Framework Convention For The Protection of National Minorities - Cornish Ethnicity

Cornish Ethnicity

In the 2006 UK Government's draft 'UK Framework Convention Compliance Report', the Cornish ethnicity was the only group specifically mentioned as being excluded. On 6 Mar 2007 Andrew George MP raised the question in the House of Commons, "what consideration did the UK government give to the application on behalf of the Cornish for inclusion in the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities?" In August 2008 it was announced by Cornwall 2000 that they propose to lodge a case for the proposed inclusion of the Cornish into the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities with the European Court of Human Rights. The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention ‘Committee of Experts’ on minority rights (the Advisory Committee) and the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission have consistently come out strongly in favour of Cornish inclusion within the Convention.

Cornwall Council backs the campaign for the Cornish to be recognised as a National Minority in the UK. The council's chief executive Kevin Lavery wrote a letter to the Government in 2010, writing, "Cornwall Council firmly believes that the UK Government should recognise the Cornish as a national minority under the terms of the Framework Convention." Adding that, "Cornwall Council believes that the Government's current restricted interpretation is discriminatory against the Cornish and contradicts the support it gives to Cornish culture and identity through its own departments." Cornwall Council's support was made official council policy in 2011 with the publication of the Cornish National Minority Report 2, signed and endorsed by the then leaders of every political grouping on the council.

The UK Government has been criticised for admitting to signing the FCNM convention for the wrong reasons - not to fulfil Convention principles to protect national minorities, but in fact to, “underline its commitment to tackle racial discrimination”.