Keep Cornwall Whole

Verbal Presentation to the Boundary Commission at the Public Hearing, Truro 10th November 2011

Adam Killeya  Konsel An Dre Essa (Saltash Town Council) Convenor Keep Cornwall Whole

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Verbal Presentation to the Boundary Commission at the Public Hearing, Truro 10th November 2011 from Jane Howells St Hilary Parish Council

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Jim Pengelly

A Verbal presentation to the Public Hearing on the proposed boundary changes that interfere with our Cornish Border with England.

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The Boundary Commission for England
London
SW1P 3QB

28th October 2011

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to you on behalf of Agan Tavas – the Campaign for the Cornish language, affiliated to MAGA Cornish Language Partnership which is based at the offices of Cornwall Council in Truro.

We wish to object most strongly to the proposal to change the electoral boundary in the north Cornwall area to create a new constituency which would link Bude and Camelford in Cornwall with Bideford in Devon.  The existing historical boundary between Cornwall and Devon is recognised and acknowledged as a distinct and, we would suggest, potentially protected boundary between two important but quite different cultures.  Cornwall has its own distinctive language, not a dialect but a complete tongue, and as such it is protected by the Council of Europe through the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages 1992.  This boundary change proposal contravenes Article 7 (within Part II of the Charter – Objectives and principles in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 1).

Article 7 – Objectives and principles

The aforementioned paragraph 1 states..

“In respect of regional or minority languages, within the territories in which such languages are used and according to the situation of each language, the Parties shall base their policies, legislation and practice on the following objectives and principles:”

This paragraph states 9 objectives, the second of which, Point b states..

“the respect for the geographical area of each regional or minority language in order to ensure that existing or new administrative divisions do not constitute an obstacle to the promotion of the regional or minority language in question;”

The proposed boundary change would impose a considerable obstacle to the promotion of the Cornish language, Kernewek, which is undergoing a modest but healthy revival and is proving to be a positive role model for other communities where a minority language is competing for survival.  Regional or minority languages form an important historical and cultural bridge from past generations and the geographical area in which they are recognised.  The voters of Devon would see no particular relevance to a language that is not part of their culture and this proposed boundary change would place an immediate and permanent antagonistic wedge between the two communities, a situation which does not exist at the moment because Devon and Cornwall are recognised by the existing boundary as distinct.

Therefore we respectfully urge reconsideration of this proposal which unfairly targets a recognised and protected minority.

Yours sincerely

Mrs D E Brotherton
Secretary
Agan Tavas

David Cameron has been told by his cabinet colleague Iain Duncan Smith to scrap his planned shake-up of MPs’ constituency boundaries or face a fresh rebellion from Tory backbenchers.

Duncan Smith was moved to act after a number of Tory MPs in the Commons tea rooms openly discussed quitting parliament in the new year unless Cameron acted to delay the proposed shake-up of parliamentary boundaries.

It is understood they believe that while 20 Labour seats could go, as
many as 13 Conservative seats could also be lost in the reforms. Many MPs, however, fear this underestimates the scale of the chaos that will be caused.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/nov/05/boundary-changes-iain-duncan-smith?CMP=twt_gu

Let the Boundary Commission Know What You Think about Devonwall

Review of Proposed Changes to Cornwall’s Border The Boundary Commission is undertaking a Review of the proposed changes to constituency boundaries, including the proposed Devonwall merger that removes the Cornish border for parliamentary purposes, and they say “we would like your views on our initial proposals.”

These initial proposals from the Commission are:

“We have proposed one constituency that contains electors from both Cornwall and Devon, which crosses the boundary in the north of the two counties, combining the towns of Bude and Bideford.”

This consultation of the proposed changes is open for written submission of views until 5th December 2011.

Address for letters:

Boundary Commission for England,
35 Great Smith Street,
London SW1P 3BQ

Telephone: 020 7276 1102

Email address for representations: reviews@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk

On-line form

http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/have-your-say/step-1/

Please send in your views to the Boundary Commission by the 5^th December.

The Boundary Commission will also hold a Public Hearing in Truro in November.

Public Hearing in Truro 10^th – 11^th November

Please do your utmost to attend the Public Hearing, and explain to the Boundary Commission why a Devonwall constituency is unacceptable:

The Hearing will be held at:

• · Alverton Manor Hotel, Tregolls Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1ZQ
• · Date: 10 Nov 2011 to 11 Nov 2011
• · Time: Day 1: 11:00 – 20:00 Day 2: 09:00 – 17:00

To speak at the Hearing, please register here

http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/have-your-say/register-interest/

Or telephone: 020 7276 1102 for more information.

You may find these points below useful in letters and representations to the Boundary Commission:

1.Cornwall is set apart by its unique history.

2. Cornwall has a distinct peripheral geography.

3. Cornwall is culturally distinctive

4. Cornwall retains a very strong community culture, bonded by a strong sense of nation.

5. Constitutional difference as the Duchy of Cornwall- The continuing constitutional powers, privileges and duties of the Duke of Cornwall in relation to Cornwall are clear evidence of Cornwall’s continuing and active distinction.

6. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly made the successful case – only a year ago – that it was a ‘functional economic area’ to gain Local Enterprise Partnership status.

7. Other arrangements that recognise the distinctiveness of Cornwall include:

• Local government boundaries (Cornwall Council and Town and Parish Councils)
• Diocesan boundary
• Primary Care Trust boundary,
• The Cornish Gorsedd
• The structures of a great many voluntary and charitable organisations
• Many types of funding allocations.
• BBC Radio Cornwall
• Local Education Authority

8.Legal protection for the Cornish Language. The Cornish Language is protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which amongst its provisions states that:

• 7.1 In respect of regional or minority languages, within the territories in which such languages are used and according to the situation of each language, the Parties shall base their policies, legislation and practice on the following objectives and principles:
• b. the respect of the geographical area of each regional or minority language in order to ensure that existing or new administrative divisions do not constitute an obstacle to the promotion of the regional or minority language in question;

9. Cornish National Identity, Cornish Ethnicity and the Cornish Language have been sanctioned by Parliament as part of the Census process and designated a specific code for Census purposes by the ONS. The recognition of a National Identity by definition implies the recognition of a national boundary.

10.Legally protected status – European Union ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ of Cornish foods – Cornish clotted cream and Cornish pasties (and Cornish sardines in the application process) are a confirmed recognition of territorial distinctiveness.

11. An artificial ‘Devonwall’ construction is anathema to the Cornish community, and has been in the past economically, socially and culturally damaging.

12. Little economic interaction between the Cornish and Devon sides of the border: the 2001 Census shows that only 1.6% of the people of the former North Cornwall district work in the Torridge District Council area, or that 98.4% of people don’t.

13. This is the website for Torridge District Council: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/index.aspxarticleid=1

The constituents who live on the Devon side will have a different type of elected representation to those on the Cornish side as Devon has District Councils.

14. The Boundary Commission should operate within a plus or minus five percent of the set electoral quota, although the precedent for anomalies in the framework within which the Boundary Commission is operating has been set. Currently the exceptions to the minimum electorate requirement are:

• · The island constituencies of Orkney and Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles)
• · Two constituencies for the Isle of Wight. (This is an increase in number of constituencies from the single constituency that exists at present.)
• · Constituencies covering more than 12,000 km2. (Of the current constituencies, this would only apply to the Highland constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber.)

However, very strong cases are already being made for reversals to proposed new changes in other constituencies (like, for example, Mersey Banks). Cornwall is not alone in reacting strongly to imposed boundary changes in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act.

The final configuration of boundaries still needs to be approved by Parliament – this will take place in 2013.

NO TO DEVONWALL CONSTITUENCY

Keep Cornwall Whole launches petition to respect Cornwall’s historic border

The Keep Cornwall Whole campaign group has launched a petition against the proposal to create a cross-Tamar Devonwall constituency.

The petition calls on MPs to (i) seek changes to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act to ensure that parliamentary constituencies respect Cornwall’s historic border and (ii) oppose all proposals for a Devonwall seat.

Adam Killeya, the Convenor of Keep Cornwall Whole and a Liberal Democrat councillor, said:

“The Boundary Commission for England has published its recommendations for constituency boundaries for the next General Election which include a cross-Tamar seat called ‘Bideford and Bude.’

“The government’s new law gave them no choice, but this just highlights what an absurd law it is.

“We are therefore calling on all of Cornwall’s MPs to vote to not accept the proposed seats.”

Cllr Dick Cole, the leader of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall, said:

“It has been well reported that there is a growing anxiety amongst MPs about the final outcome of the boundary review and it has been suggested that many, who face losing their seats and livelihoods, might oppose the legislation.

“Now is the time for us to put pressure on the Coalition and their MPs to oppose the changes which will need to be agreed by Parliament. Now is the time to fight back and to do all in our power to undermine the legislation.”

Independent councillor and Chairman of the Cornish Constitutional Convention Bert Biscoe added:

“Cornwall’s future lies firmly in being recognised and understood as a distinctive, different and recognisable region. Only this Cornwall can make its best and most lasting contribution to the future of Britain. A divided constituency will confuse and dilute Cornwall’s integrity and impoverish our British future – a line we cannot afford to cross. Sign today.”

Further information

1. Download petition here
2. The consultation on the proposed new parliamentary constituencies for Cornwall and England will be for a 12-week period and will last until 5th December 2011.
3. Written representations can be forwarded via a consultation website, at www.consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk or emailed to southwest@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk or sent in writing to: Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BQ.
4. The Commission will also be holding a public hearing in Cornwall which will take place at the Alverton Manor Hotel in Truro on 10th and 11th November.

The “Keep Cornwall Whole” group was set up in 2010 as a direct response to the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill, which has since been enacted.

The Act specifies that the number of MPs be reduced from 650 to 600 and that all constituencies, unless specifically named, should be within 5% of the average constituency size.

The steering group of Keep Cornwall Whole has had representation from all significant political groups within Cornwall including the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Mebyon Kernow and the Green Party, as well as Independent councillors.

Contact:

Cllr Dick Cole                                      07791 876607

Cllr Adam Killeya                                 07756 096241

‘The Keep Cornwall Whole Campaign is naturally very disappointed that the boundary commission has recommended a Bude and Bideford seat. They had no choice but to cross the Cornish border given the bill was passed, but that does not change the fact that it’s a fundamentally very bad idea.

We are actively looking into our options for getting the whole principle of the boundary changes re-examined.

Adam Killeya

Down but not out

The Keep Cornwall Whole campaign is very disappointed that the House of Lords rejected the amendment to protect Cornwall by 29 votes last Wednesday. This makes it very likely that for the next election there will be at least one MPs seat crossing our historic border.

However that is not the end of the story – we are exploring legal and political options, but also looking to the future. By using the raised awareness of Cornish issues in the corridors of power, which may well be short lived but is currently high, we are looking to increase our chances of winning the argument next time; as well as securing some other benefits for Cornwall. That is not to say that we accept the result in any way – we do not, and those who voted for it should be ashamed, and will in the long run be proved wrong.

We also need to emphasise that if in the next 5 years we can get enough Cornish voters to register, then we may be able to get 6 whole seats back again for the election after next.

Kernow bys vyken

To

The Boundary Commision for England
cc. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Dear Sir/Madam,

Upcoming Parliamentary Boundary Review

We are aware from both statements in Parliament and reports in the press that a Parliamentary Boundary Review is expected in the near future, with the over-riding aim of equalising electors per constituency. Continue reading →

The government want to make constituency sizes more equal which we agree is a perfectly reasonable idea in general.

However this process will ignore all historical borders, feelings of community etc, which could mean parts of Cornwall being split off and joined with parts of Devon for seats. We oppose this. Continue reading →

Saltash TC has now received a reply from the Boundary Commission stating that they will take no evidence on potential proposals at this stage, and directing us to the boundaries bill currently before Parliament, effectively suggesting that we direct our arguments towards that.

That bill, if passed, would effectively end all chance of avoiding a ‘Devonwall’ constituency, since the criteria are insufficiently flexible to have all Cornwall only constituencies. Continue reading →

We aim to get as many individual comments as possible underneath this post to create a strong message to those who do not understand the significance and importance of the Cornish/English border.

Please leave a comment.
Please encourage others to do the same.

The steering group of Keep Cornwall Whole took their message to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, on Wednesday.

The group met with the Deputy Prime Minister for 30 minutes, just after Prime Minister’s Questions at Westminster, and put across a strong case for Cornwall to retain its own representation. They carried with them the unanimous support of Cornwall Council & Cornwall MPs, as well as backing from scores of Town and Parish Councils and from Labour, the Lib Dems, Conservatives, Mebyon Kernow, the Green Party and Independents within Cornwall. The support of many Cornish organisation, including the Gorsedd, and a vast majority of Cornish residents, were also emphasised.

The Deputy Prime Minister made no promise to amend the bill, but stated that he would consider the points made, and promised to mention the meeting to the Prime Minister.

Cllr. Adam Killeya, Convenor of Keep Cornwall Whole and Town Mayor of Saltash said “We were very clear about the very strong feeling across Cornwall, and the number of ways in which Cornwall is clearly distinct. We left no doubt about how seriously Cornwall takes this”

Note:

The meeting was attended by Adam Killeya (Convenor/Town Mayor of Saltash, Lib Dem), Bert Biscoe (CC Independent), Dick Cole (CC and Leader of MK), Jen Forbes (Vice Chair, Cornwall Labour Party) & Malcolm Brown (Lib Dem) of Keep Cornwall Whole, and by Stephen Gilbert MP (LD), Sheryll Murray MP (Con), Andrew George MP (LD) and Dan Rogerson MP (LD)

Rally to Keep Cornwall Whole!

Under the Tamar Bridge, Saltash, Sunday 10^th October, 2010. Keep Cornwall Whole will be holding a ‘Respect the Tamar’ rally on 10th October
in Saltash. This will follow a 2 day parade along the Cornish border arriving in Saltash by boat at 2pm.

Keep Cornwall Whole is organising a weekend – 8-10th October-  to encourage people to show that, in Cornwall, we are determined to ‘Keep Cornwall Whole’.

Saturday 9th October

The Keep Cornwall Whole coast-to-coast parade through Cornwall’s border communities.

9.30am – Morwenstow – The Bush Inn ( The Bush Inn has a long history of providing hospitality dating back to 950AD)

11am Bude Triangle, Bude – Reception by the Mayor of Bude

1pm  Launceston Square – Reception by the Mayor of Launceston

3pm reception in Callington

Please come along, and bring your flags !

Sunday 10th October,  RESPECT THE TAMAR Rally

2pm, Jubilee Green, Saltash

Preceded by 1.15-2pm boat crossing of the Tamar from Saltash to Devon,
and back to Saltash, accompanied by a variety of Cornish boats.

Speakers.

Please come and please spread the word!

The more people we get the better the chance we have of Keeping Saltash Cornish and Keeping Cornwall Whole!

TRANSPORT DETAILS
Parking will be available at Alexandra Square (0.3miles) or Upper or Lower Belle Vue (0.6m) Saltash, with a walk down the hill.

A train will arrive in Saltash at 13.52, leaving Penzance at 12.00.

A coach will leave Penzance > Hayle > Camborne on Sunday morning (time to be confirmed). Cost £8 return.  To book places please contact
info@keepcornwallwhole.org

Daily twitter updates:   http://twitter.com/Cornwall_Whole

“KCW now has a London branch, and they are organising a protest in the Capital to take place soon. See the facebook group for further details!”

To Keep Cornwall Whole :
WRITE (to PM / Deputy PM)
REGISTER (on the electoral roll)
RELAY the (urgent) need to do this to others.

The six Cornish MPs will meet the Prime Minister, David Cameron, on Monday afternoon (25th October 2010) to request his intervention to find a way of protecting and respecting the boundary of Cornwall when Parliamentary constituencies are redrawn.

All six MPs are campaigning to alter the Government’s Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill and support the “Keep Cornwall
Whole” campaign.
______________________________

Dear all,

If you haven’t written to David Cameron write now!

If you have then write again!

The Cornish cause got probably one its most sympathetic ever hearings from the BBC yesterday. On the BBC2 Daily Politics Show, as well as using us as their example of how the boundaries bill creates big problems, in their discussions afterwards their special guest actually said ‘The Cornish have the right…it is about democracy. How can the Cornish have the English in their constituency – it doesn’t work. More than anything they probably want their own assembly!’

Less than two hours later Cornish MPs were meeting the Prime Minister who promised to ‘look again’ at the issue and to do “all [he] could to ensure that the Cornish Question is debated at the Report Stage of the Bill early next week.”

So this next week is crucial. PLEASE write to David Cameron NOW urging him to protect Cornwall’s boundaries and show that Cornish issues are taken seriously. If you know any other MPs then write to them too!

Yours with thanks,

Adam

–

Adam Killeya

Town Mayor of Saltash

Convenor of Keep Cornwall Whole

ANDREW GEORGE MP

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SW1A 0AA

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday 26^th October 2010

EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR ON CORNISH BOUNDARY DISPUTE

The Prime Minister promised to “go away and look at” proposals to protect Cornwall’s historic Duchy boundary when drawing up new parliamentary constituencies following his meeting with a delegation of 6 Cornish MPs yesterday.

The six MPs met Mr Cameron at No 10 Downing Street along with Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform Mark Harper MP. They acknowledged that opposition antics in the Commons had resulted in talking out the possibility of debating “The Cornish Question” during the Committee Stage of the Bill. They would do “all [they] could to ensure that the Cornish Question is debated at the Report Stage of the Bill early next week.”

During the evening, delegation leader Andrew George MP placed two amendments (below) on the Order Paper.

ENDS

——————————————————————–

Andrew George amendments

Continue reading →

The Bill has moved to the House of Lords where its second reading will be on 15th November. Please write to the key figures from the House of Lords to keep up the pressure, but don’t stop writing to the Prime Minister and Deputy PrimeMinister too.

Please write to the following:

Lord Strathcylde
Leader of the House of Lords
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0AA

Lord McNally
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0AA

Lord Wallace
Advocate General for Scotland
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0AA

and continue to write to: see How you can help

As you will be aware the Boundaries Bill is now in the House of Lords:

it went through its second reading two weeks ago and is due to begin the

crucial committee stage today.

To keep up the pressure we want as many of you as possible, even those

who have already written, to contact five key individuals:

Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP, Prime Minister, 10, Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA

Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Lord Strathclyde, Leader of the House of Lords, House of Lords, London, SW1A 0AA

Lord McNally, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords, House of Lords, London, SW1A 0AA

Lord Wallace, Attorney General for Scotland, House of Lords, London, SW1A 0AA

Please write to at least one of the five – preferably all five if you can! It’s best if you can use your own words, but some points you might wish to include are:

i) Cornwall has a unique history, culture and distinct economics, politics and sociological Issues

ii) Equalising numbers is important, but proper representation for communities is even more important.

iii) The bill could easily be amended to exempt Cornwall from having its boundary crossed

iv) Cornwall’s distinctiveness is currently officially recognised in a number of ways – including EU Convergence Funding,

County and Diocesan boundaries, the new LEP, the Cornish language etc.

Some useful phrase in Cornish can be found on our facebook page here:

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=146738185341595&topic=252

Please write as soon as you can, and encourage others to do likewise – the campaign is moving into its final critical stage.

Yours,

Adam

–

Adam Killeya

Town Mayor of Saltash & Convenor of Keep Cornwall Whole

Dear all,

I am told by contacts in the House of Lords that the section of the Bill dealing with Cornwall is likely to be discussed on Monday or Tuesday. Various efforts are afoot to try and persaude both the government leadership and individual members of the Lords to back us.

In the meantime fingers crossed and feel free to email

Nick Cleggg cleggn@parliament.uk

David Cameron camerond@parliament.uk

Lord McNally mcnallyt@parliament.uk

Lord Wallace wallacej@parliament.uk

To reemphasise your views at this crucial point…

Yours, Adam

On behalf of Keep Cornwall Whole

Dear all,

This week saw a very significant moment in the passage of the boundaries bill within the House of Lords: they voted, by a large majority, to make the Isle of Wight an extra ‘exception’ within the bill.