Government of Cornwall Bill Provokes Debate
"Constitutionally, Cornwall has the right to a level of self-government. If the Government is going to recognise the right of Scotland and Wales to greater self-determination because of their unique cultural and political positions, then they should recognise ours."
These were the words of a Member of the Westminster Parliament for Cornwall, Dan Rogerson, ahead of his presentation of a parliamentary bill of law in the House of Commons earlier this month. According to Mr Rogerson, the `Government of Cornwall Bill' - presented to the House of Commons for its first reading on 14th July - intends to give Cornwall greater responsibility in areas such as agriculture, heritage, education, housing and economic sustainability. The MP said that he hopes the bill will "demonstrate to the House of Commons that there is a political and social will for Cornwall to be recognised as its own nation".
The leader of Cornwall's nationalist party however, Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, has argued that the bill is flawed and contains some fundamental errors. Councillor Dick Cole said that the bill:
"…fails to understand or make any distinctions between regional government for Cornwall and local government". Cllr. Cole goes on to suggest that Mr Rogerson is mistaken to think that Cornwall Council could have all the powers of the Welsh Assembly transferred to it and still continue as a local council, adding that:
"The reality is that Cornwall's new unitary authority is a local government body – no different in legal terms, for example, to the 22 unitary councils which operate in Wales beneath the Welsh Assembly."
The introduction of the bill comes just four months after Cornwall changed its administrative status from a `county' to a `single unitary authority' council in a move that was largely unpopular among the Cornish electorate, but strongly supported by the Liberal Democrat led council at the time. In support of his bill, Mr Rogerston - who is also a Liberal Democrat - argued:
"I believe strongly that Cornwall should re-assert its rightful place within the United Kingdom,"
"Cornwall is a unique part of the country, and this should be reflected in the way that it is governed.
"We should have the right to determine areas of policy that affect the people of Cornwall…"
Despite being administered politically as an English council and in addition to its place as one of the six Celtic nations, Cornwall also has a distinct constitutional status as a Duchy, giving it an array of unique legal and political rights that have not been exercised to their full extent in living memory, but are arguably - and for the most part - still valid. This latter fact alone should be enough for Cornwall to be given special administrative powers by Westminster along the lines of the Welsh assembly. This was recognised to an extent earlier this year when the British Irish Council voted for Cornwall to have observer status at meetings on the request of the Welsh Minister for Heritage Alun Ffred Jones.
The Government of Cornwall bill was read for the first time on 14th July and will be read for the second time on Friday 16 October (Bill 132). The full text of the bill can be found at the link below:
(Article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
24/07/09
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