Beach Ices at Praa Sands
Ice meeting the sand at the base of the low cliff behind Praa Sands Beach, West Cornwall. 6th January 2009....
Icicles at Trewellard Bottoms
Water seeping through a wall is turned to icicles, ate Trewellard Bottoms, where Geevor Mine meets the sea....
Winter Sunset at Levant
A late afternoon scene, at Levant Mine, West Cornwall. 7th January 2009....
Winter at Levant
The old electricity generator building, at Levant Mine, West Cornwall, during the recent cold snap. 7th Jnauary 2009....
Does anyone agree that, with the reorganisation of local authorities imminent, now should be the time to agitate strongly for an assembly for Cornwall before the county council hijacks the process?
Why seven? Your lucky number? OK, I'll do the best I can, but I don't think I'm going to make seven of each.
For: (These are my opinion): 1: Cornwall was originally a separate entity, was wrongfully incorporated into the UK "on the nod". There is no, as far as I am aware, legal bar to it being separate again.
2: The county, as a county, is woefully run. In the 30 years since I have been affiliated with Cornwall, I have seen it become progressively run down. This is due, in no small part, to the fact it is administered from London.
People in London can not possibly begin to understand the problems of rural county like Cornwall. Therefore, it must be administered by a body which understand local issues.
3. This probably leads on from "2", but anyway: It is my belief that as long as Cornwall benefits from tourism, giving the area a patina of well-being, however false, the Government will not invest serious money in the county. Cornwall needs and deserves good, sustainable jobs outside of tourism. An assembly focused on purely Cornwall will be able to (I hope) attract investment to provide employment.
4. As an aside to that, I also believe that an Assembly should have the right to decide where some of that tourism money is invested. Back into the county would be nice.
4: Cornwall is treated with contempt by some outside bodies. The recently-announced plan to dump rubbish from Plymouth in Liskeard is one such example. Would an Assembly allow that to happen without a thorough inquiry. I don't think so.
I'm not going to make seven "fors" - though I expect others on this forum will be able to fill in the gaps.
As for seven "againsts" - I have only one major fear, and that is that a Cornish Assembly would turn out to be an inward-looking, unprofessional, nit-picking, do-nothing body that makes Cornwall into either a laughing-stock or a bigger muddle than it is right now.
If there WAS a Cornish Assembly, you can bet your bottom dollar that the people who are the main players on Cornwall County Council NOW would be the people on the Cornish Assembly.
The same people would stand, and the same voters would elect them.
What would make a difference would be if there were greater devolved powers of self administration. Without that it would just be a 'pat on the head' for Cornwall.
As bizarre as it must seem, I admit that, for once, I agree entirely with Coady on this one!
We don't have a sufficiently developed Cornish political structure for such a referendum to reflect genuine Cornish political concerns. All the current LibDems, Tories and Labour MPs and councillors must telephone London for instructions before they can get out of bed every morning.
At least in Scotland and Wales they have developed regional political parties, i.e. Scottish and Welsh Labour.
All poor old Cornwall can muster is English Labour, English Tory and English LibDem!
Finally, as I have stated on other forums, why on Earth should anyone want to belittle the status and standing of the structures that exist, by petitioning for an Assembly that nobody in Westminster will EVER sanction? Why not petition for the institutions that we still have a legal and constitutional right to maintain?
It's almost equally as bizarre as me agreeing with Coady!!
Am I missing something here because that is exactly what a devolved Cornish Assembly would have and what we've shouting about for years, have a massive petition for and a Mori Poll showing huge support?
Some of them would be, I'm sure but it would be up to us who we vote in. From what I've seen, some of the present lot would be most welcome. They're not all tied to major parties.
Anything extra gained in law to strengthen or facilitate the above situation would be most welcome and hopefully impervious to any change in Central Government
Because as I've mentioned on other threads, 'justice' is subject to those who are currently issuing it; the powers-that-be are not existing under a system of objective justice. Is it really more productive to shout historical injustice at Westminster's door, or to at least use words like 'Assembly' which they do recognise in a contemporary political sense?
Should we, infact, say that neither of the above propositions may come into fruition? Will that make some of us more content? If we abandon notions of a Cornish Assembly for the reasons you suggest (and I do take onboard your comments concerning the poor state of development of the Cornish political structure), we will have to divert a greater amount of attention to gaining EXTERNAL (outside the British political structure) pressure, support and petitioning for Kernow, and this will take tremendous effort and financing. There is little hope that the British political system will listen to our cries of historical injustice if we are using this as the communique. There are simply no ears currently open to historical political debates. Does this mean we abandon such debates; of course not, but we can't believe that it's the case that Westminster simply hasn't read its history books, or simply puts its fingers in its ears every time the words 'Cornish Independence' are mentioned.
I don't altogether disagree with what you are saying, but I still maintain that battles have to be fought on the ground in which the war is waging, if there is any amount of possible progress to be made. And as I have also said on another thread, how long do we witness Kernow's worsening situation whilst waiting for some opportune time to claim historical injustice when a Westminster politician is actually listening?
Perhaps talk of a contemporary Assembly is not reflective of a true state of justice for Kernow, but it opens the path to - at the very least - an acknowledgement that Kernow is politically different and deserving of its difference. Right now we have little more than nothing. But then again perhaps we're all dreaming as the English Nationalists say? Overall, a very bleak picture if there's little hope for much of anything.
Absolutely. Politicians will ignore historical injustice and will tell you to move on. Or issue some kind of fatuous apology for the sins their ancestors committed, which amounts, in my view, to same sort of value to a pat on the head.
Then develop one. Surely to God there are enough potential candidates out there with at least a working knowledge of Cornish politics.
Are people in Cornwall really that sheep-like that they would vote for the mainstream parties if there were genuine alternative Cornish candidates?
If that is the case, I really don't see the point in this discussion.
Most people in Cornwall - if they vote at all - vote Tory, Labour, or Lib-Dem in General Elections because they do not see a local alternative, such as an MK candidate, as anything more than a wasted vote.
As I've pointed out before, if people are voting for their own assembly, on Cornish issues, there is no need to vote for a candidate reporting to Westminster. Because they wouldn't be reporting to Westminster.
Not necessarily. The political context would change enough to potentially bring new opportunities and new voting behaviour..... if the Cornish people so-desired.
Agreed. Maybe I'm going to be accused of wishful thinking - probably rightly - but with an assembly up and running, Cornwall's got some bargaining power, some political clout.
What has she got at the moment? With due respect, she's got MPs who have to toe the party line and a county council which has got absolutely no influence in London.
PIC and HRFC - I don't wish to belittle your beliefs for which I do have a great deal of respect and sympathy.
However, you both seem unwilling to accept the fundamental reason why Cornwall is currently languishing in the doldrums.
Firstly, the Duchy of Cornwall was established by Charter to provide an income to the heir to the throne idependent from the English barons (now the UK tax-payer).
Secondly, the requirement that the Duchy of Cornwall maximises its profits under the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act. The special department of the Treasury that is responsible for this "private" estate's financial affairs strictly adheres to the Management Act.
Thirdly, 600 years of suppression has served England, then the UK, well.
Do you not see the picture yet?
If not, I shall attempt an explanation.
Any petition for an assembly that does not take into account the above important factors can, and will, be resisted fully by the government. In fact, all such exercises are doomed to failure. This has already been the case with the last petition supported by over 10% of the population of Cornwall (consistent with Blairs ioriginal demand) which was dismissed with no cogent explanation. More worryingly for me is that those people concerned with the last petition lacked the will to challenge Precott's decision by judicial review and I see no reason why my opinion will change, bearing in mind what can be read on this forum and bearing in mind that the very same people are involved this time round. No, it does not look good from here!
Does nobody wonder why our children do not receive an adequate education into their Cornish history, including the special relationship of Cornwall with the heir to the throne? The reason is simple, the state does not want too many knowledgeable people asking too many questions and CHALLENGING these feudal impositions on the Cornish people. The income of the heir to the throne, obtained by feudal discriminatory means must be maximised and the means by which this is achieved, must be covered up at all costs! Even the most insignificant of recognition would be regarded as a threat to the integrity of the special profit provisions of the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act.
This is also why in Cornwall we have a press and media that is meekly acquiescent to the will of their political masters. No problem here when pasties, clotted cream and "pixies" are involved - they don't represent a challenge to the authority of the state and the Duke of Cornwall. The reality of all the lying, cheating, swindling and covering up the discrimination, now that's a very different matter and the press will definitely not be printing about that!
It seems to me that these perplexing Duchy factors are why, so far, the Cornish have been excluded from the provisions of the FCPNM. The Cornish question and the Duchy of Cornwall are what has caused the unacceptable delay in the UK's Compliance Report. 2 1/2 years late in fulfilling the terms of an international treaty obligation - shows how much they are worried about the Council of Europe and human rights! If this doesn't cause them to lose sleep, how worried are they about a petition for a Cornish Assembly that doesn't even bother with the biggest weapon in the armoury! If the Duke wished for us to be recognised, he would only need to snap his fingers! Why does he not perform this simple task? Answer, he does not want to compromise his vast profit making enterprise, an enterprise which is backed up by the lack of a written constitution which British people have not been told is a royal, unwritten constitution.
Cornwall is the only objective one region in which the funding award is managed outside the region. I wonder why? I wonder why the Duchy of Cornwall is both advisor to aspects of the Objective One programme and also a beneficiary? Bearing in mind the stipulations of the Duchy of Cornwall Management Act, blind eyes are turned on how the Duchy maximises its profits and nobody bothers with even a suspicion of bias in the decision-making process.
All of these things, if brought to court in a well-constructed legal challenge can and will be defeated by an English kangaroo court which does not recognise the principle of equality before the law. Here, all the major players, apart from the plaintiff, will have sworn oaths of allegiance to the Crown and the state will be able to control matters to its satisfaction - just look at what happened in the English heritage case a few years ago.
Therefore, I don't think this lot will be too worried about acceeding to the wishes of even 100% of the Cornish population. That is undoubtedly a great shame. That notwithstanding, it would be much, much better if Cornish people, having recognised the biggest problem holding back progress, could channel their energy and hard-earned cash effectively and efficiently by resolutely challenging the injustices in fair, unbiased international courts of law, free from oaths of allegiance to royalty.
To, to cut a long story short....
It is absolutely essential for those who wish to see improvements politically, democratically and financially etc, to recognise the problem. Failure to recognise and take into account these factors will lead to an inevitable end-result - total failure.
By recognising the problem and challenging it, the government faces a completely different ball game. It is forced on to the back foot into a situation (unlike with petitions for assemblies etc) that it cannot control since international institutions are involved.
That is the only way forward, if we are to obtain the improvements to our rights, human and democratic, that we legitimately aspire towards.
Rise in county's road death toll
The number of people who have died on Cornwall's roads rises in the last year to 35, police say.
Film con man ordered to pay £100K
The man who swindled almost £2m in a film studio scam is ordered to forfeit £100,000 by a judge.
Triplets survive against the odds
A woman from Cornwall who gave birth to triplets 14 weeks early describes their survival as a "miracle".
Call for inquiry into fire centre
Fire chiefs demand a public inquiry into the delayed opening of the regional fire control centre.
Prison sentence for benefit cheat
A man who admitted swindling more than £51,000 in benefits over a six-year period is jailed for 18 months.
Divers face trial over shipwreck
Three Cornish divers accused of plundering a shipwreck off the coast of Spain are to be tried in a Spanish court.
‘NO’ TO NUCLEAR WASTE IN CORNWALL - MPs
Proposals to bring nuclear waste to Cornwall have been described as ‘absurd and irresponsible’ by Cornish MPs.
Route Partnership Plan for Penzance unnecessary
Their plan having been rejected by the public in the final exhibition in Septmber with 90% against the Route Partnership have decided to try again in mid January after a mailout and poster campaign.The Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of this campaign.
