View source for Politics of Cornwall

{{Short description|South West England county}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2009}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Cornwall Labelled Map}}
'''Cornwall''' is administered as a [[Counties of England|county]] of [[South West England]] whose politics are influenced by a number of issues that make it distinct from the general political scene in the wider [[United Kingdom]], and the political trends of neighbouring counties. Its position on the geographical periphery of the island of [[Great Britain]] is also a factor.

[[Cornwall]] shares some of the political issues of the other [[Celtic nations]], in particular [[Wales]], and a notable movement exists seeking [[Cornish self-government movement|greater powers of self-government]] within the UK, similar to that achieved in Wales.  Cornish politics is also defined by its historical relationship between the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (and formerly the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]), and the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].

Cornwall's politics have partly been dictated by its geography and history. It sits on a peninsula in the South West of England, and its [[county town]], [[Truro]], is {{Convert|230|mi|km}} from the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] in [[London]]. Its main industries - fishing, farming, and various kinds of mining - have been in decline for a long time. In 2013, the [[gross value added]] of the county was the fourth lowest of any ceremonial county in England. However, Cornwall is attractive to tourists, and to people seeking to move into the area to live. There are therefore tensions in the housing market between the demands of inward migrants to the area and the needs of local people.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

== History ==
Historically, Cornwall was a [[Brittonic languages|Brittonic]]-speaking area separate from the rest of England until about the 10th century and retained much of its cultural distinctiveness in later centuries. Religious non-conformism was strong in Cornwall, and the [[Church of England]] was less well supported than some areas to the east.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} This has continued to inform later Cornish politics, in the form of Liberalism, now represented mainly by the Liberal Democrats can be traced to historical associations with Liberalism and non-conformist religion, particularly [[Methodism]], in the 19th century and similarly land ownership and the Conservative party in the same period. The Conservative Party is also fairly strong in Cornwall, but for slightly different reasons. They suffered a particularly bad setback in the 1990s. However, they regained three of the six Cornish seats in the 2010 general election. The Labour Party is traditionally much weaker in Cornwall than many other parts of the UK, although it has had some representation locally. This may be partly because there is no major urban centre in Cornwall – [[Plymouth]] tends to fulfil that role. Cornwall also traditionally elects a number of independent councillors, and is a centre for the [[Liberal Party (UK, 1989)|rump Liberal Party]] in the UK.

1986 saw the death of the MP [[David Penhaligon]] of the (then) [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]. Penhaligon's career looked promising, with some tipping him as a future leader. In a speech he made in support of the Cornish miners at [[Camborne]], he said:
{{Cquote|You need more in an economy than just tourism, icecream, and deckchairs. Our mining industry is not a figment of the last decade or the last two decades. It has occupied Cornishmen and it has produced wealth for this century, the previous century and probably the last two thousand years; and what we’re asking the government to do is to recognise the great contribution we have made for the wealth of Britain, and in this time of great trial and tribulation to come to our assistance – that's what we’re asking our government to do.}}

Cornwall's distinctiveness as a ''national'', as opposed to a regional, minority has been periodically recognised by major British papers. For example, a ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' editorial in 1990 pointed to these differences, and warned that they should be constitutionally recognised:
:"''Smaller minorities also have equally proud visions of themselves as irreducibly [[Welsh people|Welsh]], Irish, Manx or Cornish. These identities are ''distinctly national'' in ways which ''proud people from [[Yorkshire]]'', much less proud people from [[Berkshire]] will never know. Any new constitutional settlement ''which ignores these factors'' will be built on uneven ground.''"<ref>''[[The Guardian]]'', editorial, 8 May 1990</ref>

The Cornish nationalist party [[Mebyon Kernow]] was formed in 1951, initially as a pressure group. Some of its members and supporters were politicians (councillors and MPs) from the three main British political parties, but later on, it became a party in its own right and members of other parties left. Its most famous supporter of the time was the novelist [[Daphne du Maurier]]. One of Mebyon Kernow's main campaigns is for a [[Cornish Assembly]] and in 2001 it presented a petition to [[10 Downing Street]] with 50,000 signatures in favour of the Assembly.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1704112.stm 50,000 Assembly petition presented to 10 Downing Street]</ref>

Growing dissatisfaction with [[European Union]] fishing policy including the [[Common Fisheries Policy]] led to a growth of support for [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) within fishing ports such as [[Newlyn]]. On 26 July 2007 the Conservative party-appointed [[Mark Prisk]] (Member of Parliament for [[Hertford and Stortford (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertford and Stortford]]) "[[Shadow Minister for Cornwall]]". This appointment was called "the fictional minister for Cornwall," by a Liberal Democrat MP, as there was no government minister to shadow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/03/conservative-party-local-mps|title = The fictional minister for Cornwall}}</ref> The post was not continued following the 2010 election, and no longer exists. This was to put the Duchy's concerns "at the heart of Conservative thinking", according to a party statement.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} Conservative Party leader [[David Cameron]] said he wholeheartedly endorsed the appointment and it would ensure that the voice of Cornwall is heard.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIAarTqZsaU Mark Prisk appointed Tory Shadow Minister for Cornwall]</ref> However, as the post has been discontinued, this concept remains unproven.

In the June 2016 EU referendum, Cornwall voted to leave the EU. 43.5 per cent (140,540) of Cornwall's voters wanted to remain in the EU, while 56.5 per cent (182,665) voted to leave.<ref>http://www.westbriton.co.uk/8203-we-got-there-dreckly-cornwall-s-out-vote-is-the-last-to-be-announced-in-eu-referendum/story-29439264-detail/story.html#sKK6H6jikMMIJAsJ.99{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Parliamentary representation ==
[[File:CornwallConstituencies2010.gif|thumb|From the 2010 general election, Cornwall has had six parliamentary constituencies]]
Following a review by the [[Boundary Commission for England]] taking effect at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Cornwall is divided into six [[county constituencies]] to elect MPs to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]].

Before the 2010 boundary changes there were five constituencies in Cornwall. In the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], all five seats were won by [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]. However, at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]] Liberal Democrat candidates won three seats and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidates won three seats.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

In the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] all Cornish seats were won by the Conservatives. All retained their seats in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

In the 2019 election, all six MPs were conservative.

In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]], the Conservatives were wiped out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Conservatives lose all six seats in Cornwall |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8vd93vv0g4o |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Current Cornish MPs ===

* [[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne & Redruth]]: '''[[Perran Moon]]''' ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
* [[North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|North Cornwall]]: '''[[Ben Maguire]]''' ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]])
* [[South East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|South East Cornwall]]: '''[[Anna Gelderd]]''' ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
* [[St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)|St Austell & Newquay]]: '''[[Noah Law]]''' ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
* [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]]: [[Andrew George (politician)|'''Andrew George''']] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]])
* [[Truro and Falmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro & Falmouth]]: '''[[Jayne Kirkham]]''' ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]])
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ General Election Result 2024 By Constituency
|-
! Political Party  !! [[South East Cornwall]] !! [[North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)]] !! [[St Austell & Newquay]] !! [[Truro & Falmouth]]!! [[Camborne & Redruth]] !! [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)]] !! Total !! Percentage 
|-
|'''[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]'''||'''15,670'''|| 2,958|| '''15,958''' || '''20,783''' || '''19,360''' || 2,788 || '''77,517''' || '''26.43%'''
|-
| '''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]''' || 13,759 || 14,137 || 13,488 || 12,632 || 11,554 || 11,247 || '''76,817''' || '''26.19%'''
|-
| '''[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]''' || 8,284 || '''24,094''' || 4,805 || 6,552 || 4,113 || '''25,033''' || '''72,881''' || '''24.85%'''
|-
| '''[[Reform UK]]''' || 9,311 || 8,444 || 9,212 || 6,163 || 8,952 || 6,492 || '''48,574'''|| '''16.56%'''
|-
| '''[[Green Party of England & Wales]]''' || 1,999 || 1,335 || 2,337 || 3,470 || 2,840 || 1,797 || '''13,778''' || '''4.7%'''
|-
| Other Parties/ Independent Candidates  || 263 || 277 || 932 || 664 || 966 || 749 || '''3,740'''|| '''1.27%'''
|-
| '''Total Valid Votes''' || '''49,286''' || '''51,245''' || '''46,732'''|| '''50,264''' || '''47,785''' || '''48,106''' || '''293,307''' || '''100%'''
|}

=== MPs 2019-2024 ===
* [[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne & Redruth]]: '''[[George Eustice]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
* [[North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|North Cornwall]]: '''[[Scott Mann (politician)|Scott Mann]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
* [[South East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|South East Cornwall]]: '''[[Sheryll Murray]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
* [[St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)|St Austell & Newquay]]: '''[[Steve Double]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
* [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]]: '''[[Derek Thomas (politician)|Derek Thomas]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
* [[Truro and Falmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro & Falmouth]]: '''[[Cherilyn Mackrory]]''' ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]])
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+General Election Results in Cornwall, 1945-
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="2" |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
! colspan="2" |[[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]]/[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal
Democrat]]
! colspan="2" |[[Reform UK]]
! colspan="2" |Others
|-
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%

|-
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|'''[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|76,817
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|26.19%
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|'''77,517'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|'''26.43%'''
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|72,881
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|24.85%
|{{Party shading/Reform UK}}|48,574
|{{Party shading/Reform UK}}|16.56% 
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|17,518
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|5.97%

|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''173,117'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''53.75%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|74,392
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|23.10%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|62,169
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|19.30%
| colspan="2" |Did Not Contest 
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|12,401
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|3.85%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''152,428'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''48.43%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|83,968
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|26.68%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|73,875
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|23.47%
| colspan="2" rowspan="20" |Did Not Exist 
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|4,438
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|1.41%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''127,079'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''43.10%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|36,235
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|12.29%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|66,056
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|22.40%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|65,458
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|22.20%
|-
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|115,016
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|40.95%
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|24,257
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|8.64%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''117,307'''
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''41.76%'''
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|24,301
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|8.65%
|-
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|82,543
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|31.82%
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|41,140
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|15.86%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''115,241'''
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''44.42%'''
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|20,509
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|7.91%
|-
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|82,227
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|32.61%
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|43,674
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|17.32%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''113,000'''
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''44.82%'''
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|13,216
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|5.24%
|-
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|85,077
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|30.36%
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|47,913
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|17.10%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''123,124'''
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|'''43.94%'''
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|24,093
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|8.60%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''127,678'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''42.71%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|41,593
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|13.91%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|124,553
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|41.66%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|5,133
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|1.72%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''131,194'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''47.26%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|34,994
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|12.60%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|111,064
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|40.01%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|373
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0.13%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''126,182'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''49.29%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|22,838
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|8.92%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|104,365
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|40.77%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|2,604
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|1.02%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''130,149'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''50.63%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|32,270
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|12.55%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|87,994
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|34.23%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|6,646
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|2.59%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|Oct. 1974]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''101,501'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''43.64%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|46,565
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|20.02%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|81,766
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|35.15%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|2,778
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|1.19%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|Feb. 1974]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''101,495'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''41.81%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|47,466
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|19.55%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|92,747
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|38.21%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|1,027
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0.42%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''104,362'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''47.91%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|53,642
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|24.62%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|58,877
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|27.03%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|960
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0.44%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1966 United Kingdom general election|1966]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''84,217'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''41.38%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|56,521
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|27.77%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|62,791
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|30.85%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1964 United Kingdom general election|1964]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''79,551'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''41.15%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|50,005
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|25.87%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|63,504
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|32.85%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|265
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0.14%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''84,684'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''43.80%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|53,100
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|27.47%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|55,549
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|28.73%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1955 United Kingdom general election|1955]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''92,185'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''48.53%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|58,267
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|30.68%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|39,495
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|20.79%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1951 United Kingdom general election|1951]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''101,653'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''50.49%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|67,111
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|33.33%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|32,573
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|16.18%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1950 United Kingdom general election|1950]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''89,060'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''44.19%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|59,678
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|29.61%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|52,816
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|26.20%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0%
|-
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''[[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945]]'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''73,249'''
|{{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}}|'''41.85%'''
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|44,226
|{{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}}|25.27%
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|56,935
|{{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}}|32.53%
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|626
|{{Party shading/Independent}}|0.36%
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|+European Parliament Election Results in Cornwall, 1999-2019
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="2" |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
! colspan="2" |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
! colspan="2" |[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
! colspan="2" |[[UK Independence Party|UKIP]]/
[[Reform UK|Brexit]]
! colspan="2" |Others
|-
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
!No.
!%
|-
| {{Party shading/Reform UK}} |'''[[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019]]'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |13,576
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |7.75%
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |10,831
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |6.18%
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |35,051
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |20.00%
| {{Party shading/Reform UK}} |'''71,919'''
| {{Party shading/Reform UK}} |'''41.03%'''
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |43,899{{refn|group=n|Includes votes for the UK Independence Party.}}
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |25.05%
|-
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''[[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014]]'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |37,835
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |25.65%
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |16,178
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |10.97%
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |17,918
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |12.15%
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''54,093'''
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''36.68%'''
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |21,465
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |14.55%
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''[[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009]]'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''46,868'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''27.86%'''
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |8,547
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |5.08%
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |29,608
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |17.60%
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |40,091
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |23.83%
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |43,121
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |25.63%
|-
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''[[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004]]'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |36,253
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |25.55%
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |16,460
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |11.60%
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |31,088
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |21.91%
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''40,644'''
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |'''28.65%'''
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |17,420
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |12.28%
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''[[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999]]'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''39,399'''
| {{Party shading/Conservative Party (UK)}} |'''35.05%'''
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |13,586
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |12.09%
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |28,290
| {{Party shading/Liberal Democrats}} |25.17%
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |17,083
| {{Party shading/UKIP}} |15.20%
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |14,038
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |12.49%
|}

== Local government ==
[[Image:Konsel Kernow 2005.png|thumb|right|Composition of [[Cornwall County Council]] following the 2005 elections. Yellow = Liberal Democrats, grey = independents & MK, blue = Conservatives, red = Labour.]]
[[File:Cornwall Council Electoral Divisions Map.PNG|thumb|Cornwall Council Electoral Divisions Map]]
On 1 April 2009, most of the ceremonial county of Cornwall became a [[unitary authority]], with the headquarters of [[Cornwall Council]] based in [[Truro]]. Before then, Cornwall was a non-metropolitan county that followed the [[Administrative divisions of England|three tier system]] typical of English [[shire county|shire counties]], and had five [[Non-metropolitan district|districts]]: [[Penwith]], [[Kerrier]], [[Carrick, Cornwall|Carrick]], [[Caradon]] and [[North Cornwall]], and one [[borough]] [[Restormel]]. Cornwall Council provides a wide range of services to more than half a million residents, has an annual budget of more than £1 billion, and is the biggest employer in Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/shall-overcome-8211-polling-day/article-943996-detail/article.html |title=Cornwall Council 2009 elections |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511122709/http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/shall-overcome-8211-polling-day/article-943996-detail/article.html |archive-date=11 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Isles of Scilly]], which are part of the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of Cornwall, are not part of the Cornwall unitary authority, as they have their own unitary council.

===Cornwall Council election results, 4 June 2009===
{{Main|Cornwall Council election, 2009}}
Elections for the new unitary Cornwall Council were held on 4 June 2009, and 123 members were elected, replacing the previous 82 councillors of [[Cornwall County Council]] and also another 249 (some of whom were also county councillors) on the six district councils.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 |title=Cornwall Council June 2009 Electoral divisions |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=25 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725150141/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the 2009 elections, the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] lost overall control of Cornwall, with no single party gaining overall control of the new council. Although the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] now have the largest number of elected members, they do not have a majority.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8084706.stm Lib Dems lose control of Cornwall in June 2009 Cornwall Council elections]</ref> The Conservatives received 34% of the vote and won 50 seats, followed by the Liberal Democrats on 28% winning 38 seats, the [[Independent (politician)|Independents]] 23% and 32 seats, and [[Mebyon Kernow]] 4% and three seats. The turnout was 41%. Labour, the Green Party, UKIP and the BNP failed to secure any seats in Cornwall.<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=1&RPID=112094&TPID=112100& Cornwall Council election results 5 June 2009]</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall/content/articles/2009/05/26/places_election09_feature.shtml BBC Cornwall 2009 Cornwall Council election results]</ref>

===Cornwall Council election results, May 2013===
{{main|Cornwall Council election, 2013}}

The council remained as "no overall control", with the Independent politicians becoming the largest grouping on the council through a modest gain of councillors from the previous election. The Liberal Democrats remained the second largest party after losing 2 councillors and the Conservatives slipped to third after losing over a third of their councillors. The Labour Party (+8), UKIP (+6), and the Green Party (+1) all gained seats, with UKIP and the Greens entering Cornwall Council for the first time. Mebyon Kernow had 6 councillors prior to the election, having added 2 since the 2009 election, their total following the election was reduced to 4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=15&RPID=4025451|title = Election results by party, 2 May 2013|date = 2 May 2013}}</ref>

===Cornwall Council election results, May 2017===
{{main|Cornwall Council election, 2017}}

The Conservative Party became the largest group on Cornwall Council, with 46 seats achieving 35% of the overall vote. The Liberal Democrats became the second largest party, with 37 seats, with the Independents in third place with 30.  (Conservative	46 seats (+18) Liberal Democrat 38 seats (-7) Independent 30 seats (-4) Labour 5 seats (-2) Mebyon Kernow 4 seats (NC) Green 0 seats (-1) UKIP 0 seats	(-1) Other 0 seats (-5) )<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cornwalllive.com/cornwall-local-election-results-2017-are-in-and-here-are-the-highlights/story-30315303-detail/story.html |title=Cornwall local election results 2017 are in and here are the highlights &#124; Cornwall Live |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511090422/http://www.cornwalllive.com/cornwall-local-election-results-2017-are-in-and-here-are-the-highlights/story-30315303-detail/story.html#PorjHvhWgB9eYd1X.99 |archive-date=11 May 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Cornwall Council election results, May 2021===
{{main|Cornwall Council election, 2021}}

[[File:Cornwall Council political divisions May 2021 map.svg|thumb|[[2021 Cornwall Council election]].]]
The number of seats on the council fell from 123 to 87.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitehouse |first=Richard |date=8 April 2021 |title=Attempt to kick leader of Cornwall Council out is decided |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/conservative-attempt-remove-cornwall-council-5275530 |access-date=10 April 2021 |website=CornwallLive |language=en}}</ref>

== Cornish nationalism ==
{{main|Cornish nationalism|Constitutional status of Cornwall}}

Two of the major factors in Cornish nationalism are the disputed position of Cornwall as separate constitutional entity within the UK and the rights of the [[Cornish people]] as a minority.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box |title=Cornish demand recognition on the 2011 Census |access-date=30 January 2007 |archive-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129172314/http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box |url-status=dead }}</ref> These issues affect all of those involved in Cornish politics, even those who are at odds with these ideas.  Three UK political parties recognise the cause of Cornish self-determination, the [[Liberal Party (UK, 1989)|Liberal Party]], the Cornish section of the [[Green Party of England and Wales]] and the [[Communist Party of Britain]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} However, in the 2015 general election, the Liberal party in Cornwall withdrew its candidates, and encouraged its supporters to vote [[UKIP]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Liberal-Party-urges-supporters-vote-Ukip/story-26154057-detail/story.html |title=Liberal Party urges supporters to vote Ukip &#124; Western Morning News |access-date=2 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703042720/http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Liberal-Party-urges-supporters-vote-Ukip/story-26154057-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[An Gof]] have also expressed Cornish nationalism, though not in political ways as much as violent ones.

=== Cornish nationalist and/or regionalist organisations ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Mebyon Kernow.png|300px|right|Mebyon Kernow modern logo]] -->
{{main|Mebyon Kernow}}
The principal political party in the Cornish nationalist movement is [[Mebyon Kernow]] which labels itself as a 'centre-left, green and decentralist party'{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} and has close association with its sister party [[Plaid Cymru]] in Wales. Mebyon Kernow's membership is calculated at around 1,000 members across Cornwall.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} In 1979, in the first elections to the [[European Parliament]], Mebyon Kernow won almost 10% (over 10,000 votes) of the vote in the Cornwall seat. This reflected a decade of steady growth for the party. MK continues to contest parliamentary seats and also local government seats. In the 2015 general election, Mebyon Kernow fielded candidates in all of the constituencies in Cornwall.

Mebyon Kernow declined to stand candidates in the 2017 general election, stating; "The timing of this snap election, so close to the local polls, makes it impractical for a party with our level of resources to put together and finance a meaningful campaign for the General Election."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=317|title=Mebyon Kernow is not standing in the General Election|access-date=9 June 2017|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153518/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=317|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2019, Mebyon Kernow fielded only one candidate (Dick Cole) in the Newquay and St Austell constituency.

In the district elections of 2007 seven Mebyon Kernow district councillors were elected. MK lost one district seat and gained two, a net gain of one. This gave them seven of the 249 seats (2.8% of seats) up for election.  Mebyon Kernow got around 5 percent of the total vote in these district elections, putting the party in third position behind the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party and ahead of Labour in several seats including [[Kerrier]], [[Restormel]], [[North Cornwall]] and [[Caradon]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/vote2007/maps/eng_councils/html/eng_councils_map.stm BBC – 2007 Local Election results]</ref>

Prior to the [[2013 Cornwall Council election|2013 local elections]] Mebyon Kernow held six seats on the council, having gained two due to defections from other parties, and winning one in a by-election. Keeping the seat won in the by-election, and a gain of one seat elsewhere, left them with four in total. This dropped them to being the sixth largest group on the council, from the position of fourth largest prior to the election, being overtaken by UKIP and The Labour party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=15&RPID=4025451|title = Election results by party, 2 May 2013|date = 2 May 2013}}</ref>

The [[Cornish Nationalist Party]] was founded as a splinter group from Mebyon Kernow in the 1970s following a split over the ideological path of the Cornish National Movement, the members of the Cornish Nationalist party favouring a more 'right of centre approach' to attracting support. Initially led by Dr [[James Whetter]], the Cornish Nationalist Party are not a registered political party under the [[Registration of Political Parties Act 1998]] and therefore cannot stand for local or Westminster elections.

In addition to political parties, other independent organisations promote the autonomy movement. The [[Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament]] was a human rights pressure group which claimed to be a revival of the mediaeval [[Cornish Stannary Parliament|Stannary Parliament]]s, local legislative organisations in the mining regions. It was established in 1974 and had campaigned against the government of the United Kingdom's position on the [[constitutional status of Cornwall]]. The group has not been active since 2008.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cornishstannaryparliament.co.uk/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070110112655/http://www.cornishstannaryparliament.co.uk/| archive-date = 10 January 2007| title = The Cornish Stannary Parliament}} </ref> Other groups include TGG (Tyr-Gwyr-Gweryn), [[Cornwall 2000]], [[Cornish Solidarity]] who were constitutional and Cornish human rights groups, but are no longer active, and the Cornish Constitutional Convention which campaigns for a [[Cornish Assembly]].

==Other issues and lobby groups==
Within Cornwall there are a growing number of pressure groups/lobbying groups devoted to Cornish issues other than the national question.  Local environmental issues feature prominently, notably the [[Surfers against Sewage]] group, formed in this region, heavily dependent on the tourist industry.  The [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] (CND) has a local presence, with a branch in [[Penzance]].<ref>[http://www.cnduk.org/component/contact/49/51-penzance-cnd CND – Local Group Contacts<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Some east Cornwall CND activists are members of the [[Plymouth]] branch. There is a Cornish branch of [[Greenpeace]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenpeaceactive.org.uk/group.php?cat=180 |title=Greenpeace Active Supporters<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210164116/http://www.greenpeaceactive.org.uk/group.php?cat=180 |archive-date=10 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Amnesty International]] have a local branch.

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|group=n}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}

=== Other Cornish politicians ===
* [[Doris Ansari]] - Chairman Cornwall County Council<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/members/MeDet.asp?me=257 |title=Members: Details<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=3 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017173905/http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/members/MeDet.asp?me=257 |archive-date=17 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] – leader of [[Mebyon Kernow]]
* [[Loveday Jenkin]] - deputy leader of [[Mebyon Kernow]]
* [[Mark Prisk]] – former [[Shadow Minister]] for Cornwall & [[Member of Parliament|MP]] (Position discontinued 2010)
* [[Paul Tyler]] – ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]) [[Life peer]]

===Elections and results===
* [[1987 Truro by-election]]
* [[2001 United Kingdom general election result in Cornwall]]
* [[2005 United Kingdom general election result in Cornwall]]
* [[2010 United Kingdom general election result in Cornwall]]
* [[Cornwall local elections]] 
* [[2009 Cornwall Council election]]

===Parliamentary representation from Cornwall===
{{Further|Parliamentary representation from Cornwall}}
*[[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]]
*[[Camborne and Redruth (UK Parliament constituency)|Camborne and Redruth]]
*[[Truro and Falmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro and Falmouth]]
*[[St Austell and Newquay (UK Parliament constituency)|St Austell and Newquay]]
*[[North Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|North Cornwall]]
*[[South East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|South East Cornwall]]

====Historic Cornish Parliamentary constituencies====
*[[Bodmin (UK Parliament constituency)|Bodmin]]
*[[Bossiney (UK Parliament constituency)|Bossiney]]
*[[Callington (UK Parliament constituency)|Callington]]
*[[Camelford (UK Parliament constituency)|Camelford]]
*[[Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|Cornwall]]
*[[East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|East Cornwall]]
*[[West Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|West Cornwall]]
*[[East Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|East Looe]]
*[[East Looe and West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|East Looe and West Looe]]
*[[Falmouth and Camborne (UK Parliament constituency)|Falmouth and Camborne]]
*[[Fowey (UK Parliament constituency)|Fowey]]
*[[Grampound (UK Parliament constituency)|Grampound]]
*[[Helston (UK Parliament constituency)|Helston]]
*[[Launceston (UK Parliament constituency)|Launceston]]
*[[Liskeard (UK Parliament constituency)|Liskeard]]
*[[Lostwithiel (UK Parliament constituency)|Lostwithiel]]
*[[Mitchell (UK Parliament constituency)|Mitchell]]
*[[Newport (Cornwall) (UK Parliament constituency)]]
*[[Penryn (UK Parliament constituency)|Penryn]]
*[[Penryn and Falmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Penryn and Falmouth]]
*[[St Austell (UK Parliament constituency)|St Austell]]
*[[St Germans (UK Parliament constituency)|St Germans]]
*[[St Mawes (UK Parliament constituency)|St Mawes]]
*[[Saltash (UK Parliament constituency)|Saltash]]
*[[Tregony (UK Parliament constituency)|Tregony]]
*[[Truro (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro]]
*[[Truro and St Austell (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro and St Austell]]
*[[West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|West Looe]]

===Constitutional status of Cornwall===
* [[Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament]]
* [[Cornwall (territorial duchy)|Cornwall]]
* [[Duchy of Cornwall]]
* [[Duke of Cornwall]]
* [[Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom)|Royal Commission on the Constitution]]
* [[Constitutional status of Cornwall]]
* [[Stannary law]]
* [[Cornwall Commonwealth Games Association]]
* [[Cornish self-government movement]]
* [[Mebyon Kernow]]
* [[Celtic League (political organisation)|Celtic League]]
* [[Cornish Assembly]]
* [[Cornish Nationalist Party]]
* [[Fry an Spyrys]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk Cornwall County Council]
*[http://www.cornishstannaryparliament.co.uk/  The Cornish Stannary Parliament]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070807115712/http://www.mebyonkernow.org/Public/Stories/251-1.shtml Mebyon Kernow]
* [http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144694&command=displayContent&sourceNode=144660&contentPK=17928446&folderPk=83364&pNodeId=144659 Tories to appoint Cornwall Minister]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150205182630/http://www.kernowtgg.co.uk/ ''TGG (''Tyr Gwyr Gweryn'')'']
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIAarTqZsaU YouTube – Mark Prisk]

{{Cornwall}}
{{Celts}}
{{British political parties}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics of Cornwall}}
[[Category:Politics of Cornwall| ]]
[[Category:Cornish nationalism]]