Cornwall Council passes motion calling for Cornwall to be recognised as the UK’s fifth nation
Cornwall Council has backed a motion calling on the Government to formally recognise Cornwall as the fifth nation of the United Kingdom, alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The motion, brought forward by Councillor Dick Cole, was supported at the Full Council meeting on 22 July and followed an impassioned speech by Council Leader Councillor Leigh Frost, who set out the case for recognition in his “State of Cornwall in the National Context” address.
Cllr Frost told councillors: “A nation isn’t just a border or a flag. It’s a people. It’s a voice. It’s shared history and a shared purpose. Cornwall has all of that and more.”
“This is not a slogan or a branding exercise. It is a statement of fact and a declaration of intent. We’re ready to take our place. We’re ready to be heard. And we’re ready to shape our future on our own terms.”
Report
The motion follows the publication of “The Cornwall We Know” (State of Cornwall 2025), a report setting out both the challenges Cornwall faces and its potential to lead in areas such as clean energy, critical minerals, and innovation.
Cllr Frost warned that decisions affecting Cornwall are too often made in Westminster without Cornish voices at the table, and that recent changes to national funding risk leaving Cornwall behind unless its status is recognised and strengthened.
“We don’t just need support from the Government – we deserve investment, partnership, and respect,” he said. “This is about ensuring Cornwall’s future is not decided solely in Whitehall or Westminster, but here, by us, for us.”
‘Duty’
Introducing the motion, Councillor Cole said Cornwall Council had a duty to stand up for Cornwall.
“Standing up for Cornwall is what this bill is all about” he said. “The leader of the council has made it clear that he is committed to securing meaningful devolution, whilst also protecting the integrity of our Celtic nation as a political unit. I believe he is right in doing this.
“We have a thousand years of history and a myriad of reasons – cultural, economic, environmental, linguistic, social – as to why we need to stand together and maintain our unity in pushing for that meaningful and bespoke settlement for Cornwall.”
The motion was passed with 53 votes in favour, 22 against and two abstentions.
The Council will now write to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, and begin cross-party engagement with MPs to build support for Cornwall’s recognition.
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Good luck to Cornwall but, like Cymru, it’s up against a centralised government that hates the differences in the British isles.
Kernow nationhood is an inalienable right of its permanent residents. It’s heartening for me to see an effective supermajority vote at full council – in favour of the motion calling on the UK Government to formally recognise Cornwall as its fifth nation. Da iawn cllr Dick Cole, and cllr Leigh Frost.
Da iawn brothers!!!
Whats the make up of Kernow Council??
Party Number of members
Reform UK 28
Liberal Democrat 26
Independents 16
Conservative 7
Labour 4
Mebyon Kernow 3
Green 3
dIOLCH!!!
No surprise at all to find out that Reform members made up those who voted against the motion.
Wonderful and uplifting. I have attended many events celebrating Kernow and they are so inspiring. Onwards to freedom!
Da iawn Cernyw.
Since Kernkow was never actually annexed by England presumably all that’s needed now from a constitutional perspective is for the other nations to formally recognise their nation status.
*Kernow, of course
And maybe taking every opportunity to refer to it as “the nation of Cornwall”. Also as a retort to news media that have been increasingly forcing the abbreviation “UK” upon us (I pronounce it “uck” by the way). “Cenedl Cymru/the nation of Wales” could be used more here too. Just a thought
A looser federal UK should include the Isle of Man, the quasi independent Celtic nation that no-one talks about.
And about time too!
I also think that in a few decades London Yorkshire Gloucester and Shropshire will want to follow. Cornwall.
Quite some years back I discovered, by accident on-line, that apparently there’s actually a ‘Mercia independence party’ in existence!
That’s the big issue for the english government. Once we in Cymru and Scotland have our independence, England will break up too.
Go Kernow!! Da iawn.
Independence is normal.
Big problem, needs addressing, HRH next in line piggy bank, the Duchy of Cornwall. That aged ancient hand me down of profit needs to go.
👏👏👏 Kernow 💯 with you
Would be really interesting to see if Kernow would get the international recognition that other homes nations enjoy. Sport for example: I could easily see a Cornish national rugby union even taking part in the 6 (or 7 nations), a Cornish Cricket Board (which would put us to an even more embarrassing shame when we are still part of the English Cricket Board). But football would be the most challenging, many in FIFA already resent the UK having 4 national teams, a fifth one might be seen as taking the p*ss.
It’s wonderful to read the heartfelt support offered to our tylwyth (kinsfolk) in Cernyw (Kernow) in their just and righteous fight for recognition as a nation. It’s been a long time coming. Gwenno, the Welsh-Cornish musician exemplifies the close cultural and linguistic bonds we share in her music, so this is a fight that Cernyw should not be left to do alone. We should all write to our MPs to ensure that cross-party engagements take place. Onen hag oll / Un ac oll (One and all)
Best of luck. They will need it, given that Wales doesn’t have much to celebrate.
Another Dic Sion Dafydd I see.