Cornish Solidarity
Encyclopedia
Cornish Solidarity is a Cornish
organisation founded in February 1998. It was founded by the then President of Redruth and District Chamber of Commerce, Mr Greg Woods, who having been disgusted at the press being notified of the demise of South Crofty Mine before the staff and workers of the mine, organised a go-slow. The following day on the A30 he was joined by many people who agreed with him. Later that evening the news reported that this had been a show of "Cornish Solidarity" this was the name that the group then adopted. It is a cross party organisation that is fighting for 'Cornish Rights' including the recognition of the ethnic Cornish as a national minority and for more Cornish autonomy in the form of a Cornish Assembly
.
It was formed as a pressure group after the closure of South Crofty
, the last hard rock mine in Cornwall, in March 1998. It produces "Cornwall First", a newsletter published every two months which is free to members. In a statement issued in 1998 it said:-
In 1998, in a protest organised by the organisation, hundreds of campaigners demanding help for Cornwall's economy staged a protest on the Tamar Bridge
. A convoy of protesters, many waving black and white Cornish Saint Piran's Flag
s from their vehicles, drove to the bridge, and used pennies to pay the £1 toll to enter Devon
at Plymouth
. They claimed that Cornwall was experiencing a "youth drain," because young people had to leave the Duchy
to get a university degree, and then stayed away because there were few jobs to go back to. They also quoted the disproportionate gap between local wages and high house prices and the lack of affordable housing for the young. The organisers demanded a special status for Cornwall, which would give it the same benefits as South Wales
and Merseyside
in terms of development grants to businesses. Since this action Cornwall was granted European Union
Objective One status in 1999. Previously the Government had statistically incorporated Cornwall with Devon
in a process known as "Devonwall". In 1998 Cornwall was recognised by the UK Government as having "distinct cultural and historical factors reflecting a Celt
ic background", thus allowing it to be separated in a regional and economic sense from Devon, a fact that underlines the importance of Celticity to Cornwall in recent years. Members have come from many diverse backgrounds, and included ordinary people, Business people, Personalities, Public Servants and clergymen as well as representatives from political parties including Mebyon Kernow and the Cornish Stannary Parliament Since achieving many of its aims, Cornish Solidarity has undertaken a self imposed hibernation vowing to return to fight any attempt to attack or alter Cornwalls ethnic diversity, boundaries or status.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
organisation founded in February 1998. It was founded by the then President of Redruth and District Chamber of Commerce, Mr Greg Woods, who having been disgusted at the press being notified of the demise of South Crofty Mine before the staff and workers of the mine, organised a go-slow. The following day on the A30 he was joined by many people who agreed with him. Later that evening the news reported that this had been a show of "Cornish Solidarity" this was the name that the group then adopted. It is a cross party organisation that is fighting for 'Cornish Rights' including the recognition of the ethnic Cornish as a national minority and for more Cornish autonomy in the form of a Cornish Assembly
Cornish Assembly
The Cornish Assembly is a proposed devolved regional assembly for Cornwall in the United Kingdom along the lines of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly.-Overview:...
.
It was formed as a pressure group after the closure of South Crofty
South Crofty
South Crofty is a metalliferous Tin and Copper mine located in the village of Pool, Cornwall, England UK. An ancient mine, it has seen production for over 400 years, and extends almost two and a half miles across and down and has mined over 40 lodes. Evidence of mining activity in South Crofty has...
, the last hard rock mine in Cornwall, in March 1998. It produces "Cornwall First", a newsletter published every two months which is free to members. In a statement issued in 1998 it said:-
- "Cornish Solidarity is a cross party organisation, made up of people from all walks of life, who firmly believe that our politicians have failed us. We are uniting for ourselves and more importantly for the future of our children."
In 1998, in a protest organised by the organisation, hundreds of campaigners demanding help for Cornwall's economy staged a protest on the Tamar Bridge
Tamar Bridge
The Tamar Bridge is a major road bridge at Saltash in southwest England carrying traffic between Cornwall and Devon. When it opened in 1961 it was the longest suspension bridge in the United Kingdom...
. A convoy of protesters, many waving black and white Cornish Saint Piran's Flag
Saint Piran's Flag
Saint Piran's Flag is the flag of Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. The earliest known description of the flag as the Standard of Cornwall was written in 1838. It is used by Cornish people as a symbol of identity. It is a white cross on a black background....
s from their vehicles, drove to the bridge, and used pennies to pay the £1 toll to enter Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. They claimed that Cornwall was experiencing a "youth drain," because young people had to leave the Duchy
Duchy
A duchy is a territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereign in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era . In contrast, others were subordinate districts of those kingdoms that unified either partially or completely during the Medieval era...
to get a university degree, and then stayed away because there were few jobs to go back to. They also quoted the disproportionate gap between local wages and high house prices and the lack of affordable housing for the young. The organisers demanded a special status for Cornwall, which would give it the same benefits as South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
and Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
in terms of development grants to businesses. Since this action Cornwall was granted European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Objective One status in 1999. Previously the Government had statistically incorporated Cornwall with Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
in a process known as "Devonwall". In 1998 Cornwall was recognised by the UK Government as having "distinct cultural and historical factors reflecting a Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic background", thus allowing it to be separated in a regional and economic sense from Devon, a fact that underlines the importance of Celticity to Cornwall in recent years. Members have come from many diverse backgrounds, and included ordinary people, Business people, Personalities, Public Servants and clergymen as well as representatives from political parties including Mebyon Kernow and the Cornish Stannary Parliament Since achieving many of its aims, Cornish Solidarity has undertaken a self imposed hibernation vowing to return to fight any attempt to attack or alter Cornwalls ethnic diversity, boundaries or status.