Demonstration against WCAs - Truro, 1st April

I will be attending the demonstration against WCAs in Truro on Tuesday 1st April.

The demonstration will assemble at Lemon Quay around 12:15pm and then set off to High Cross at 12:30pm.

Anyone who believes that deciding the quality of someone's life should not revolve around a paperwork exercise is welcome to attend.

This demonstration is part of a national day of action across the UK. The success of previous demonstrations has led ATOS to indicate their desire to renege on their contract to perform WCAs and today the government has been forced to accept this.

I have been invited to address the demonstration at High Cross and I look forward to seeing many friends there.

Capping welfare - true blue Tory ideology. So why does Labour support it?

One of the measures announced in the recent budget was an arbitrary cap on supporting those most in need in society. An idea that sits comfotably in the right wing Tory/UKIP camp - but why are Labour so keen?

The problem is that, in order to continue to fuel the favourite Tory pastime of consolidating the ever growing difference between the haves and have nots, money has to be found for tax cuts (most of the state's assets having already been sold to the highest bidder).

Simply freezing the welfare budget is the natural continuation of government avoiding root causes. Instead of dealing with issues lazy government simply throws its hands up in the air, shrugs its shoulders and walks away - leaving who knows what social problems in its wake.

So why is Ed Balls keen on following through with the Tory promise?

I expect that it's because he hopes that if he ever gets into number 11 then the economic cycle will be heading back to growth and the welfare budget will decrease naturally, all by itself.

So there you have it - Labour (red Tories) gambling with peoples lives just to avoid being called 'soft' on benefits.

With this sort of lack of principle Labour will soon be challenging the Lib Dems as the party for whom presentation is more important than substance.

We need to look at other ways of balancing budgets and creating a better balanced economy.

My visit to GeoScience Limited

I visited GeoScience Limited at their Falmouth office today for a briefing on the progress of the Uk’s first large-scale geothermal energy plant at United Downs. 

The companies involved in bringing this innovative technology to Cornwall are very optimistic that the requisite funding will be put in place over the next few months and that the plant will be able to start producing energy next year.

99.9% of the planet is above 100 C. Geothermal energy is virtually carbon emissions free, has a relatively small impact on the landscape and is not dependent on the vagaries of the weather. Cornwall’s granite spine and geology make it rich in minerals but also mean that it is ideal for geothermal energy extraction – one of the top locations in Britain.

Cornwall has an opportunity to make a mark in the UK, Europe and across the world. Our geology and landscape offer resources which can be used to benefit our economy in an environmentally friendly way. 

 

Renewable energy is just one of several niche industries in which Cornwall could become a leading player. Mebyon Kernow believes in strategic national Cornish government which would invest in the facilities and infrastructure that are required to develop the kind of industries that will create real jobs and improve our GVA.

 
I was fascinated by Geothermal Engineering Ltd’s plans and I am looking forward to visiting the plant once it is producing energy for Cornwall. In the meantime, we need to look at ways of developing infrastructure and technology such as a ‘smartgrid’ for Cornwall which would allow us to start making joined up plans for renewable energy production to meet our own needs and even for export.

Why Sarah Newton is wrong about the FCPNM

Thanks to the MK Facebook page for bringing this article by Sarah Newton to my attention.

I can't believe how shortsighted and plain wrong Ms Newton is.

Here is my reply:


I have recently read an article by Sarah Newton MP concerning the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and how the UK should not include the Cornish people within this Convention.Unfortunately Ms Newton seems to have misread or misunderstood the Convention. In her article she claims that the Convention seeks to “to protect from persecution what the EU calls 'minority groups' living within its borders”. In actual fact the Convention’s purpose is “to promote the full and effective equality of national minorities by creating appropriate conditions enabling them to preserve and develop their culture and to retain their identity.” As you can see the official Convention view of its purpose is a lot more positive than the divisive interpretation given to it by our local MP.

Ms Newton goes on to say that she wishes to see the UK’s interpretation of the Convention revisited. Unfortunately, any detail of exactly what she is proposing in its place is only conspicuous by its absence.

More importantly than being wrong about the Convention, Sarah Newton is wrong in her view that it is not right to promote the celebration of Cornish ethnicity. To celebrate ethnicity in itself is not at all discriminatory and, in my view as an Englishman, it is something that is done in an warm and inclusive way here in Cornwall. A view that Ms Newton acknowledges herself.

For centuries, people who come to live in Cornwall have been included in and adopted by Cornish communities. In a reciprocal way the new ideas that new arrivals bring have been assimilated within ever developing Cornish culture. I would argue for Ms Newton to claim that “The definition of identity as a matter of race can exclude people, and restrain cultural expression.” is simplistic in the extreme. 

Further it also denies Cornish people their basic human right to define themselves as they would wish. Whether Ms Newton agrees or not, many Cornish people define themselves as Cornish in terms of race and nationality. This is their right and it is this right that the Convention sets out to protect. If you reinterpret this right you are in danger of doing away with it – or is that the intention?

Illogan Adopts a Cornish Language Policy

Last evening I was very proud and pleased  that Illogan Parish Council voted in favour of my proposal to adopt a Cornish Language Policy.

This means that the council will now consider using the Cornish language whenever appropriate.

We will begin to see more Cornish language on official documents and council signage. As signs are introduced or need to be replaced they will be bilingual.

I am pleased that Illogan is a  forward looking parish. More and more councils across Cornwall are adopting Cornish Language policies and Cornish is definitely a language of the future.

A busy morning

I have a had a busy morning today!

First I was in Falmouth at Source FM, on the One and All Show,
for an interview in my capacity as the MK PPC for Truro and Falmouth. Thanks to Tony and Dave for extending a warm welcome with some testing questions about MK's ideas on a National Assembly and other topics. Next up I will be at Redruth Radio on Thursday morning to face a more detailed examination of MK's proposal for a Cornish National Assembly.

Later this morning I met with Jane Howells who is the secretary with Cornish Quest and who has put in a lot of hard work in examining the way that the Channel Islands handle their devolved powers of government and the wide ranging socio-economic benefits that accrue as a result. Jane had some very thoughtful and constructive criticism of our White Paper, Towards a National Assembly of Cornwall. Comments which I will take to our NEC for further consideration after the end of the consultation period on June 30th.

Ours is a genuine consultation and we really do want to hear from one and all. Please send written comments to me or if you would like a more wide-ranging or detailed discussion please get in touch to arrange a meeting.

Men an Tol - under siege

Men an Tol is an iconic ancient Cornish monument. Possibly dating back to the Neolithic era it is

believed to be part of a standing stone circle.

It is very likely that the stones have been moved or rearranged since ancient times but there's no doubt that the monument is a highly important cultural and archeaeological site.

English Heritage is charged with protecting our ancient heritage - so what is going on.

Whatever English Heritage may consider the rights and wrongs of allowing cattle to roam around an ancient monument to be - this just feels like a total lack of respect for Cornish heritage.

As the Celtic League has said:

"We wonder what would happen if defaecation were allowed on Stonehenge?"

It is quite often the case that authority not only has to do the right thing it also has to be seen to be doing the right thing. Whatever the case for allowing cattle to graze on Penwith Moors, this is simply disrespectful.