CORNWALL AND NATIONALISM - DEBATE ON BBC
A long awaited debate on the Cornwall and Cornish nationalism was aired on BBC Radio Cornwall yesterday with three well known and respected guests from Cornwall's academic, political and cultural world.
The two hour debate was aired live on the popular lunch time Lawrence Reed Show and some of the topics covered included Cornish identity, Cornwall's Constitutional and political status and the campaign for greater self government. The guests on the show were John Angarrack, Historian, author and Director of Cornwall 2000; Dick Cole leader of Mebyon Kernow and Phillip Payton from the Institute of Cornish studies. The show also invited listeners to phone in to pose questions to the panel and to express their opinion on the issues discussed.
BBC Radio Cornwall journalists also went out on the streets of Truro to ask the general public their views about Cornish identity, whether Cornish history and language should be taught in Cornish schools and if Cornwall could be independent.
In the past BBC Radio Cornwall has been heavily criticised by Cornish and Celtic campaigners for not portraying an accurate picture of Cornwall's true political and constitutional status, by consistently calling Cornwall an English County and a part of England, while virtually completely ignoring its Celtic identity.
At its 2006 AGM in Breizh/Brittany, the Celtic League unanimously adopted a resolution calling for UK television and radio companies to recognise Cornwall's distinct status and Celtic identity:
"This AGM calls upon the UK television and radio companies to ensure that Cornwall is not erroneously referred to as an English county, but rather recognise its distinct status and Celtic identity."
The full debate can acessed on the link below:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 13/12/08
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