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Senior Liberal Democrat reveals ‘secret discussions’ with Minister about Cornish

“Bulk of the regions are ridiculous!� says Liberal Democrat regions spokesman. “None of the official regional boundaries in the South reflect peoples’ perceptions of their region.� (Ed Davey MP at LD conference)

Liberal Democrat front bench spokesman on regional affairs, Ed Davey MP, revealed to the Liberal Democrat conference at Bournemouth that he has been involved in secret discussions with the Secretary of State for Local Government, Fire and the regions, Nick Raynsford MP. Mr Davey said that Mr Raynsford had admitted to him that the boundaries of England’s southern regions would be rejigged so that people could identify with them more easily.

He said: “The Government believes it risks losing referendums on assemblies in regions such as the East of England. The region, which currently includes home counties such as Hertfordshire, fails to meet people’s perceptions of the traditional region of East Anglia. Another region, the South West, takes in the duchy of Cornwall, many of whose residents would like to have their own assembly�.

The remarks, reported in the journal Regeneration and Renewal**, follow the recent hearings of the ODPM Select Committee which was examining the forthcoming draft Regional Assemblies Bill. Both the Cornish Constitutional Convention and Cornwall County Council submitted evidence calling on the government to establish a way of varying the number of regions.

Last week the Labour group on Cornwall County Council voted to support calls for a referendum in Cornwall on a regional assembly for Cornwall.

Convention Chairman and leading campaigner, Bert Biscoe, expressed delight at Mr Davey’s remarks:

We have known for two years that the Minister is concerned about the composition of regions in the South. It would be appalling if democratic regional assemblies were created in the north and Midlands but that the South missed out because people don’t identify with artificial regions. It is also helpful to know from Ed Davey that the Cornish regional assembly is in the forefront of the debate about future regional arrangements.

People in Cornwall know that, if we are to achieve a sustainable economic future, then Cornwall needs to operate and to trade as a region. This will enhance our ability to form productive partnerships with other regions, to promote Cornish goods and products, and to compete as an intelligent, confident and peripheral at the Centre for resources and good policy. It is good to know that this message is getting through to the Government.
Contact Bert Biscoe 01872 242293