Government set to scrap Cornwall and merge it with Devon!

Halfhidden

Untouchable
Administrator
Hundreds of local people will tomorrow descend on Jubilee Green in Saltash to protest at the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill.
The Bill seeks to reduce the number of MPs from 650 to 600, but it also wants all constituencies (except for two exceptions) to be within five per cent of the average constituency size. If the legislation is left unaltered, this will inevitably mean that Cornwall would have to share at least one cross-border seat with Devon.
The legislation ignores what I would personally describe as Cornwall's nationhood, its Celtic identity, history and culture, as well as its unique geography as a peninsula bounded by the Tamar River and its special constitutional position.
The Bill makes it clear that new constituencies will not be allowed to cross the "national" boundaries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It also identifies two named exceptions, relating to Scottish constituencies which would include a number of islands.
It is little wonder there is considerable anger that the distinctive position of Cornwall is not recognised within the Bill by the Government?
A new campaign group called "Keep Cornwall Whole" has been formed and it has brought together representatives from across the political spectrum, as well as representatives of community groups.
"Keep Cornwall Whole" has already written to all 650 MPs (twice) and presented a submission to the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee. All six of Cornwall's MPs are backing calls for the political integrity of Cornwall to be respected, as are town and parish councils. Members of Cornwall Council also unanimously backed a motion to this effect.
A delegation has met with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to raise concerns about the consequences of the legislation. The delegation was genuinely cross-party and included the Mayor of Saltash, representatives of local Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party, Mebyon Kernow and an independent councillor. Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs were also present.
In this 30-minute meeting, we covered a range of issues around the importance of Cornish integrity, the widespread concern of parishes in East Cornwall and, importantly, Cornwall's distinct economic profile and the growing wish to take more responsibility for our own future.
We pointed out how Cornwall had, for many years, lost out to political and economic arrangements which operated across the wider South West, and that we welcomed how the new Government is pushing back the SW quango state. We gave the example of how Cornwall had submitted a bid for a Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership and emphasised how the creation of a Devonwall parliamentary seat would undermine these important developments.
It remains to be seen whether the upper reaches of the Government will act on our representations.
It is fair to say that we received a fair hearing from Mr Clegg. He listened to what we had to say, but made no promises and gave no indication that he intended to modify the Bill as it has been presented to the House of Commons. David Cameron has been dismissive of Cornish demands – telling ITV Westcountry that "It's the Tamar – not the Amazon for heaven's sake".
We have a difficult political battle to fight, but some progress is being made. Amendments to protect Cornwall's integrity have been tabled by representatives of all three of the main political parties, namely Andrew George for the Liberal Democrats, Sheryll Murray for the Conservatives and Harriet Harman, Peter Hain and Jack Straw for the Labour Party.
If you agree that the historic border of Cornwall should be respected and Cornish MPs should serve constituencies wholly within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, now is the time to play your part in putting pressure on politicians in Westminster.
You can lobby MPs and write to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA and the Deputy Prime Minister at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
You can join us on Sunday at Saltash. We aim to celebrate Cornwall's distinctiveness with a rally to send a strong message that we oppose the creation of Devonwall seats.
The rally will take place at Jubilee Green in Saltash, from 2pm. At 1pm a symbolic flotilla of boats will cross between Cornwall and the Devon bank of the Tamar and there will be various speakers.




Western Morning News
 

BayOfPlenty

Member
If the legislation is left unaltered, this will inevitably mean that Cornwall would have to share at least one cross-border seat with Devon.
That's not quite the same as "scrapping Cornwall & merging it with Devon", is it? Don't get me wrong, I'm wholeheartedly opposed to this proposal, but misleading headings such as this don't help the cause any.
 

Halfhidden

Untouchable
Administrator
Well it will start with two MP's and lead to what? Already people refer to the West Country as Bristol and not beyond. The local news is now broadcast from Bristol, our newspapers are printed in Devon and most of the specialist services that once were available in Cornwall are now only available in Devon and beyond.
If cross boarder MP's are introduced, Cornwall will loose its political boundaries sooner or later. I'm not suggesting any conspiracy, just explaining that as always the government wish to move as much as they can to Devon for financial reasons...
An example of that, Penwith border has now gone along with quite a few local councillors. No more Penwith.
 
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