Kernow Matters to Us's blog

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the UK’s pre-eminent progressive think tank calls for full devolution max for Cornwall as in other Celtic nations

Cornwall has “outgrown” its original devolution deal and a bold new approach is needed to set it on the path to “true” devolution seen in other Celtic nations, according to a new report.

The paper has been produced by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the UK’s pre-eminent progressive think tank.

Recently, concerns were raised by a 'Kernow Matters' member regarding the possible removal of management responsibility for Cornwall's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and other green areas to a new Westminster Government quango situated to the east of the Tamar.

Accordingly, we wrote to the manager of the Cornwall AONB Partnership, Emma Browing, and have now received a response.

Copies of our communication sent and the reply are recorded hereunder.

Kernow Matters To Us (KMTU) has received a number of communications from folks including some of our own members who have had letters from the Office for National Statistics Census with non compliance warning notices threatening court action and up to £1,000 fines for failing to complete the Census. All these people completed the Census and posted the forms back. We have further established that many received two identical sets of Census forms and believe this is where the confusion arises.

Link to BBC News report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-56188851

Recently a young couple were upset because they could not have their part of the marriage ceremony conducted in the Cornish Language.

A simple tweet regarding this made headlines and the usual anti Cornish vitriol and shocking nastiness ensued in the comments columns and on social media. We have recorded as much of this hatred as possible as an ongoing example of the insults endured by Cornish people.

'Kernow Matters' arranged to have a bouquet of flowers delivered to the couple to express our best wishes and support.

On the 23rd January, 2021, the Westminster Government announced that the G7 Summit would be held in Carbis Bay, Cornwall from the 11th to 13th June, 2021 and an official 'News story' was published by the government.

Cornwall is set to strengthen its relationship with Brittany on important areas such as trade, fishing and agriculture in a bid to work together in a post-Brexit world to benefit residents and businesses.

On March 24 Cornwall Council’s leader, Julian German, signed what is known as a Memorandum of Understanding with the President of Brittany, Loïg Chesnais-Girard.

The agreement between Cornwall Council and Brittany Council is important as it will help to build strong relations with a neighbouring European region at a time of a changing relationship with the EU.

Recently, Steph and her fiancé came in for much abuse from 'up country' for wishing to use the Cornish language at their wedding. 

The comments made via the London based media was truly shocking. 

Even local media Facebook pages became littered with vile remarks.

Sadly, media outlets fail to accept responsibility for what their followers write and say and it is a well known fact that anything relating to Cornwall and the Cornish national minority results in racist remarks. This fact was recently reported on by a Cornish academic.

The photographs below show a couple of brave protesters who went in to the building site during 18th March, 2021, while building was going on, to show what they thought about the utter desecration of this unique piece of landscape, a site that has been savagely cleared of the existing natural environment of a mixed and self-evolved ecology of mature trees, shrubs, plants, animals, birds and insects.

Cornwall Council Enforcement Team have intervened but the work continues and has shocked not only local residents but people from further afield.

Gool Peran Lowen dheugh why oll! - Happy St Piran's Feast Day to you all!

(We at KMTU also say, don't forget question 10 - Country of birth - tick 'elsewhere' - write in 'Cornwall' ! Let's send out a clear message!) - now that media release......

Media Release from Cornwall Council:

Spread the word this St Piran’s Day that the Cornish can identify as Cornish on the 2021 Census

Thursday, March 04 2021