cornish would have the “same status as the UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.” This was a wide-ranging commitment from the UK state, covering culture, language, heritage, education, territorial integrity and public life.

“We, the undersigned, are therefore disappointed at the content of the ‘devolution deal’, which principally represents accommodations between central government and Cornwall’s unitary authority, rather than a meaningful devolution settlement as achieved in Wales and Scotland.

“Cornwall Council resolves to inform the UK Government that we wish to commence negotiations for a more meaningful devolution settlement similar to those enjoyed in the other Celtic parts of the UK (i.e. a National Assembly of Cornwall or Cornish Parliament).

“Cornwall Council also resolves to request a meeting between the Secretary of State and a cross-party delegation from Cornwall Council as a matter of urgency.”

The motion will be proposed by Cllr Cole and seconded by Loveday Jenkin of Mebyon Kernow. It has also been signed and supported by some independent councillors and a number of members from across the spectrum of political parties.

A report in response to the motion states that if approved it could have financial, legal and constitutional implications for the council, saying: “The reference to a ‘National Assembly of Cornwall or Cornish Parliament’ would have significant legal and constitutional implications, given it raises questions about the future of Cornwall Council in such a new constitutional settlement.”