English seaside county votes to become UK's 5th nation on par with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
NEW KINGDOM? English seaside county votes to become UK's 5th nation on par with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
A SEASIDE county has voted to become the UK's 5th nation as it hopes to be put on a par with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A proposal passed with a majority of votes on July 22.
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Cornwall Council has voted to become the UK's 5th nation in a majority vote
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Council leader Leigh Frost believes it would improve funding in the area
Credit: Cornwall Council
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The council said it was facing a housing crisis, and issues with child poverty
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Since 2014, the Cornish have been recognised as a national minority
Credit: Getty
Cornwall Council passed the proposal with a vote of 53 to 22, with two abstentions.
Council leader Leigh Frost believes that it would lead to fairer funding, stronger representation, and greater inclusion in national decision-making.
It would also put the seaside town on a par with the other Celtic nations.
Frost told the BBC: "We're making this case for better funding and representation, and for a stronger place in the union which we have contributed to for centuries.
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"It's time to show what Cornwall is made of."
Previously, the 2025 State of Cornwall report had laid out the challenges the county was facing.
It included low wages, high house prices and a housing crisis that pushes young people out of their home towns.
In addition, the county is facing a struggling social care system, with limited public transport and child poverty.
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Meanwhile, the county has become popular among second-home owners looking to enjoy the beautiful beaches.
The proposal was brought forward by Dick Cole, council member and leader of local political party Mebyon Kernow, in an attempt to address some of these issues.
The seaside town of Newlyn in Cornwall has been dubbed as one of the 'coolest' places to relocate
Despite the majority supporting the bill, local Reform councillors largely voted against the proposal.
They cited concerns over the potential for tax increases and a loss of British identity.
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Cornwall's Local Democracy Reporting service reported that Reform member Rowland O'Connor said: "I identify as Cornish but also British.
"It feels like I'm being asked to choose one or the other and I refuse to do that."
Since 2014, the Cornish have been recognised as a national minority.
This is in spite of their long-standing history, which Frost says out-dates England's.
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The vote came following an address by Frost on the "State of Cornwall in the National Context".
As reported by the Falmouth Packet, Frost said: "A nation isn't just a border or a flag. It's a people. It's a voice. It's shared history and a shared purpose. Cornwall has all of that and more."
Following the successful vote, the council plans to write to Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner to work towards getting the proposal enacted on a national level.
They will also continue to build support on a local level among Cornwall's MPs.
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