15-07-2025
Joint mayor would 'discriminate' against Cornish people, says Labour MP
A Cornish Labour MP has warned he will vote against his Government's devolution plans if it means the Duchy has to merge with Devon to form a combined authority and elect a joint mayor.
Perran Moon, the MP for Camborne and Redruth, has said Labour's current proposal"discriminates against the people of Cornwall" because a change in local governance would conflict with their National Minority Status.
"I have had enough of talk about Cornwall joining a Mayoral Combined Authority with Devon or anywhere else to the east of the Tamar, for that matter," Mr Moon said.
"The currently proposed English Devolution Bill discriminates against the people of Cornwall, as a change in our governance structure directly conflicts with our National Minority Status."
Cornwall 'cannot and will not' join a mayoral combined authority, Perran Moon tells Government.
As they currently stand, Labour's plans would see all-remaining areas with two tiers of local authority eventually restructured into single-tier unitary bodies.
In Devon for example, a combined county authority has already been given the green light, which includes the merger of Devon County Council with Torbay Council, and Devon's district, city and borough councils.
The plans would also see unitary authorities join up with those in neighbouring areas to form so-called 'super councils', run by elected mayors with control over policy areas such as transport, housing and skills budgets.
The idea is that these combined authorities would represent a population size of around 1.5million or above.
Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire have submitted plans for a "Wessex" authority, while it's thought North Somerset may attempt to join the already-existing West of England Combined Authority.
It all sounds quite complicated, but it effectively means that elected mayors will be given greater control of their local areas and, in theory, things should get done quickly and successfully.
However, in Devon and Cornwall, it's not that straightforward.
Labour is realising that different parts of the country have very different idea about what successful devolution looks like.
To a number of MPs in Cornwall, that doesn't mean joining with Devon. It means a bespoke 'deal' for the Duchy that comes with its own promises of local power and investment.
Angela Rayner previously told ITV West Country that she's "enticing" them to embrace the mayoral model, but not forcing, though it's still not clear what that really means.
This week, the Camborne and Redruth MP asked one of Ms Rayner's deputies for clarity.
Cornwall is "desperate to access the highest level of devolution," Mr Moon said, before adding: "Cornwall cannot and will not join a mayoral combined authority."
Jim McMahon, the minister responsible for devolution, said: "We absolutely understand and respect, and are invested in, the Cornish identity.
"But we also need to make sure the devolution agenda moves on at pace and that every part of England can realise their full potential."
The rhetoric from Cornish MPs on devolution has stepped up a gear, and will no doubt continue to do so.
"A Cornwall-only devolution deal is the right deal for Cornwall and I will be significantly increasing the profile of this issue in national media over the summer until we get the devolution deal that respects our unique status," Mr Moon told constituents in a post on Facebook.
"If changes aren't made to the English Devolution Bill or we cannot agree a Cornwall-only deal before we are asked to vote on the Bill, I WILL vote against it."
