Politics of Cornwall
It sits on a peninsula in the South West of England, and its county town, Truro, is 230 miles (370 km) from the UK Parliament in London.
Its main industries - fishing, farming, and various kinds of mining - have been in decline for a long time.
There are therefore tensions in the housing market between the demands of inward migrants to the area and the needs of local people.
Religious non-conformism was strong in Cornwall, and the Church of England was less well supported than some areas to the east.
The Labour Party is traditionally much weaker in Cornwall than many other parts of the UK, although it has had some representation locally.
Cornwall also traditionally elects a number of independent councillors, and is a centre for the rump Liberal Party in the UK.
In a speech he made in support of the Cornish miners at Camborne, he said: You need more in an economy than just tourism, icecream, and deckchairs.
It has occupied Cornishmen and it has produced wealth for this century, the previous century and probably the last two thousand years; and what we’re asking the government to do is to recognise the great contribution we have made for the wealth of Britain, and in this time of great trial and tribulation to come to our assistance – that's what we’re asking our government to do.Cornwall's distinctiveness as a national, as opposed to a regional, minority has been periodically recognised by major British papers.
For example, a Guardian editorial in 1990 pointed to these differences, and warned that they should be constitutionally recognised: The Cornish nationalist party Mebyon Kernow was formed in 1951, initially as a pressure group.
On 26 July 2007 the Conservative party-appointed Mark Prisk (Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford) "Shadow Minister for Cornwall".
[citation needed] Conservative Party leader David Cameron said he wholeheartedly endorsed the appointment and it would ensure that the voice of Cornwall is heard.
Labour, the Green Party, UKIP and the BNP failed to secure any seats in Cornwall.
[citation needed] However, in the 2015 general election, the Liberal party in Cornwall withdrew its candidates, and encouraged its supporters to vote UKIP.
"[17] In 2019, Mebyon Kernow fielded only one candidate (Dick Cole) in the Newquay and St Austell constituency.
Mebyon Kernow got around 5 percent of the total vote in these district elections, putting the party in third position behind the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party and ahead of Labour in several seats including Kerrier, Restormel, North Cornwall and Caradon.
[18] Prior to the 2013 local elections Mebyon Kernow held six seats on the council, having gained two due to defections from other parties, and winning one in a by-election.
It was established in 1974 and had campaigned against the government of the United Kingdom's position on the constitutional status of Cornwall.
Within Cornwall there are a growing number of pressure groups/lobbying groups devoted to Cornish issues other than the national question.
Local environmental issues feature prominently, notably the Surfers against Sewage group, formed in this region, heavily dependent on the tourist industry.
