(Please note this is a reposted corrected article)

The Conservative Party have certainly been trying to shake off their Unionist image in Wales since the appointment of Conservative Leader David Cameron and have adopted policies that have aimed to win Welsh voters, who are now increasingly identifying themselves as Welsh rather than British. Now the Conservatives are turning to another Celtic country in an attempt to woo back some of their support that has been dramatically eroded over the last ten years.

Recently it was announced that the Conservatives have appointed a Shadow Minister for Cornwall with the prospect of creating a Ministry of Cornish Affairs, in a move that has pre-empted the other London political parties and has picked up on the growing realisation by the Cornish movement that their demands have been ignored for too long.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Hereford and Stortford, Mark Prisk, who is originally from the Redruth/Camborne region of Cornwall, was appointed by Mr Cameron, for his strong links to the country. Mr Cameron said:

"I want to ensure that Cornwall's concerns are at the heart of Conservative thinking.

"So I'm appointing a Shadow Minister for Cornwall, someone who understands the Duchy and who can make sure that the voice of Cornwall is heard.

"As a Cornishman, Mark Prisk is ideally suited to this task."

Mr Prisk MP attended a special Conference in Cornwall's capital of Truro yesterday, along with the 5 prospective MP's who hope to gain seats at the next General Election (GE). Up until the 1997 General Election, the Conservatives could still expect the support of a sizable chunk of the Cornish electorate, especially in the Falmouth and Camborne constituency.

With the devolution process in full swing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and the nationalist parties making up coalition Governments in each, drawing down increasing powers, the Cornish have felt their modest demand of a Cornish Assembly has fallen on deaf ears. Also the decision this week that the Labour Government in Westminster has approved the Liberal Democrat led Cornwall County Council application for Unitary Authority status, has done nothing for Lib Dem support in Cornwall. A Cornish Unitary Authority will make Cornwall into a single Council by effectively getting rid of the District Councils and bolstering the central 'County' authority.

The Unitary Authority plan has been widely hailed as undemocratic and was against the wishes of the majority of the Cornish electorate who still want a Cornish Assembly. The five Liberal Democrat MP's who previously threw their support behind the campaign for a Cornish Assembly stood idly by and watched the less ambitious Lib Dem Councillors opt for local government reform instead.

It is highly likely that if the Conservatives display their 'Cornish credentials' leading up to the next GE, they could start to win back the Lib Dem unionist vote. In particular, the new constituency boundary changes that will come into force for the first time at the next General Election, could very well give the Conservatives a winning vote in the new constituency of Truro and Falmouth, especially in view of the fact that Matthew Taylor MP has confirmed he will not stand again.

The Conservative Party move signals a change of attitude to Cornwall and a reversion to a once almost forgotten stance. The new Minister for Cornish Affairs said on Wednesday:

"As a Cornishman I'm delighted to have this chance to listen to local people's concerns and to help us develop Conservative policies which will give back to people in Cornwall far more say over their own lives"

Mr Prisk has not specified what he means by this, but it is unlikely that the Conservatives intend to champion the campaign for a Cornish Assembly. After the way the Lib Dems have acted it should be clear to the Cornish electorate that the only party that has been consistent in pushing for greater self government has been Cornwall's own nationalist party, Mebyon Kernow – the party for Cornwall.

(This article for Celtic News compiled by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

04/08/07

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