Cornish Nationalist Party
Encyclopedia
The Cornish Nationalist Party (CNP), , is an unregistered political party
in the United Kingdom
, led by Dr James Whetter
and campaigning for independence
for Cornwall
. It was formed by people who left Mebyon Kernow
on 28 May 1975. The party ceased to exist in 2005, although it claimed to have reformed in April 2009 following a conference in Bodmin
. However, it did not contest the local or European elections in 2009.
A separate party with a similar name (the Cornish National Party) existed from 1969.
The split was down to the same debate that was occurring in most of the political parties campaigning for autonomy
from the United Kingdom at the time (for example the Scottish National Party
and Plaid Cymru
), 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. Another subject of the split 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 it to be "all or nothing".
The CNP essentially represented the party's right wing, who were not willing to accept that economic arguments were more likely to win votes than cultural.
The CNP worked to preserve the identity of Cornwall and improve its economy, and encouraged links with Cornish people overseas and with other regions which have distinct identities. It also gave support to Unified Cornish
, the language of the Cornish revival in modern times, and commemorated Thomas Flamank
, a leader of the Cornish Rebellion
in 1497, at an annual ceremony at Bodmin
on 27 June each year.
While the CNP were not a racist organisation there was a perceived image problem relating to the similarly-styled British National Party
(BNP). Today, the Cornish Nationalist Party is seen as more of a pressure group as they do not put up candidates for local, general or European elections. , they are not registered on the UK political parties register; Mebyon Kernow are the only registered political party based in Cornwall.
Dr Whetter and the CNP still publish a quarterly journal, The Cornish Banner (An Baner Kernewek). This is done within the actions of the Roseland Institute.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, led by Dr James Whetter
James Whetter
James C. A. Whetter is a noted Cornish historian and editor of The Cornish Banner , a Cornish journal. His books include The History of Glasney College Padstow: Tabb House, 1988; Cornwall in the Seventeenth Century. Padstow: Lodenek Press, 1974; and The History of Falmouth Redruth: Dyllansow...
and campaigning for independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
for Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It was formed by people who left Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists...
on 28 May 1975. The party ceased to exist in 2005, although it claimed to have reformed in April 2009 following a conference in Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
. However, it did not contest the local or European elections in 2009.
A separate party with a similar name (the Cornish National Party) existed from 1969.
The split was down to the same debate that was occurring in most of the political parties campaigning for autonomy
Self-governance
Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization.It may refer to personal conduct or family units but more commonly refers to larger scale activities, i.e., professions, industry bodies, religions and political units , up to and including autonomous regions and...
from the United Kingdom at the time (for example the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
and Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
), whether to be a centre-left
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
party appealing to the electorate on a social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
line, or whether to appeal emotionally on a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
cultural line. Another subject of the split was whether to embrace devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
as a first step to full independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
(or as the sole step if this was what the electorate wished) or for it to be "all or nothing".
The CNP essentially represented the party's right wing, who were not willing to accept that economic arguments were more likely to win votes than cultural.
The CNP worked to preserve the identity of Cornwall and improve its economy, and encouraged links with Cornish people overseas and with other regions which have distinct identities. It also gave support to Unified Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
, the language of the Cornish revival in modern times, and commemorated Thomas Flamank
Thomas Flamank
Thomas Flamank was a lawyer from Cornwall who together with Michael An Gof led the Cornish Rebellion against taxes in 1497....
, a leader of the Cornish Rebellion
Cornish Rebellion of 1497
The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 was a popular uprising by the people of Cornwall in the far southwest of Britain. Its primary cause was a response of people to the raising of war taxes by King Henry VII on the impoverished Cornish, to raise money for a campaign against Scotland motivated by brief...
in 1497, at an annual ceremony at Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
on 27 June each year.
While the CNP were not a racist organisation there was a perceived image problem relating to the similarly-styled British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
(BNP). Today, the Cornish Nationalist Party is seen as more of a pressure group as they do not put up candidates for local, general or European elections. , they are not registered on the UK political parties register; Mebyon Kernow are the only registered political party based in Cornwall.
Dr Whetter and the CNP still publish a quarterly journal, The Cornish Banner (An Baner Kernewek). This is done within the actions of the Roseland Institute.
Recurrence
It was announced in April 2009 that the Cornish Nationalist Party (now abbreviated CPN) had re-grouped to contest future elections. It had been announced, however, that the new main aim of the party is support of the new Unitary Authority in Cornwall, something that is unpopular with many of the citizens.See also
- List of topics related to Cornwall
- Cornish self-government movementCornish self-government movementCornish nationalism is an umbrella term that refers to a cultural, political and social movement based in Cornwall, the most southwestern part of the island of Great Britain, which has for centuries been administered as part of England, within the United Kingdom...
- Constitutional status of CornwallConstitutional status of CornwallCornwall is currently administered as a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England.However, a number of organisations and individuals question the constitutional basis for the administration of Cornwall as part of England, arguing that the Duchy Charters of 1337 place the governance of...