Thoughts on the latest devolution “debate”

Article by Cllr Dick Cole published in the Cornish Guardian 28th April 2026) and West Briton newspapers (29th April 2026)

MPs started their deliberation on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in July 2025 and, over the last nine months, Cornwall’s representatives in the House of Commons have consistently argued for a meaningful devolution settlement for Cornwall. They have had repeated meetings with Ministers and, I understand, they have received positive feedback from them.

At a meeting of the Public Bill Committee in October, Perran Moon MP reported that: “I have had several conversations with Ministers and am satisfied with the Government’s assurances at this stage that Cornwall will receive a devolution arrangement that allows us to access the highest level of devolution without the requirement to join a mayoral combined authority …”

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Steve Reed MP) soon after sent a letter to Cornwall Council stating that the “Government is minded on an exceptional basis” to “explore designating the council as a Single Foundation Strategic Authority.” MPs interpreted this to be the beginnings of a decent bespoke deal for Cornwall.

And when Robin Teverson moved an amendment to the legislation in the House of Lords to ensure that the national minority status of the Cornish would safeguard Cornwall as the territory for devolution, Lord Wilson of Sedgefield responded by saying that “discussions are positive and ongoing” and “that is why accepting the noble Lord’s amendments at this stage, before those discussions are concluded, would be premature.”

Various amendments from the House of Lords were presented to MPs last week (21st April) and I remain extremely non-plussed at how the UK Government has yet to make a statement about a democratic settlement for Cornwall.

It was good that Ben Maguire MP attended this most recent debate and made similar points. He told MPs that it was five months since Steve Reed MP had promised to explore a bespoke deal for Cornwall, adding that “the Bill has progressed through both Houses and still we have nothing in writing about that bespoke Cornwall-only deal, or even provisions to allow for one.” He was also correct to point out that “our national minority status in Cornwall has been completely ignored” and could open up the legislation to “potential legal challenges.”

At the end of the debate, the Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities (Miatta Fahnbulleh) responded to the various points raised by parliamentarians. It is inexcusable that she did not address the comments made by Ben Maguire. She said absolutely nothing about Cornwall and the supposedly “positive and ongoing” discussions.

It is time that Westminster actually acted on our calls for more powers for Cornwall.

https://mebyonkernow.org/news/thoughts-on-the-latest-devolution-debate/