There are a number of possible outcomes for this change, Westminster and Whitehall could centralise more power with the advent of either Scottish independence or 'devo max', localism could come to the fore and power disseminated across the remainder of the UK, an English parliament might appear, English regionalism might be tried again, Wales may choose to follow Scotland on the brave path to nationhood. There's no real way of knowing what might change. But change it will, the real question for Cornish campaigners, Mebyon Kernow and others that advocate devolution is how do we get on the agenda? How do we put our hat in the ring? How do we articulate our desire for constitutional and governmental change? This is an historical moment for the UK and it is also an historic opportunity for the people of Cornwall to make positive changes in our relationship with the UK. I fear that if we do not articulate our desire for change if we are not successful in championing the pro devolution sentiment in Cornwall we will fall by the wayside. We will end up at best with the current arrangement, that is direct rule from Westminster and responsibility for little more than planning applications and footpaths. At worst an English parliament will be created, Cornwall will be at the periphery of it and our needs will be lost whilst this new arrangement finds it place in the world and administers what would still be a large and varied area. We might see localism whereby Cornwall Council will be given more power and responsibility, but I doubt whether the council has the capacity and the power to administer such tasks. As we have seen with the LEP giving more power without the institutions and staff to administer such ventures has poor results and is an unpalatable option. Ultimately we have two choices accept centralisation or argue for more powers.
This has begun, we are successfully making the case for devolution, MK has brought devolution to the attention of the public, we have got newspapers and bloggers talking about a Cornish assembly. They are not all in favour it must be said. From the Labour blogger Mudhook we have questions about the funding of an assembly, where will the taxes come from? will we pay for ourselves? unfortunately Mudhook finds problems not solutions. He mocks that no one supports the assembly, that it is unrealistic that we don't know how it will be funded. We need to win over these unambitious people, stuck happy with the status quo of poverty, Euro funding dependence, and an abject lack of political power for the people of Cornwall.
Many London media outlets are noticing the long fought campaign for Cornish devolution too, suddenly real Cornish issues, more than cream teas and holidays, have made their way to London's gaze The Daily Telegraph offers Never Mind a Scottish Referendum Now Cornwall Wants it's own Government, not to mention the scores of articles about the Cornish EDM, some of which are listed on The Cornish Republican blog here.
Today This is Cornwall has an article typifying my sentiment toward the subject with the title Where Will the SNP's referendum leave MK's ambitions?. It is an interesting piece, it doesn't delve too far into the Cornish situation which is unfortunate. The author also calls into question whether non-Scots and non-Cornish will decide the future of these respective Celtic nations. An argument presumably based on the idea that Scottish or Cornish nationalism lacks a broad appeal, this is a falsehood. Devolution is not just of benefit to a particular group in society it is of benefit to all, Scottish and Welsh students benefit from better conditions than their English cousins not based upon their ethnicity or place of birth but on the virtue that they live in those devolved nations. I would argue that what is of benefit to Cornwall is of benefit to all the people of Cornwall, devolution is not about being Cornish its about securing the best deal from the UK and better governance for One and All.
The time for change is now, direct Westminster rule has failed to stimulate the Cornish economy instead successive regimes have centralised jobs and services undermining our economic position and our ability to create Cornish solutions to Cornish problems. The United Kingdom will be reordered in the coming years, things will change, centres of governmental power will rise and fall as a consequence of Scottish nationalism. They have proven to Cornwall that change can be made, the only thing that stands between Cornwall and making positive change and starting a new future is the ambition to imagine it and the strength of will to make it happen. There is a gaping opportunity for Mebyon Kernow and Cornwall to stand up and tell London's elites that government here can be better. We have the resources, the ability and the intelligence to start to make our own decisions to make politics work better for the people of Cornwall. The time to argue for devolution and a better deal for the people of Cornwall is now.
A key point I have to agree with Rob in his Blog is why "the people of these isles should be ruled exclusively by London"...If one thing History tells us that London didn't always dominate the British Isles and regional economies flourished and were successful under autonomous rule.
ReplyDeleteIn an historic sense the UK is quite a recent phenomena, throughout history even has far back as the Iron Age or even further,over 2000years ago, there has been no real United Kingdom as such. The British Isles was always a patchwork of Regional Kingdoms or Tribal Lands.
There was a brief hiatus when the Romans came, and set up the Provence of Britannia, however many parts of the current UK were hardly touched, Scotland, Ireland, parts of Wales and Cornwall.
The so called Dark Ages saw a return to regional Kingdoms and relatively successful ones ruled by Kings like Offa and Alfred the Great in the Kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex.
The 1200years from the Iron Age to the Normans, the Celtic nations were for the most part self entities, with their own kingdoms and economies. There is evidence in the post Roman era of trade with Byzantium in Cornwall, S.Wales and up the Irish Sea.
It is clear then for over half the time over the last 2000yrs many parts of the British Isles had self rule and came to develop their own national identities. These Kingdoms of course over time was subjugated by various invading forces Saxons, Normans, "English" who impose an alien culture upon well established local customs.
For the most part over the past 500-800yrs these "Celtic Nations" have been anglasized, customs and traditions faded out etc.
However if the Roman occupation of 400yrs tells us anything, that long deep culture and tradition can't be wiped out. The urge for devolution is only natural because the Celtic Nations had it for so long prior to the subjugations. Combine this with the revival in the Celtic languages and shared traditions, the Celtic Nations are in affect waking up from a "slumber" as the "British" did after the Romans left our shores when subsequently the regional kingdoms and self determination returned.
I may have given the impression of being anti-English or anti-UK, which I am not. If one thing history also tells us is that we are an Island Nation and there are many things in a broader cultural sense we have in common, which date back to antiquity, which does bind us as an Island nation especially in times of real crisis. .
However the current economic down turn maybe the additional catalyst or spur that has made the peoples of the "Celtic Nations" realise how economically and socially marginalized they have become within UK.
Therefore the urge to return to regional self determination to improve economic regeneration and living standards for the people of marginalized "Celtic Fringe" is only a natural one given the historical context of the British Isles.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Christian very interesting. I certainly think that this theme continued until quite recently. Certainly in the last fifty years more and more decision making has been centralised and smaller authorities have been sidelined.
ReplyDelete