Cornish independence goes national
A national newspaper website has attracted hundreds of comments after uploading a feature about the prospect of Cornish independence.
The Guardian's website posted an editorial by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell on Monday evening and by yesterday (Tues) morning it had attracted more than 260 comments and being placed second in the table of most commented on pieces on The Guardian's Comment is Free pages.
-
Tatchell used his piece to examine the issue of self-rule for Cornwall and highlighted a campaign being run by Bodmin campaigner John Angarrack to have the Cornish included in the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of Natioal Minorities (FCPNM).
A Cornish Fighting Fund has been established by Angarrack aiming to raise £100,000 so that a legal case can be brought to have the Cornish included in the FCPNM.
In his article Tatchell posed the question as to why Cornwall should not be an independent state in the EU.
However many of the comments posted on the website in response to the article mocked the idea and questioned why, if there is such a claim for Cornish independence why Mebyon Kernow does not get more support at local and national elections.
Many Cornish people also responded to the article, most praising Tatchell for highlighting the issue on a national website.
North Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson also took part in the debate, stating that he was supportive of the efforts to have Cornish recognised as a national minority.
To view the article go to www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree
For more information about the Cornish Fighting Fund go to www.cornishfightingfund.org
17 Comments
View all
by miker, marazion
Friday, November 14 2008, 9:05PM
“i'm a frequent user of the guardian website, the cornwall thread has closed now at 1573 comments they can still be read, people are now commentating on a matthew taylor article. the good thing in the guardian is that all comments appear, even if the abusive ones are deleted by the moderators, so it makes for a lively debate. freedom of the press!!!”
by Dooby Duck, Cornwall
Friday, November 14 2008, 12:36PM
“That sounds fair enough that Justin - I would support a vote on the subject also.
Peace out
QUACK QUACK”
by Justin, Helston
Friday, November 14 2008, 12:04PM
“You raise a valid point Dooby,but it seems Cornwall may never have a majority independent party because the cornish are becoming more and more a minority in their own county,due to the next generation moving away and taking their incomes with them. Parties like the Cornish Independence party and MK need new blood....and lots of it to provide a decent fight against the English system. With some Cornish people wanting independence from England...and the english who live here wanting it to stay an English county forever,without the right to allow a free vote to decide whether the people of the Duchy want a independent state of Cornwall or not!..Judgeing by the situation at the moment with the new Unitary Corp. Of Cornwall opening it's new shop door's next April,we are going to have a NEW dictatorship which will be truly undemocratic for the people of Cornwall as the majority NEVER wanted this new business venture which is the exceptable face of government & BUSINESS working together. I know Dooby you support the new council.....but don't we as a people deserve some real democracy,rather than delivering an unelected unitary system on US!.”
by Dooby Duck, Cornwall, England
Friday, November 14 2008, 11:01AM
“I'll ask again, if so many people want this, and support the Corning Fighting Fund, how come they've raised less than £32k?
This suggests to me that nobody really gives a stuff.”
by Jon Quixley, Milan, Italy
Friday, November 14 2008, 8:25AM
“To recognise Cornish ethanicity might be a good thing in a rather altruistic rather than practical sense. Ceding Cornwall from the UK is not part of the same process and would not help Cornwall's economic plight. What is needed there is a major revolution in how Cornwall is managed from Govt level down and I don't propose (with 4665 letters left) to offer suggestions. Independance for Cornwall has been in the back of Cornishmen's heads for many years (mine included),and it's the best place for it - there are better things to worry about and more important things to devote your energy to”