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Newspaper launches poll in ‘Englishness’ debate

A weekly newspaper is asking its readers whether they consider themselves English or Cornish.

The vote by The Cornishman comes after the announcement that the county’s culture and identity have been given protected status came too late for its weekly deadline.

Early results were: 79 per cent Cornish and 15 per cent English. Six per cent do not know.

Editor Jacqui Walls said: “The announcement came at the wrong time for the newspaper but we got a story online straight away and are carrying a poll asking people whether they consider themselves Cornish or English.

“We’ll cover the entire debate with reaction in print next week.”

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, today announced the protected status, under the 1998 European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities bill.

The decision has put Cornish heritage in line with the legal recognition afforded to Scottish, Welsh and Irish cultures.

Speaking on a visit to Bodmin, Mr Alexander said: “Cornish people have a proud history and a distinct identity. I am delighted that we have been able to officially recognise this and afford the Cornish people the same status as other minorities in the UK.”

 

4 comments

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  • April 24, 2014 at 4:04 pm
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    Thank The Lord…we’d all been missing breathless from The Cornishman.
    P.S. Fact watch – this story is actually on all three Cornish weekly newspapers’ websites, not just the Cornishman.
    *quietly going about our business with no self-promotion*

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  • April 24, 2014 at 6:57 pm
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    It is right that the Cornish should be afforded the same status as other minorities.
    One of the many things that make Cornwall the greatest place in Britain to live is its refreshing lack of English snobbery.
    The Cornish have no time for airs and graces, and little or no recognition of so-called celebrity.
    They are – like the Scots – great, warm, down-to-earth people. They welcome everyone, but have no tolerance for pretentious, condescending behaviour.
    I have always said that there are no more than twenty truly great places on earth. Cornwall is one of them.

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  • April 25, 2014 at 1:47 pm
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    Course – all English people are snobs, and all Cornish people are warm and down-to-earth.
    Tell me – is there a genetic reason for this? Different shaped skulls perhaps?
    Really hope you’re not actually a journalist.

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  • April 25, 2014 at 3:54 pm
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    So, the English are snobs? All those snooty Geordies, Brummies, Scousers, Cockneys, etc, etc. Why is this casual ‘racism’ so acceptable when it’s English people being belittled? (I shudder to use the term racism here, but I’m only employing it in the same way others do in different contexts).

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