‘Proud to bring G7 leaders to Cornwall’
BORIS Johnson says his pride at being Britain’s first half-Cornish Prime Minister had a bearing on his choice of venue for this year’s G7 summit.
Writing in today’s Western Morning News, Mr Johnson – whose father, Stanley, was born in Penzance – says there were many very good reasons for selecting the West Cornwall resort of Carbis Bay for the gathering of major global leaders from June 11. But he jokingly adds: “And it has nothing – OK, only a little – to do with my own pride in being probably the first halfCornish Prime Minister.”
Mr Johnson says he “cannot think of a better venue” for a meeting of the world’s most powerful leaders, who will all be working to build a better, greener world after the coronavirus pandemic.
He writes: “Both of these ambitions are summed up in Cornwall, where the UK’s renewable energy industry and conservation projects point the way to a green industrial future, and where Newquay spaceport and Goonhilly Earth Station showcase the best of British technology.”
He said the G7 would help to “spur Cornwall’s recovery from Covid”, boosting visitors to the county and injecting an estimated £50 million into the local economy.
The leaders of the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the EU, plus guests from Australia and South Korea, will attend the summit.
VERSAILLES, Houston, Genoa, Tokyo. The annual summit of the world’s seven richest democracies has always taken place in a cultural or economic powerhouse.
This year, the United Kingdom assumes the presidency of the G7 and it fell to me to select the location of the 2021 summit. My duty was to ponder long and hard and decide which British name should be added to the roll of honour.
One benefit of the UK’s seat at all the world’s top tables is that we can bring vital international events to every home nation. You will remember that NATO gathered in Wales in 2014, the G8 met in Northern Ireland in 2013, and this year’s climate change conference, COP26, will be held in Glasgow.
So I am delighted to announce that I have chosen Cornwall for the G7 summit. In June, the new President of the
United States, the Chancellor of Germany, the President of France and the Prime Ministers of Japan, Italy and Canada will assemble at my invitation in Carbis Bay.
I cannot think of a better venue for a gathering of the world’s most powerful leaders. It is not simply that they will be entranced by the majestic coastline of craggy cliffs and gentle coves. Nor is my choice solely explained by the fact that Cornish tin and copper powered the first industrial revolution, or that Cornish names are dotted across the maps of the G7’s two biggest members (Penzance, Arizona; Falmouth, Massachusetts; Cornwall, Ontario). And it has nothing – OK, only a little – to do with my own pride in being probably the first half-Cornish Prime Minister.
No, the reason why Carbis Bay is the obvious place is that all of the UK’s themes and priorities for our presidency of the G7 converge in Cornwall. As we revive the global economy after Covid, we want to help the world to build back better and greener.
Both of these ambitions are summed up in Cornwall, where the UK’s renewable energy industry and conservation projects point the way to a green industrial future, and where Newquay spaceport and Goonhilly Earth Station showcase the best of British technology.
This year’s summit will include even more countries with whom we share interests and values, because I have also invited the Prime Ministers of India and Australia and the President of South Korea to attend as guests. The ten world leaders who will meet at Carbis Bay jointly represent two out of every three inhabitants of the world’s democracies. Our gathering will also help to spur Cornwall’s recovery from Covid by attracting more visitors and injecting £50 million into the local economy. We shall work alongside local leaders to ensure the benefits last. So let’s look forward to a great occasion when Cornwall takes its rightful place on the proud list of locations of G7 summits.