- Cornish Nationalist Party
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- The term "Cornish Nationalist Party" is sometimes used incorrectly for Mebyon Kernow
Cornish Nationalist Party
Party Kenethlegek KernowLeader James Whetter Founded 1975-2005, 2009-present Ideology Cornish independence,
Cornish nationalismPolitical position Right-wing Politics of the United Kingdom
Political parties
ElectionsThe Cornish Nationalist Party (CNP), Cornish: Party Kenethlegek Kernow, is an unregistered political party in the United Kingdom, led by Dr James Whetter and campaigning for independence for Cornwall.[1] It was formed by people who left Mebyon Kernow on 28 May 1975.[2] The party ceased to exist in 2005, although it claimed to have reformed in April 2009 following a conference in Bodmin.[3] However, it did not contest the local or European elections in 2009.
A separate party with a similar name (the Cornish National Party)[4] existed from 1969.[5]
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. As of 2006[update], they are not registered on the UK political parties register; Mebyon Kernow are the only registered political party based in Cornwall[citation needed].
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.
Contents
Recurrence
It was announced in April 2009 that the Cornish Nationalist Party (now abbreviated CPN) had re-grouped to contest future elections.[6] 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.[citation needed]
See also
- List of topics related to Cornwall
- Cornish self-government movement
- Constitutional status of Cornwall
References
- ^ http://partikenethlekkernewek.fortunecity.com/index1.html "Cornwall's full potential as an independent nation "
- ^ Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism by Dick Cole, Bernard Deacon, and Gary Tregidda
- ^ http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Cornish-Nationalist-Party-regroups-contest-elections/article-876558-detail/article.html
- ^ Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism by Dick Cole, Bernard Deacon, and Gary Tregidda
- ^ In 1969 a CNP was formed.
- ^ http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Cornish-Nationalist-Party-regroups-contest-elections/article-876558-detail/article.html
External links
Cornish nationalism History Organisations An Gof · Cornish Assembly · Cornish Constitutional Convention · Cornish National Liberation Army · Cornish Nationalist Party · Cornish Solidarity · Cornwall 2000 · Mebyon Kernow · Revived Cornish Stannary ParliamentLeaders Cornwall Portal Celtic nations and their cultures Nations Languages Peoples Culture Music Sport Bando · Cammag · Cnapan · Cornish hurling · Cornish wrestling · Curling · Gaelic football · Gaelic handball · Golf · Gouren · Rounders · Highland games · Hurling · Road bowls · ShintyCategories:- Defunct political parties in England
- Political parties established in 1975
- Home rule in the United Kingdom
- Cornish nationalist parties
- Independentist parties
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