Petition calling for Cornwall to gain nation status closes on symbolic milestone
A petition calling on the UK Government to recognise Cornwall as a nation — alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — has gained more than 19,000 signatures.
The campaign, which follows a Cornwall Council motion backing national status, will trigger a formal response from the UK Government after hitting 10,000 signatures. It would need 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament.
Reaching 20,000 signatures would be a symbolic milestone for supporters of the petition, which calls on the Westminster Government to formally recognise Cornwall as the fifth nation of the United Kingdom.
Equal status
The petition states: “We urge the UK Government to formally recognize Cornwall as a nation, granting it equal status to Wales and Scotland. This includes devolved powers, cultural preservation, and official recognition of Cornwall’s distinct heritage, language, and historic autonomy.
“Cornwall has a rich cultural and historical identity, distinct from the rest of England, with its own language, Kernewek, and heritage.
“Despite being part of the UK, Cornwall’s history as a Duchy reflects its unique status. We think granting Cornwall nation status would preserve its culture, promote self-governance, and could empower its people to address local issues.”
The UK government currently recognises Cornwall as a minority nation within the United Kingdom, having granted it national minority status in 2014.
This position supports the cultural recognition and protection of the Cornish people and language, aligning with its long-standing distinct identity but doesn’t devolve significant political powers.
Significant
The 20,000 signature mark is seen as culturally significant as the phrase “20,000 Cornishmen” features in the unofficial anthem for Cornwall, ‘Trelawny’ which recounts the story of a 17th century protest.
In 1688, Sir Jonathan Trelawny, one of the “Seven Bishops” who petitioned King James II, was imprisoned in the Tower of London for his opposition to the King’s religious policies.
According to the song, his imprisonment prompted a large protest, with “one and all” Cornish men rising to march towards London to secure Trelawny’s release.
The anthem’s words come from a poem written in 1824 by the Reverend Stephen Hawker, commemorating the protest. The music was composed in 1861 by Louisa T. Clare.
Its chorus —
“And shall Trelawny live?
Or shall Trelawny die?
Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!”
— has become widely recognised as a declaration of Cornish identity and spirit.
Council motion
The council motion which sparked the petition was brought forward by Councillor Dick Cole, and 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.”
The motion was passed with 53 votes in favour, 22 against and two abstentions.
The deadline for signing the petition is 11 September 2025.
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No point, the rest of us are not respected by English Imperialism
Good luck to them but to us it’s more important to realise what we could descend to unless we protect our language, culture, history, plus all the standards that come with it.
England will forever suffer because of its vile class system and the traits of imperialism and colonialism, that means they have difficulty getting on with other people, something I look forward to being independent from.
Wales will never succeed with parochialism.
Correct, because the UK is stuck in a parochial doom loop.
The UK should federate (and invite Ireland into the federation, thereby solving the Northern Ireland problem assuming they wish to join), this would give a valid opportunity to grant Cornwall, Wales and part of England the ability to define their own futures with more powers devolved across the board.
Just as Nation.Cymru identifies itself, maybe the people can help it happen by default, by always referring to the Nation of Cornwall, and to the Nation of Wales. We are bombarded daily by media use of the “UK” as if it’s a reality (increasingly so since Brexit). By the way, I always pronounce it “uck”. Every little helps.
I always refer to Kernow, or the Cornish nation, when I talk with people, especially those that have no idea about the history of the Celts.
Don’t forget the Isle of Man. Everyone forgets them.
Well, they have more autonomy than Scotland, with a fraction of the population.
So does Ireland which the OP wanted to include in their new federation.
I’m sure a lot of the English incomers are feverishly working away to undermine this movement
Where is the link to the petition please?
The link is in the top line of the story.
We have to be careful, or England will want to become a nation too – it’s the only part of the UK without a parliament and a national anthem. 😁
Uh Cornwall doesn’t have a Parliament per the article 🙄