Mebyon Kernow hit back at holiday home owner Gordon Ramsay’s ‘shocking’ comments about Cornwall
The Cornish national party Mebyon Kernow have strongly criticised celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay after he made what they called “shocking” comments about Cornwall.
The Hell’s Kitchen star, who has three holiday homes in Cornwall, told Radio 2 that “I absolutely love Cornwall, it’s just the Cornish I can’t stand.”
His comments come amid increasing tensions after properties in the Cornish seaside village of St Agnes were graffitied with the words: “Second homeowners give something back: rent or sell your empty houses to local people at a fair price’ and ‘No more investment properties’.”
Dick Cole, leader of Mebyon Kernow and a councillor for St Dennis & St Enoder, said that he was “really disappointed” by Gordon Ramsay’s “divisive comments and his lack of respect for the Cornish people”.
“It is shocking that he deems it OK to make such a public statement that he would presumably not make about other national or ethnic groups,” he said.
“It does need to be pointed out that the Cornish are protected as a ‘national minority’ – just like the Welsh and Scots – through the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. I sincerely hope he will reflect on his words and apologise.
“Many people living to the west of the Tamar do not enjoy as good a life as Mr Ramsay. I would welcome The Sun doing features on poverty, housing crisis & other socio-economic problems suffered by ordinary people in Cornwall & the need for greater support for Cornish culture.”
Meanwhile, campaigners in Cornwall have welcomed proposals in Wales for a big increase in council tax for second homes, saying that the 300% tax hike would be great for Cornwall.
Loveday Jenkin of Mebyon Kernow told the BBC: “We need to look at what’s going to work best for Cornwall.
“Additional council tax on houses that are not in permanent occupation I think is a great idea because they are not being used for the local community.
“And we have a desperate housing emergency in Cornwall at the moment.”
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Cefnogwch ein cyd geltaiddyn Cerniw
He’s always been an idiot.
The people make the place. Same way the chef makes the restaurant. He is an idiot.
This is the attitude of one who thinks it’s okay to verbally abuse & ridicule his kitchen staff. In any other workplace he’d be up in court. I’m not wholly surprised the disrespect shown to Cornwall. This moron has form besides being an adulterer
The people of Cornwall shouldn’t be too willing to next time to open their arms to such a grotesque man. A man who thinks his celebrity means he can buy Cornwall lock stock & barrel then use hateful rhetoric to the very people who initially welcomed him and his family.
I was lucky to work across Kernow for several years and admire the folk in this Celtic land. The increase in understanding their culture and use of visible bilingualism is growing so fast and they can certainly show we Welsh a thing or to on how to celebrate their national day….and their flag is flown again far more than ours. However the contrast between even neighbouring villages is stark with some just empty shells with no life or shops or schools and others only a mile or so away full of life. The growing Presence of MK in the Council… Read more »
Tosser. No need to waste words.
Who does this entity think he is? An arrogant foul mouthed ugly natured bulling individual is who he is. What makes him think the people of Cornwall welcome him to their county even caring less what he thinks of us so long as we don’t have to suffer his open views on people who see through this person and choose to treat this idiot with the contempt he deserves …
Arrogant,swaggering,self important,self obsessed,delusional. Surrounded by servile,cringing sychophants..but that’s enough about Putin. Now, Ramsay. Well, where to start?
..an arrogant,swaggering,self obsessed,delusional megalomaniac surrounded by servile, cringing sychophants –but, enough about Putin. Now, Gordon Ramsay..where to begin?
What a t**t