Cornish conspiracy theory

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The "Cornish conspiracy theory" is claimed to be a long-running conspiracy by the English establishment to suppress Cornish people of their rights, identity and autonomy.[1] It is claimed that the main reason why the Cornish are being denied recognition of their identity is to prevent any public debate or official enquiry into the constitutional status of Cornwall regarding the Duchy of Cornwall, sometimes referred to as the "Cornish question".[2] Cornish historians point to the fact that in 1508 the 'Charter of Pardon' was granted by Henry VII to give Cornwall a legal right to its own Parliament with the power of veto over acts, statutes, laws, etc, passed by the Westminster government. These rights were granted in perpetuity and cannot be lawfully rescinded, but today are ignored by the UK government.[3][4]

In 1858 the Cornish Foreshore Case (a case of arbitration between the Crown and the Duchy of Cornwall) confirmed that the Duke of Cornwall, was considered to be a quasi-sovereign within the Duchy of Cornwall territory (Cornwall), but today the Duchy of Cornwall describes itself as a private estate which funds the public, charitable and private activities of The Prince of Wales and his family. It is claimed that at some point after 1858, the officers of the Duchy, with the support of members of the UK Government, developed a plan to portray the Duchy of Cornwall as a 'private estate'.[5]

More recently in 2007 the Cornish were the only UK ethnic group and indigenous minority to be specifically mentioned for exclusion from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities by the British government.[6][7]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Suppression of Cornish identity
  2. ^ "The Cornish Question" by Mark Sandford - Constitutional Unit, School of Public Policy, University College London 2002
  3. ^ Sources of Cornish History - Charter of Pardon - 1508
  4. ^ Philip Payton. (1996). Cornwall. Fowey: Alexander Associates
  5. ^ Duchy of Cornwall history
  6. ^ Cornish excluded from Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
  7. ^ "Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities" UK 2nd Compliance Report


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