(1 day, 12 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Lab)
Meur ras, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a great privilege to stand here today to mark tomorrow’s St Piran’s day 2026, and I am grateful to the Minister for being here. St Piran’s day matters enormously to many people in Cornwall, including those in my Camborne, Redruth and Hayle constituency. As we gather here on the eve of Cornwall’s national day, black and white flags are already being raised across the Duchy and around the world, children are practising traditional dances, and communities are preparing to celebrate their heritage with pride. In the wider Cornish diaspora—stretching from Mexico to California, New York, Toronto, Hong Kong and Australia —St Piran’s day is a 24-hour event, bringing people together in a shared identity that is deeply cherished and increasingly recognised.
St Piran’s day is not merely a date in the calendar; it is a celebration of an important story that binds together Cornish people across the globe. The feast of St Piran honours the patron saint of Cornwall, who is of course also the patron saint of tin miners. His legend begins in fifth-century Ireland, where, so legend goes, he was bound to a millstone and thrown into a stormy sea by jealous local kings, only to float to safety on the shores of Cornwall. Once there, he is said to have discovered tin smelting. As he built a fireplace from black stone, the metal seeped out in the heat—tin flowing from the dark ore.
Noah Law (St Austell and Newquay) (Lab)
I am delighted to hear that story, for the first time, of St Piran smelting tin. Does my hon. Friend agree that, if St Piran could have a tin smelter in the fifth century AD, it is not too much of a stretch to imagine we could have one today in Cornwall, and that we would once again smelt tin?
Perran Moon
I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent observation. If St Piran can do it, we should be doing it today. I totally agree with him and, in a humorous way, he makes a very valid point.
This simple, powerful image is immortalised in our flag—a white cross on a black background—symbolising not only tin emerging from ore, but light from darkness and hope from hardship. It is a symbol of industry, resilience and Cornish pride. Mining has shaped Cornwall’s destiny, sending Cornishmen and women around the globe with skills in engineering, mining and metalworking. These pioneers have left their footprints of Cornish life far from home, with Cornish pasties in Mexico, Cornish churches in Australia and Cornish customs around the world.
Anna Gelderd (South East Cornwall) (Lab)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this really important debate. He talks rightly about our pride in our industrial heritage and in the industrial future we will secure when we work together with all communities to celebrate Cornish innovation. The right place for Cornwall is at the heart of our green revolution, and does he agree that the work over the last year is really about celebrating that as we celebrate St Piran’s day tomorrow? I also take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy St Piran’s day for tomorrow.
Perran Moon
Again, I thank my hon. Friend for making a very important point. I will come on to that point a little later in my speech, but the future for Cornwall is very much around the new industries of the 21st century.
Today, these global connections endure. At the end of last year, I was pleased to host here in Parliament the launch event for Global Cornish, which is a vibrant, growing network reconnecting the Cornish family worldwide through heritage, industry and culture. Cornwall’s story has always been one of outward-looking industry. Today, we celebrate not only who we were, but who we are and who we are becoming.
No discussion of Cornish identity is complete without recognising the enormous step taken last year for the Cornish language—Kernewek. On 5 December, the United Kingdom formally notified the Council of Europe that it was applying part III of the European charter for regional or minority languages to Cornish. This is not symbolic; it is substantial. Part III status requires the Government to deliver 36 specific commitments across education, justice, public administration, culture, media and economic life. It means recognition, for the first time, that Cornish is not simply a cultural artefact, but a living language that deserves support, a nurturing framework and proper institutional backing. These commitments matter. They will shape the next generation’s access to Cornish in schools, the visibility of the language in public life, and the availability of media and cultural resources that are free to access to learn Kernewek. They also come with obligations that the Government must meet. I have written to the Prime Minister to request that this commitment is matched by delivery. The revival of Kernewek in recent decades is one of the great cultural stories of this island, but we should be ambitious. Language is not merely something to preserve; it is something to promote, celebrate and embed for future generations.
When we talk about the future of Cornwall we must, alas, talk about devolution. Cornwall is a mature, stable unitary authority with deep experience of strategic planning, economic development and cultural engagement. It must be treated as a single strategic authority with the same powers available to a mayoral combined authority.
Perran Moon
Yes, from anyone looking at the map and seeing that we are surrounded by sea on three sides, to the origin of the name “Cornwall”—“foreigners at the end of the peninsula”—it is very clear where our cultural heritage lies.
My objective on devolution is clear: bold, flexible and meaningful powers that strengthen our communities and allow Cornwall to overcome many of the challenges that we face, as well as exploiting the huge opportunities ahead of us. This is not devolution simply to fill a point on a map. It is devolution for housing, transport, economic development and the cultural wellbeing of our people. It must recognise Cornwall’s unique geography—which my hon. Friend has just mentioned—culture and economy, and not force us into a model designed for English metropolitan areas with a completely different set of characteristics. It must be a bespoke devolution arrangement for Cornwall.
The reason behind that is that the Cornish are the only people in the UK with national minority status who do not yet have access to the highest levels of devolution. This is our moment to deliver powers and funding to Cornish communities for the Cornish economy to flourish. It is not a case of special treatment; it is a case of fair treatment which respects our national minority status.
Of course, these constitutional and cultural issues matter because they shape outcomes. They shape lives. Cornwall is a beautiful place, but anyone who represents Cornwall—or indeed lives there—knows that behind the postcard image lies a humble but brutal truth. The “Pretty Poverty Report” published last year sets this out with clarity and compassion. It describes the inland deprivation that hides in plain sight: low pay, seasonal work, insecure housing, fragile transport links and limited access to essential services. This is why an English metropolitan devolution arrangement will not cut it in Cornwall, I am afraid. The realities of life in Cornwall are found in the stories we hear every week: families priced out of their own communities; people commuting impossible distances, because local wages simply cannot cover the cost of rents; young people leaving the duchy, because opportunities are too few and housing too scarce; and costly public services that are barely fit for purpose. But Cornwall does not wear its hardship on its sleeve. It is not always visible. And that is precisely the problem.
Government tools, including the indices of multiple deprivation, still fail to adequately capture coastal deprivation, rural isolation and seasonal economies. They systematically underestimate the challenges faced by remote coastal communities such as ours. And when you underestimate need, you underfund solutions. The Government’s fair funding review, and specifically the remoteness adjustment included last summer, is a step in the right direction. The Treasury’s Green Book review was also welcome, recognising that national investment decisions have historically undervalued place-based need. But those steps can only be the beginning. The message from the “Pretty Poverty Report” is clear: we need more accurate measures, more responsive funding mechanisms and more sustained investment.
Noah Law
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way again. I welcome his statement on the Green Book review. It is really important that we get infrastructure investment in place. Does he agree with me that the Labour Government are already doing an awful lot, whether that is record funding for roads or the record local government funding settlement—not that we would know it from some of the comments from the council? Does he agree that the Labour Government are already doing a huge amount by way of investment in Cornwall?
Perran Moon
My hon. Friend again makes very valid points, some of which I will be coming to a little later. The Labour Government are investing in Cornwall, which is why it is so important to get the basics right. For me, so many of our challenges come back to housing.
The stories in the “Pretty Poverty Report”—hundreds of families competing for a handful of rentals, communities hollowed out by affordability pressures and key workers unable to live near their place of work—mirror exactly what I hear at my surgeries and on the doorstep. Housing, and the infrastructure required to support it, is the single greatest threat to Cornwall’s future. Unless we address it, every other challenge becomes much harder. That is why Cornwall needs a strategic place partnership with Homes England.
Linked to those pressures is public transport—another area where our national systems were never designed for a duchy at the end of a long peninsula. Transport poverty is real: research shows it is one of the largest drivers pushing rural households into hardship. In Cornwall, car ownership is not a luxury but a lifeline. Without a car, many people cannot access work, healthcare or education, or even get to the nearest affordable shop. In Westminster’s funding models, car ownership is seen as a sign of affluence, largely because in many metropolitan areas public transport connectivity is such that residents simply do not need a car, but that not the case in Cornwall. When First Bus withdrew from Cornwall, citing financial pressures and the commercial unviability of rural routes, it reinforced what we have been saying for years: rural transport cannot be run on a purely commercial footing.
Rail links out of the duchy are similarly strained, with weather-linked delays frequent and connections unreliable. During moments of crisis, such as Storm Goretti on 8 January, when winds reached 111 mph, ripping roofs from buildings and uprooting trees, the weaknesses of our network are brutally exposed. As my hon. Friend the Member for St Austell and Newquay (Noah Law) said, this Government have invested more than £100 million into Cornish businesses; if they want the Cornish economy to grow and Cornish people to work, learn and thrive, they must ensure that Cornwall, as a remote coastal community, is not left behind.
However, alongside those challenges lie extraordinary opportunities. Cornwall is at the forefront of some of the most exciting and strategically important sectors in the UK economy: critical minerals, renewable energy, maritime and space, agrifood and geothermal innovation. We celebrate £25 million invested into South Crofty to bring tin mining back and £31 million into Cornish Lithium to support the transition to a clean energy economy. The UK’s first geothermal power plant was switched on just last Thursday, generating clean electricity 24 hours a day for 10,000 homes. This comes alongside new production of lithium carbonate, which is vital for battery manufacturing. We must also celebrate the £30 million Kernow industrial growth fund that the Chancellor announced in the Budget, investing to unlock industrial growth.
Cornwall is not just part of the UK’s clean energy transition; the Cornish Celtic tiger is leading it. With geothermal heat, geothermal power, critical minerals, modern mining, space technology, offshore renewables, high-value agrifood and floating offshore wind, Cornwall is at the cutting edge.
Tomorrow, people from Sennen to Saltash will proudly wave the black and white of our flag, children will learn the story of St Piran and communities will celebrate the spirit that has carried Cornwall through centuries of change. St Piran’s day is a celebration of not only our past, but our future; a future where Cornwall’s identity is recognised, our language supported, our economy empowered, our transport strengthened, our housing crisis addressed and our communities given the powers to shape our own future. Gool Peran Lowen, Madam Deputy Speaker—happy St Piran’s day.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Miatta Fahnbulleh)
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth (Perran Moon) on securing this debate and on his tireless work on behalf of Cornwall and its residents. I will also take this opportunity to recognise the significant role that Cornwall plays economically and culturally for both the south-west and the United Kingdom.
St Piran’s day is an important moment to celebrate the historic county of Cornwall. Historic counties are an important element of local traditions that support the identity and cultures of many of our local communities, giving people a sense of belonging, pride and community spirit. In recent years, St Piran’s day has grown into a modern celebration of Cornwall’s culture, language and history; a day that reflects not only pride in Cornwall’s past, but confidence in its future.
As an example, we can look at Cornwall’s strong industrial legacy in mining—a history often traced back to St Piran himself, who is said to have discovered tin. That legacy now speaks to Cornwall’s future as the county evolves to embrace new opportunities in clean and renewable energy, carrying forward a tradition of innovation in a modern, sustainable form.
I agree with my hon. Friend that, culturally, Cornwall remains unique across England, with its national minority and protected language status, and I celebrate the rich heritage that Cornwall brings to this country. However, the beauty of Cornwall’s countryside and coastline can often mask the reality of living and working in the county. This Government are committed to working together with local leaders to overcome those issues, driving growth and unlocking investment.
My Department is taking steps to boost local growth through devolution and investment, which will see us working closely with local leaders to support growth and make the most of the opportunities in each and every part of the area.
Recognising Cornwall’s successful delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through the good growth programme, the recently announced £30 million Kernow fund is an exciting opportunity to support growth. This was created especially for Cornwall, in recognition of its comparative sectoral advantages in key areas of the UK’s industrial strategy. Decisions on the fund will be devolved to Cornwall council, in line with the Government’s devolution agenda, empowering local leaders to invest in projects that best meet local needs. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Cornish MPs and my hon. Friends for their tireless work in ensuring and securing this important investment and in championing the huge comparative advantage of the area.
Devolution remains a critical tool for this Government to unlock growth. There is a strong opportunity for Cornwall to build on its existing devolution agreement. Officials in my Department are currently working with Cornwall council to discuss next steps and to maintain momentum on this exciting next phase of empowering our local leaders.
Housing, as my hon. Friend pointed out, remains one of the most pressing challenges in Cornwall. Managing the impact of second homes while increasing the supply of affordable housing is fundamental to ensuring that young people who have grown up in Cornwall can afford to build their lives there.
To help support housing in Cornwall, this Government have confirmed a new 10-year, £39 billion social and affordable house building programme at scale across the country. Through Homes England, my Department is working closely with Cornwall council and welcomes the publication of the Cornwall housing growth prospectus launched last year.
Homes England is committed to working with the council to unlock the opportunities and constraints for the county and to work collaboratively to ensure that we are unlocking the housing development that we all want to see. Alongside this, the Government are committed to delivering better infrastructure and services, so that everyone has access to a suitable mode of transport, enabling them to live healthy and fulfilling lives. That is why we have provided significant transport support to Cornwall, as well as £221 million in local highways maintenance funding to repair and renew its roads and fix potholes over the next four years.
I am also pleased to re-emphasise our Government’s commitment to building a society where all communities feel acknowledged. It was with great pleasure that, in December 2025, the Government granted the Cornish language further recognition under part III of the Council of Europe’s European charter for regional or minority languages. Granting part III recognition acknowledges the efforts of many who have been part of the revival of the Cornish language, and who are giving communities the opportunity to speak, listen to and appreciate it. Most importantly, celebrating and protecting our regional and minority languages allows us to connect with our history and provide a foundation for diversity to flourish.
I understand that there are particular challenges that coastal communities face and recognise that recent storms across this winter have brought disruption to residents across Cornwall. Officials from my Department and across all Departments will continue to support partners across the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly local resilience forum on impact and recovery, co-ordinating cross-Government engagement to help residents and businesses that we know are still impacted.
In conclusion, I again thank my hon. Friend the Member for Camborne and Redruth for securing the debate. It is consistent with the passionate, committed and persistent way in which he and my hon. Friends who represent Cornwall are such amazing advocates for their place. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our Cornwall MPs as we deliver this Government’s agenda, secure the devolution deal and work together to ensure that we unlock the huge economic and local potential of this amazing part of the country.
Question put and agreed to.