St Ives MP and long-term Cornish devolution campaigner, Andrew George, feels optimistic Cornwall can secure the devolution it needs, if political leaders stick together “one and all”.
The Cornish MPs meet deputy prime minister Angela Rayner
He was responding following this week’s publication of the government’s devolution White Paper. He met with fellow Cornish MPs, deputy prime minister (DPM) Angela Rayner, and senior civil servants in her Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government office yesterday.
Government ministers had suggested at the weekend that Cornwall should “partner with neighbouring authorities” if it wants to “deepen its devolution agreement”. The White Paper confirms that the government would grant ministerial direction powers to impose devolved, directly-elected mayors covering combined authorities.
However, Mr George has reported that he felt the DPM was listening to Cornish MPs. “Of course I don’t believe the DPM will roll over immediately, but we made her very aware how strongly determined Cornwall is to secure devolution on a Cornwall footprint,” he said.
“She will have a major task on her hands persuading other areas. We can wait if that’s what it takes. I’m sure she would not really want to be perceived as delivering devolution by authoritarian central diktat!
“If they’re sincerely committed to devolution, ministers need to understand that devolution is about letting go, not holding on to and micro-managing all local decision-making. No government would have said to Wales that devolution was on the condition that it ‘must partner with neighbouring authorities’ in the West Midlands. But in effect, that’s what they would do to Cornwall if they insisted on sticking to the letter of their White Paper.
“I must praise my fellow Cornish MPs for displaying firm unanimity during our meeting with the deputy prime minister. Our collective strength will ensure we secure a good outcome for Cornwall.”
• In response to the government decision not to offer compensation to women pensioners born in the 1950s (so called ‘WASPI women’), Mr George, has asked to meet WASPI campaigners to consider next steps.
“For years, my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have pushed the government to fairly compensate WASPI women in line with the Ombudsman’s recommendations,” said Mr George.
“The government’s heartless decision cannot be allowed to stand, and we will be pressing ministers to give those affected the fair treatment they deserve.”
