Cornish devolution

In 1066, much of Cornwall was invaded by the Normans[2] and Brian of Brittany may have been made earl of Cornwall by William the Conqueror and some Cornish people returned to Cornwall from Brittany following prior invasion by the Anglo-Saxons.[3]

The peerage of the Earl of Cornwall was created and first appointed to Cadoc of Cornwall, a survivor of the royal lineage of Cornwall.[4]

Bilingual map of Cornwall (English & Cornish).

Statue of Michael Joseph An Gof (the Smith) and Thomas Flamank, leaders of the Cornish rebellion of 1497.

The Duchy of Cornwall was formed in 1337 by English king Edward III for his first born son, Prince Edward and a charter stated this would continue in the same manner for each eldest son of the English monarch. The Duke of Cornwall is the title given to the holder of the Duchy of Cornwall and the Duke holds some rights in Cornwall and owns the coastline and riverbeds around Cornwall as well as the significant profits from which are produced. These profits contribute to financial support of the English Duke of Cornwall. [5]

In 1497, Michael Joseph An Gof and Thomas Flamank and a Cornish army marched upon London in protest of raised taxes by Henry the VII who aimed to increase funding for a war against the Scots. The Cornish army was defeated and An Gof and Flamank were both executed. This however may have influenced the decision by the English King Henry to introduce the Charter of Pardon 1508 which gave powers to the Convocation of the Tinners of Cornwall (commonly known as the Stannary Parliament) to veto English legislation in Cornwall.[4]

The Local Government Act 1888 established Cornwall as an administrative county and established Cornwall County Council.[6]

In 2015 Cornwall became the first county of England to receive new devolved powers which included;

• Powers for Cornwall Council to franchise and improve bus services
• Health and Social care integration plan for Cornwall Council and Isles of Scilly Council
• Council selection of projects for multi-million-pound investment
• Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) increased input for improving skills
• Streamlining LEP's abilities to integrate local and national services to strengthen companies in Cornwall.[1]

The Cornish Constitutional Convention was formed in 2000 as a cross-party organisation including representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors to campaign for the creation of a Cornish Assembly,[7] along the lines of the National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament. Between 5 March 2000 and December 2001, the campaign collected the signatures of 41,650 Cornish residents endorsing the call for a devolved assembly, along with 8,896 signatories from outside Cornwall. The resulting petition was presented to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.[7]

Cornish party Mebyon Kernow has called for the creation of a Cornish Assembly or parliament in light of the G7 summit in Cornwall, stating: "...what better legacy could there be than parity with the other Celtic parts of the UK, such as Scotland and Wales, in terms of influence and investment, and a comprehensive devolution deal, which would deliver a Cornish Assembly or Parliament?"[8]

Managing director of Ginsters Mark Duddridge has outlined what he believes to be key reasons that Cornwall would benefit from increased devolution powers citing:

• expertise in handling public money at a large scale in Cornwall
• good understanding and working relationship with local partners and good outcomes for investors (following the experience of the previous devolution)
• good local knowledge and success with the previous devolution
• the slow pace of working with national partners with the UK government & risk of losing investors
• tradition in Cornwall as an international trading area
• securing £14/15 million of investment in the space of two weeks due to good knowledge of business and investors
• the following businesses in Cornwall: emerging offshore wind business, geo-resources, geoscience, lithium business, database business, space business[9]

A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), an independent think tank, suggested that Cornwall has "outgrown" the original devolution deal of 2015.

Sarah Longlands, director of IPPR North suggested that Cornwall needs "the power and resources to be able to get on and get the job done, rather than wait for central government to make the next move" and that based on their research "it is clear that Cornwall has made the best of the fairly limited decentralisation deal that it was originally offered." Longlands also suggested that due to the decline of the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and "the uncertainty of Brexit, now is the time to give Cornwall real devolution which means that they have the economic powers and resources they need to support a strong and fair recovery.”[10]

• The leader of Cornwall's council has called for devolution of second home tax powers to the Cornish Council, much like in Wales so that local residents are better able to afford local housing in their own communities.
• The council has ambitions for further devolution for Cornwall which includes further control over planning and taxation in order to better manage tourism in Cornwall.
• The council also wants devolution powers for a Cornish Freeport, including Newquay Airport and Falmouth docks.
• Cornish freeport including Newquay Airport and Falmouth Docks is another ambition.
• Control over the academic year, including being able to divide it into four terms.
• The ability to value properties for council tax.
• Investment in green technology.[11]

An "All Under One Banner" march is set for the 19th of March in Cornwall to both celebrate St Piran's Day and promote greater autonomy for Cornwall and a greater discussion on its future.[12]