The Danger of a Cornish Assembly

The idea of a Cornish Assembly troubles me. Don't get me wrong, I think that in principle it is a good thing but I wonder what would it look like in reality and what would it represent? The easy option would be for the government to give more responsibilities to Cornwall Council and that would be 'problem solved', but would that be enough? There is an expectation from Nationalists that an Assembly would represent the Cornish Nation, as happens in Wales and Scotland. And that is what troubles me; those countries have an identity that provides momentum? I'm not sure if Cornwall has that.

Does Cornwall's present political structure have the drive and leadership necessary to power an Assembly? I've watched Council webcasts and although there are some inspired Councillors, there are others that I don't think capable of running a whelk stall, some who run the county like it was their private fiefdom or run it according to Tory political philosophy circa 1870! How about our current MP's? Ignoring the carpetbaggers and those who have a hereditary link to the County but no actual interest in it and who would run a mile from localised politics, I can't see them choosing Truro over Westminster!

So, from where and whom would leadership come and what would it be leading? A Cornish nation with it's own identity and needs or would it be leading an 'Oggieland', an identity as a marketting concept for the county?

We hear all the time people saying they are proud to be Cornish but does a Cornish identity actually exist? Without that identity an Assembly would be little different than the Council that we have now.

Whilst travelling in Wales I found the Welsh language signs etc a powerful symbol of Welsh identity, unlike the piffling little road names in Cornish that we have hereI felt that I was no longer in England. A recent UN program about disappearing languages said that once a people lose their language they lose their identity; without a living Cornish language the county risks descending into the parody that is Somerset and Devon local culture with it's 'Yer Tiz me ansum, ave zum zyder' touristy image.
Would an Assembly in Cornwall have a mandate for declaring a bilingual state? Would it have the drive to push forward with such a thing against a significant proportion of Cornishfolk who don't see the point in reviving the language?

The Cornish Nation lags behind other Celtic nations in that the corrosive effect of English Imperialism has made inroads practically unchecked. A Cornish Assembly representing the Cornish Nation would need strong and wise leadership to imprint on the County an identity so that Cornwall becomes unique, vibrant and sustainable. I fear that it has a long way to go yet.

Another reason for needing a strong Assembly is because of an awesome task it could undertake in the interests of the people of Cornwall. The Duchy of Cornwall has an income of some £17m per annum, little of which is invested in the county, the Duchy also wields powers beyond those of a private estate. Indeed in a recent court hearing it was judged to be tantamount to a Public Body. So should it's powers and money not be administered by the Assembly, if the Duchy is declared a Public Body it should come under Public ownership?
Would an Assembly be strong and independent enough to challenge the authority of the Duchy!

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Bard Humbug

The evenings are getting darker earlier now and I was driving through one of the coastal villages when it struck me that all the houses were in darkness, in fact all over Cornwall there are sections of towns that are deserted. I think that it is ourageous! These holiday houses and second homes are left empty all through the winter and yet the owners are expected to pay Council Tax at the full rate. This is patently unfair! The cost to the Council is less as there is reduced call for services such as bin collections and less wear and tear on tarmac on the roads. Has anyone considered that the owners have the extra expense of having to fit security systems; that should be tax deductible as well. And another thing! These empty properties have a beneficial effect on the local economy as minders are employed to look after the cottages in the winter. My God, if you want jobs and for us to own these places you will have to cut us some slack!

I was chatting to the old boy who comes to tend my garden and he was telling me about the days gone by when his grandfather used to live in the cottage I now own.  The old boy had a tear in his eye as he told me about the times he used to visit his granpa and help mend pots and the such. I said that his granpa would not recognise the place now I've had the ground floor knocked through, double glazing put in and the front of the cottage pebble-dashed. Anyway, the chap went on talking for so long that I had to dock him an hour's pay! I have to admit that I will miss him when I have to sack him next year, I have found a young lad who will do the garden so I'd be daft to pay adult minimum wage when I can get someone on teenage rate.

The exciting news is that I am going to become a Bard! In my local pub there is this chap who says he is a Bard, he is definitely true Cornish because he sounds like Eddy Grundy and can speak that Cornish gibberish stuff! I said that I would like to buy a Bardship so that I can be more Cornish.  He said that I will  become a Bard and be accepted as Cornish when the Gorse is not in bloom, I'm not sure when that will be but it can't be too long!

I'll keep you informed of progress.

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