Cornish Nationalist Party Explained

Country:the United Kingdom
Cornish Nationalist Party
Native Name:An Parti Kenethlegek Kernow
Abbreviation:CNP
Foundation:28 May 1975
Split:Mebyon Kernow
Newspaper:The Cornish Banner
Colorcode:black
Colours:Black and white
Seats1 Title:Cornwall Council

The Cornish Nationalist Party (CNP; Cornish: An Parti Kenethlegek Kernow) is a political party founded in 1975. It initially campaigned for independence for Cornwall[1] but later supported devolved powers under central UK control.[2]

The CNP should not be confused other Cornish nationalist parties, including Mebyon Kernow (MK) from which the CNP split in 1975,[3] or the similarly-named Cornish National Party, which split from MK in 1969.

History

The party was formed on 28 May 1975 by people who left Mebyon Kernow, Cornwall's main nationalist party,[4] and was first led by James Whetter.

The split with Mebyon Kernow was based on two main debates. First was whether to be a centre-left party, appealing to the electorate on a social democratic line, or whether to appeal emotionally on a centre-right cultural line. At the time, the same debate was occurring in most political parties campaigning for autonomy from the United Kingdom, including the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru. Second was whether to embrace devolution as a first step to full independence (or as the sole step if this was what the electorate wished) or for independence to be "all or nothing".

The CNP represented a more right-wing outlook based on the belief that that cultural arguments were more likely to win votes than economic ones. The CNP worked to preserve the Celtic identity of Cornwall, and encouraged links with Cornish people overseas and with other regions with distinct identities. It also gave support to the Cornish language and commemorated Thomas Flamank, a leader of the Cornish Rebellion in 1497, at an annual ceremony at Bodmin on 27 June each year. It also worked to improve Cornwall's economy.

Since the death of founder James Whetter in 2018, the CNP has been led by Androw Hawke.

Electoral and campaign activity

Throughout its history, the CNP has been sporadically registered with the Electoral Commission, fielding candidates for some elections but not others. When not participating in elections it has often continued to act as a campaign group or pressure group, although its visibility and influence within Cornwall is negligible.

It stood for national elections twice, in 1979 and 1983.[5] In April 2009, a news story reported that the party had re-formed following a conference in Bodmin; however, it did not contest any elections that year.A newspaper article and a revamp of the party website in October 2014 state that the party planned to contest elections once more. The reformed party was registered with the Electoral Commission in 2014, but ceased to be registered in 2017.[6]

Indian office

In 1983 the party opened an office in India.[7] The Indian office was established by Gagan Narayan Dua and published a periodical entitled Cornish India.[8] [9]

Publications

Whetter was the founder and editor of the CNP quarterly journal, The Cornish Banner (An Baner Kernewek), within the actions of the Roseland Institute.

Elections and results

YearElectionConstituencyCandidateVotes%Ref
1979UK General ElectionTruroJames Whetter2270.4[10]
1983UK General ElectionNorth CornwallJames Whetter3640.67
1984European Parliament electionCornwall and PlymouthJames Whetter18921.0

At the 1984 European Parliament election, the CNP was affiliated to the former .[11] [12]

The CNP had one parish councillor, leader Androw Hawke who was elected to Polperro Community Council for the second time on 4 May 2017.[13]

Policy

Original policies

The Policy Statement of the CNP was published in 1975. The 1977 Programme of the Cornish Nationalist Party was laid out under multiple key points.[14]

World and continental government
  • The party promotes international federalism in which power is decentaralised "to the true, natural identities and units" to free Celtic nations from their "imperialist overlords". It will work to achieve autonomy for Cornwall to the degree "necessary for her total fulfilment as a Celtic nation. It believes "internationalism is based on strong nationalisms."
    Celtic confederation
  • The party will work to establish a confederation of the six Celtic countries with shared institutions, within a united Europe.
    The Cornish state
  • A Cornish state should have sovereign authority inside its traditional border and over its surrounding sea. Its national flag will be the flag of Saint Piran. The Isles of Scilly may have a referendum to decide on membership. Devolved powers may be an acceptable step towards this ultimate goal.
    Democratic government
  • Power within the Cornish state should also be decentralised to smaller units and these should be based on traditional hundred, parish and town boundaries.
    Legal system
  • Transition from the English legal system to "Celtic Confederation Courts", European courts, and UN courts. New court procedures will introduce the verdict 'not proven' as in Scotland and treat crime against persons as more serious than property crime. Punishment will focus on rehabilitation.
    Language
  • Cornish will be the official language, the language of government, and eventually of education, via a process modelled on the revival of the Hebrew language in Israel.
    Mass communication
  • The Cornish state will have a free press. Publications and programming promoting Cornish and Celtic culture will be supported by the state. Aid will be given to the promotion of the party's Cornish Banner periodical.
    Social organisation and welfare
  • The party supports continuing welfare for the old, sick and young. For others it will "encourage self-reliance and self-sufficiency" instead of "hand-outs". Men and women will be equal but "encouraged in their loyalties to old-established and traditional nuclear families" as well as to local communities and to Cornwall.
    Housing
  • The party would end second homes and build housing to be bought affordably.
    Economy
  • Property rights will be respected and registered in the Cornish state. The economy will be based on a mixture of capitalist and socialist systems. Small businesses will be encouraged, while new industry will emerge "naturally" from "market conditions". English "class antagnoism" will be avoided in larger businesses via profit sharing and worker representation on boards. Farming will be encouraged and fishermen will have sole rights to seas within 50 miles. Cooperatives and unions will be formed. The state has rights to all natural resources in its territory, and extraction companies will pay a proportion of their value to the state. Tourism will be controlled in volume, given better amenities, and refocused on Cornish culture.
    Transport and communication
  • Improvements will avoid widening roads and removing hedgerows.
    Energy
  • The Cornish state will use existing resources and develop new ones, prioritising natural sources.
    Environment and ecology
  • The environment is unique and should be protected via education. People should be encouraged to build new buildings in a traditional Celtic style. Planning control will be minimal to ensure freedom.
    Sport
  • Cornish sports and sports that the Cornish are good at will be encouraged in schools and at the national or Celtic level.
    Culture and recreation
  • Traditional festivals, dances, literature and folklore will be promoted.
    Religion
  • Education should focus on Christianity and ancient Celtic religion. People should have freedom of religion.
    Youth
  • The party will develop a Cornish Youth Movement based on the Welsh Urdd Gobaith Cymru.
    Defence
  • The Cornish state will have a "home defence force, linked to local communities and civil units of administration". It will have no offence force but will contribute to Celtic, European and UN forces. Water rights will be protected by fishery protection vessels and gun boats. Rights may be leased to England for naval use.
    Foreign policy and ambassadorial recognition
  • The Cornish state will support international co-operation and justice as well as Celtic unity. Ambassadorial recognition of all but the most closely-linked stated will happen at the Celtic level.

    Other policies

    Other policies have included:

    More recent policies include:

    Image

    The CNP has had image problems, having been seen as similarly styled to nativist and far-right parties, the British National Party (BNP) and National Front (NF). During the 1970s, the party magazine The Cornish Banner / An Baner Kernewek published letters sympathetic to the NF and critical of "Zionist" politicians.[15] [16]

    In around 1976, CNP formed a controversial uniformed wing, for which it received criticism from members of the Celtic League and MK.[17] The group, known as the "Greenshirts", was led by the CNP Youth Movement leader and public relations officer Wallace Simmons. Simmons also founded the Cornish Front, which supported the NF.[18] [19] A notable political difference is that CNP and Cornish Front were sympathetic to Irish republicanism while the NF was largely supportive of Ulster loyalism, though there were exceptions within the NF, including former leading figure Patrick Harrington who is of Irish Catholic heritage.

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Cornwall's full potential as an independent nation. Partikenethlekkernewek.fortunecity.com. 2011-12-20. dead. https://archive.today/20110530053255/http://partikenethlekkernewek.fortunecity.com/index1.html. 2011-05-30.
    2. News: DaveCDM . The Cornish Nationalist Party reforms as a political party . . 2014-10-01 . 2014-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141015041254/http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Cornish-Nationalist-Party-reforms-political-party/story-23025116-detail/story.html . 2014-10-15 . dead .
    3. Tregidga . Garry H. . Devolution for the Duchy . Journal of Liberal Democratic History . Spring 1999 . 22 .
    4. Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism by Dick Cole, Bernard Deacon, and Garry Tregidga, p. 56, pp. 65-69, p. 81, p. 105, p. 130
    5. Web site: UK Election Statistics: 1945-2003 . parliament.uk . . 5 August 2024.
    6. http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PPm2332 Registration - The Cornish Nationalist Party (De-registered 15/02/17)
    7. News: CNP's India connection . 5 August 2024 . . 3 February 1983.
    8. News: kernow . 5 August 2024 . Carn . 41 . . Spring 1983 . 16.
    9. Web site: General correspondence: 1983-1984 . archives.library.wales . . 5 August 2024.
    10. Book: Craig . Fred W. S. . British parliamentary election results, 1974-1983 . 1984 . Parliamentary Research Services . Chichester, West Sussex . 090017823X . 5 August 2024.
    11. News: Alliance pick lawyer to fight Euro-seat And Whetter is CNP choice . 5 August 2024 . . 29 March 1984.
    12. Book: Encyclopedia of British and Irish political organizations : parties, groups, and movements of the twentieth century . 2000 . London ; New York : Pinter . 978-1-85567-264-2 . 5 August 2024.
    13. Web site: Polperro CC - Councillors. www.polperrocommunitycouncil.gov.uk.
    14. Book: Program an Party Kenethlegek Kernow =: Programme of the Cornish Nationalist Party . 1977 . C.N.P. Publications . St. Austell . 0906009022 . 5 August 2024 . en.
    15. The Cornish Banner, Merth (March) 1977, pp. 18-20
    16. Tristan Bolitho, "Cornwall for the Cornish?", Heritage and Destiny, May 2017, pp. 3-6
    17. Web site: CARN . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/https://www.celticleague.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Carn%2016%20Winter%201976_7.pdf . 2022-10-10 . live . 1976 . www.celticleague.net . PDF. 2020-11-19.
    18. Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism by Dick Cole, Bernard Deacon and Garry Tregidga, pp. 66-67
    19. Celtic Crossman, Fascism and Nationalism in Cornwall - A History 1924-2017, Steven Books 2017

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