Petition for Cornwall reaches key milestone

A PETITION urging the Government to recognise Cornwall as the fifth nation of the UK has reached an important cultural milestone, as far as Cornish people are concerned.

- LEE TREWHELA

The unofficial anthem of Cornwall, Trelawny, features the immortal line “Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men will know the reason why”, which has come to sum up the Duchy’s independent spirit.

The petition reached and surpassed 20,000 signatures yesterday. It was set up after a motion backing nation status brought by Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole was passed at Cornwall Council. If the request is successful, it would mean that decisions about local services and investment in Cornwall's economy are made in Cornwall, closer to the people they affect most.

Cornwall which already has national minority status would have more of a say on issues such as housing and transport within the Duchy. It comes after a political spat broke out last week concerning the possible loss of Cornwall’s national minority status, if Reform UK comes to power.