PRESS RELEASE : Mebyon Kernow statement on proposed “devolution” [December 2022]

The press release issued by Mebyon Kernow on 2 December 2022.

Earlier today, a Government Minister (Dehenna Davison) and the leader of Cornwall Council (Linda Taylor) signed a “devolution deal” for Cornwall.

The Conservatives will soon be launching a ten-week consultation on the document, which will start on Friday 9th December.

Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole called on people to take participate in the consultation and challenged the UK Government to support “meaningful devolution” for Cornwall.

In a statement issued today, Cllr Dick Cole said:

“The promise of additional funding for Cornwall in the ‘deal’ is to be welcomed, but the ‘deal’ itself is not devolution at all.

“As someone who has campaigned for meaningful devolution for his entire adult life, I am desperately disappointed that this is the best that governing politicians in Westminster and Truro can come up with. It does not include far-reaching powers being transferred from Westminster to Cornwall as happened in Wales and Scotland, which have their own parliaments. It is simply a range of accommodations between central government and their Conservative allies on the unitary authority.

“Now that the actual deal has been published, MK will be publishing a more detailed critique of the document in the very near-future.

“In the meantime, I would appeal to one and all to use the opportunity of the coming consultation to demand meaningful devolution for the historic nation of Cornwall.”

The devolution deal can be viewed at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cornwall-devolution-deal-kevambos-digresennans-kernow