Kernow/Cornwall: Mebyon Kernow Annual meeting
Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall (MK), held its annual conference in Bodmin, Cornwall this weekend (21st November 2009).
At the conference - the first since elections to the new unitary authority - the work over the last year by MK was also discussed, including the successes of the European and unitary authority elections. The work of MK's three new Cornwall councillors was outlined and some of the challenges and opportunities that they face on the new council. Delegates were also urged to consider standing for the next unitary authority elections in three years time. Several amendments were made to the constitution of MK, including the addition of a permanent representative on the national executive of a member of the European Free Alliance – MK's European partner organisation.
It was pointed out by party leader, Dick Cole, that the new council was not so different to the old County Council in terms of power, but that there was in fact less democratic accountability. He pointed out that most of the important decisions are now taken by the ten cabinet members of the council (six conservative and four independent councillors). In addition to the usual conference business, MK's prospective parliamentary candidates (PPC) presented themselves and took questions from the floor.
Also at the conference was the head of the campaigns unit of Welsh nationalist political party Plaid Cymru, Geraint Day, and Plaid campaigner Mark Jones, who had been invited to give a talk on political and strategic campaigning. Also from Wales was a representative from the Association of Plaid Councillors, John Taylor, who gave a talk on his own experiences of running as councillor in the Caerphilly borough.
Fraternal greetings were sent to conference delegates from the political director of the European Free Alliance (EFA), Gunter Dauwen.
About a hundred and fifty people attended the conference throughout the course of the day, including the League's general secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot.
See Celtic League TV site:
Links:
www.mebyonkernow.org
www.e-f-a.org
(Report by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
25/11/09
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