Funding for Cornish Cut with immediate effect

News from the Celtic League

The Westminster Government has written to Lys Kernow/Cornwall Council to say that funding for the Cornish language has been cut to zero with immediate effect.

In the letter from the Department of Communities and Local Government, Lys Kernow was told that the central government department would provide no further funding for the language. The decision comes as a shock to the Cornish language community, who were expecting an announcement this month that the funding would continue as it has since the language was officially recognised by the Westminster Government in 2002 and included under the terms of the European Charter for Regional and/or Minority Languages.

There were however recent concerns among some language activists that the Westminster Government would finally decide to withdraw funding for the language, as part of its general austerity cuts and especially after it looked likely to happen in 2015. Nevertheless the content of the letter was still disappointing to many. Rumours from Lys Kernow were that Councillors were quietly optimistic that funding would continue and Julian German, the council’s Cabinet member for economy and culture, criticised the decision saying:

?The Cornish language is a great source of pride for Cornwall and is part of what makes Cornwall and the Cornish unique.

“Over the last five years use of the language has increased and this is reflected in street names, signage and on mainstream and social media. Just as importantly, it supports our local and visitor economy as the increase in the use of the language in marketing and tourism has proved.

“The Government’s decision not to support Cornish with any funding whatsoever goes against the international agreements they have signed up to and that makes no sense at all. Cornwall has received funding from Government for a number of years and all we asked for was to continue at this level of funding.?

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