"Devonwall" rears its ugly head again

[carrek]

It seems that the "Devonwall" project is facing the most opposition from within Cornwall ever seen.

If you have two and a half hours to spare, I highly recommend watching the webcast of the Constitutional Convention's 10 year anniversary, discussing the future of government in the Duchy, available here: http://tinyurl.com/2v5oqwq , with Kevin Lavery and Andrew George among the speakers.

The Council seems to be set on pushing for a Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, let's hope Devon business interests don't get their way and the government listens to the democratically elected councillors in the council.

There also seems to be huge opposition among councillors, MPs and the public to a Devonwall constituency. This might be a tougher fight against Nick Clegg and his smarmy I-know-best attitude but united opposition from Cornwall will at least give him pause for thought.

It's great that Cornish politicians seem to be united on these two issues. The Council also seems to be united on pushing for greater powers to be devolved to Cornwall and I'm quite optimistic. Plus Kevin Lavery certainly knows what he's talking about. I was very sceptical about the unitary authority at first but I am beginning to see the advantages of having one body instead of seven.

[carrek]

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Lo ... ticle.html

Local coalition will fight plans to standardise the number of voters in a constituency

A political coalition is being built in Cornwall to fight proposals which could result in cross-border constituencies being created in the Westcountry.

The Government plans to standardise the number of voters in a constituency to around 75,000 voters, a move which would reduce the number of MPs in Westminster from 650 to 600.

In that scenario, Cornwall would be entitled to marginally less than its current six MPs, forcing the merger of the North and South East Cornwall constituencies with parts of West Devon to make up the numbers.

Now a local coalition of Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs, and their political colleagues at County Hall, in addition to independents and members of Mebyon Kernow, is being forged to fight the plans.

Cornish nationalists have already threatened to block the Tamar Bridge in protest at the measures.

St Ives MP Andrew George said it was a "real threat" to Cornwall's identity and would create "conflicts of interest" for any cross-border MPs.

Cornwall Council's Conservative leader Alec Robertson is also opposed to any constituencies straddling the River Tamar and plans, with other party leaders, to make representations through the counties MPs.

The issue was also raised at last weekend's Cornish Constitutional Convention where Cornwall Council chief executive Kevin Lavery said it was a "very real danger".

Meanwhile, Labour are to vote against legislation paving the way for a referendum on voting reform for Westminster elections because of the possible constituency changes.

Prime Minister David Cameron accused Labour of "a descent into complete and utter opportunism" over the issue.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Lo ... ticle.html

[shaz]

Keep Cornwall Whole from the Cornish Times here

"The mayor of Saltash has such ‘grave concerns’ about suggestions that sections of South East Cornwall could be merged with parts of Plymouth in a new parliamentary constituency that he has started a campaign opposing it.
A boundary review is expected in the near future which will aim to even out the number of electors in each constituency, and a new cross-border boundary may be created.
Saltash mayor Adam Killeya said: ‘We are gravely concerned at the possibility of parts of Cornwall being joined with Plymouth or Devon for parliamentary seats.
‘It is not just that Saltash is very much in Cornwall and strongly committed to staying that way, it is also that the issues that face Cornwall are very different from those in Devon and Plymouth.

More details in this week's Cornish Times."

The Mayors facebook page Keep Cornwall Whole here

[Ellery]

Cornwall Council survey on whether you want a Cornish LEP or a Devonwall one.

4. How do you describe your ethnic origin? Please read through carefully before selecting the ethnic group that you feel most closely reflects your background.
English, Welsh, Scottish, Norhtern Irish, British
White Cornish
Irish
Gypsy/Roma
Traveller of Irish Heritage
White and Asian
White and Black Caribbean
White and Black African
Mixed Cornish
Bangladeshi
Pakistani
Chinese
Indian
Asian Cornish
African
Black Cornish
Caribbean
Other (please specify)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2B5R2LT

[Kerrow]

Good for them.

Their new Equality and Diversity Framework is being put into practice:

http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/Publis ... ocA.ps.pdf

Unfortunately, however, respondents are still required to make a choice between British and Cornish and this unacceptably reduces the number of people who tick the Cornish box, as well as causing unnecessary conflict in people's understanding of their own identity, for the majority will see themselves as both Cornish and British.

[ThingsThatGoFlirInTheShla]

Don't be too quick to critisise Kerrow. Despite its flaws this is a massive improvement in their acceptance of a cornish nationality!

[Kerrow]

Cornwall County Council passed a Resolution in 2003 to include the Cornish category for monitoring purposes, and they did this in a rather ineffective way for years - despite at one point the Labour Government insisting that people were not to identify as eg Black Cornish or Asian Cornish. Whalley had a huge fight about that, to his credit.

Nevertheless, the new Equality and Diversity Framework is a very real improvement, and the most powerful document that exists to protect the Cornish. As it says below, it takes the collection of ethnic data of Cornish communities very seriously:

"For the first time with the Framework we are able to build on our
current understanding of our community and taking very seriously this
Council’s commitment to both Cornish language and collecting data for
ethnic monitoring purposes"

[Marhak]

Cornwall Counmcil still doesn't seem to have passed this resolution onto its Local Education Authority, as I hear that our kids are still being taught that they're "English" and that Cornwall is part of England.

[Anselm]

Captain Black - are you the bold hero who came riding up on his grey steed, asking what is the number you carry, and where do you mean to proceed?

[Marhak]

Look, I've told you before: I'M the hero on the grey steed (or will be when he's better). Right now, I'm a real hero on a brown and white steed (you have to be heroic to ride her!). I only hope I stay on her.

[TeamKernow]

Cornwall Council still doesn't seem to have passed this resolution onto its Local Education Authority, as I hear that our kids are still being taught that they're "English" and that Cornwall is part of England.

It is a very serious matter, Marhak - our children are being actively denied a proper sense of place.

HERE is an earlier and informative discussion on the subject of EIS approved, orchestrated and institutionalised denial of a proper education for our children in The Celtic Nation And Duchy Of Cornwall.

How amazing as a springboard for the development of Cornwall's very own 'National Curriculum' for all ages and in all contemporary scholastic subject areas is this? :

Timeline of Cornish History 400,000 BC - 1066 AD

Timeline of Cornish History 1066-1700 AD

Timeline of Cornish History 1700 to 1800 AD

Timeline of Cornish History 1800 AD to date