Why Cornish independence could be no joke
More and more people in the county want recognition of Cornish identity and political power
A St Piran flag fluttering in the wind at Fistral in Newquay, Cornwall. Credit: Alamy
Cornish independence has been the butt of national jokes for centuries. But strange as it might sound, in 2021, independence or at least some form of devolution for the county seems more tangible than ever.
The movement for Cornish autonomy comes from two different directions: the political drive towards practical legislative devolution from Westminster, and the long-range target of recognition as a sovereign state. Devolution is backed by many business and political leaders across the region, and certainly by the 10 per cent of its 568,210 residents identifying as solely Cornish (and not English). Cornwall Council claims it’s committed to…