Learn more about Mebyon Kernow by following the link below: https://mebyonkernow.org/ Transcript: Cllr Dick Cole: It has actually been a privilege to have been the leader of MK for the last 25 years. And I guess it would be an understatement to say that; 25 years is a long time in politics. I even got a fleeting mention on the BBC politics southwest show recently. And Martin Oates, the presenter, congratulated me on the Silver Jubilee. And then he went on to say how my time as MK chief represented stability in politics. Something he contrasted with the chaos in Westminster at the moment. Looking back, though, I think I have a sense of considerable pride that MK has stood up for Cornwall at every opportunity during this time. And we've worked really hard to show there as an alternative to the Westminster offer. Together, we've repeatedly made the arguments that matter for greater self-government, fairer funding, the sort of injustice for housing justice, or environmental protections, and so much more. And yet, it has also been very frustrating. I think many of us here today have spent years banging our heads against brick walls in the name of Cornwall. While watching successive UK Governments failed to follow what I would term: Our advice. But most of all, it has been wonderful to have been part of a team that always puts Cornwall at the heart of everything we do. And I'd like to thank everyone who's worked with me over the last two and a half decades, whether serving as a counsellor or standard as a candidate, supporting us with donations or helping with all manner of campaigns. In my contribution today, I want to spend some time focusing on our continuing push for home-rule for Cornwall. So as we see parity with Wales and Scotland. It is so pleasing that in a few minutes, we will launch our forwards according to foreign policy document. It makes the obvious case that our historic and modern nation needs devolution proper. But, to the Westminster party's evolution (and I have to say this is devolution within inverted commas), it's not the far reaching shift of powers away from Westminster that led to the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament and the creation of the Welsh parliament. No, to them, it's all about tweaks to local government. Tweaks to Cornwall's over-centralised under-resourced single unitary authority. A set-up that represents a massive, unacceptable democratic deficit compared to the other developing nations, the UK. And in many ways, I have to assume that what they offer in terms of devolution is actually a form of 'business as usual.' Transcript continued in comment section...

• published: 24 Dec 2023
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