Scottish National Party Supports The Campaign To Protect And Promote The Cornish Language

In a show of solidarity with their Celtic cousins in Cornwall both the Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) supported an Early Day Motion in the UK Parliament against cuts to funding for the Cornish Language. The move comes as a response to an announcement from the UK Department for Communities and Local Government that Cornwall will no longer receive £150,000 a year to promote and support their ancient Celtic language. That decision was met with widespread protests throughout Cornwall with accusations of broken promises and the betrayal of Cornwall by UK ministers.

The SNP Member of Parliament for the Scottish constituency of Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Outer Hebrides) and Scottish Gaelic speaker Angus MacNeil put forward the Early Day Motion urging the Government to "reverse its cuts". The motion will need to be resubmitted following the State Opening of Parliament – which Angus MacNeil says he intends to do. Throwing the gauntlet down to Members of Parliament representing Cornish constituencies he added: "I would encourage Cornish MPs to support me this time".

There are only six Celtic languages spoken in the world today: Breton, Cornish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Manx and Welsh. For centuries there has been a systematic campaign to destroy the native languages of the Celtic lands. There are concerted efforts being made in the Six Celtic Nations and beyond to promote and save their endangered languages. Cornish is protected under the European Charter for Regional and Minority languages and demands are being made for a new funding package with greater resources.