Kernow Matters - Cornish Tick Box - Census 2021

Cornish Tick Box - Census 2021

A very warm welcome to all our new members.

As you will doubtless be aware, there is a growing campaign calling for the inclusion of a Cornish 'tick box' in the 2021 census return form.

We have received scores of messages from all manner of folks in support of this and indeed, dozens have stated in the clearest possible way, that should there be no Cornish 'tick box' in the Census, they will quite simply refuse to complete the forms no matter the consequences. Many have written to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) telling them of this clear intention and we have been copied in on some of their communications.

We are pleased to reproduce below a communication received from George Eustice MP (Camborne, Redruth & Hayle) Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

"Like yourself I and my other Cornish colleagues were extremely disappointed with the decision by the ONS. That is why Steve Double MP and Scott Mann MP met with the Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith on Tuesday 18th December to convey these concerns. At the meeting it was explained to the Minister that the ONS's current position does not reflect the statement the Government made on the Cornish ethnic minority status on 2014. In response the Minister has agreed to broker a meeting with Cornish MPs and leading figures from the Cornish Tick Box campaign, and the ONS, in the New Year. This is promising news and I will continue to work closely with colleagues on this project."

"I hope that the information above reassures you about my commitment to the Cornish tick box, and I thank you for taking the trouble to write."

Cornish folks who live across the 2021 Census area and not only in Cornwall are calling for a Cornish 'tick box' which is our clear right afforded by the inclusion of the Cornish into the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities during early 2014. 

Numerous locally elected representatives are also calling on the Office for National Statistics to face up to the fact that the Cornish people are a recognised National Minority and we can assure the ONS that people are being deadly serious when they say that unless such a 'tick box' is included they will not participate in the census and will bravely face the outcome whilst making a clear stand for Cornish rights.

Now is the time for Westminster government departments and quangos to wake up to the fact that the Cornish are a recognised National Minority!

Please read and consider signing and circulating the following petition: https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-put-cornish-on-the-2021-census?recruiter=45842404&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial.pacific_email_copy_en_us_3.control.pacific_email_copy_en_us_5.v1.pacific_post_sap_share_gmail_abi.gmail_abi.pacific_email_copy_en_gb_4.v1.lightning_2primary_share_options_more.variant&utm_term=psf_combo_share_initial.pacific_email_copy_en_gb_4.v1.pacific_email_copy_en_us_3.control.pacific_email_copy_en_us_5.v1.pacific_post_sap_share_gmail_abi.gmail_abi.lightning_2primary_share_options_more.variant&utm_content=fhtdec-14054300-en-gb%3Av2&fbclid=IwAR0nY2prmz-Rdbv_rteJBGJkSXqRq5jU1GUokgIwAHoj7SS0tWptG3I0XYo

Please consider writing free of charge to your elected representatives via: Write To Them: https://www.writetothem.com/?fbclid=IwAR2eLoAF68q6JK9aUfLCBfju651FpzIgWgwmWiDR8r-CqZPlJiUt-qS_xlQ

Mur ras oll.

Kernow bys Vyken!

Cornish granted minority status within the UK - The government formally recognises the distinct identity of Cornish people: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cornish-granted-minority-status-within-the-uk

Cornish National Minority - Cornwall Council resource:

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/equality-and-diversity/cornish-national-minority/