Cornwall ‘cautiously optimistic’ as Burnham pledges devolution deal

Cornwall has had its hopes raised on devolution before, only to watch the promise fade before the ink was properly dry. This time, three of the county’s most senior political voices say something in the tone from Westminster has actually shifted.

North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire, St Ives MP Andrew George and Cornwall Council Leader Leigh Frost have all responded with what each of them independently called “cautious optimism” after new Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first statement to the House of Commons to commit to a devolution deal for Cornwall, with or without a mayor.

What Burnham told MPs

In his Commons statement, Burnham said he had heard the “cross-party call for a devolution deal” during a recent visit to Cornwall, where he met the Liberal Democrat leader of Cornwall Council. He acknowledged that rural economies like Cornwall “lack a basic level of infrastructure”, which he said harms growth and holds back living standards and life chances.

Crucially, the Prime Minister confirmed that Number 10 North would begin work with Cornwall Council on a devolution deal “with or without an elected Mayor”, addressing long-standing concerns in Cornwall about the imposition of a mayoral model.

The red line that got heard

The statement follows a visit to Cornwall by the Prime Minister last month, made in response to clear red lines set out by Cornwall’s MPs against any forced mayor or so-called “Devonwall” merger with Devon. Burnham has since invited Leigh Frost and all six Cornish MPs to a follow-up meeting at Number 10 North to progress the talks.

Ben Maguire said the comments marked a shift after what he described as months of Cornwall being overlooked.

“Today’s comments from the PM certainly send promising signals, and seem to be a step in the right direction after months of Cornwall being overlooked on the devolution front,” he said. “For the first time, we’re hearing recognition from the very top of Government that Cornwall won’t be forced to have a Mayor or merged with another authority, simply to access the powers and funding we’ve been promised for years.”

He was careful not to declare victory. “I do of course want to be cautiously optimistic here though. Warm words in the House of Commons are one thing, but delivery is another, and Cornwall has been quite badly burnt by empty promises before. Along with colleagues I’ll be holding the Prime Minister and Number 10 North to this commitment every step of the way, and won’t stop pushing until we see a genuine, bespoke devolution deal on Cornwall’s own terms.”

‘Not the metropolitan template’

Andrew George welcomed the recognition but pressed the case for something built specifically around Cornwall, rather than adapted from elsewhere.

“The PM’s high-profile recognition of Cornwall’s unique case is welcome,” he said. “He should also be aware there’s no limit to our ambitions for devolution. However, I just hope he’ll also recognise that the metropolitan template of devolution would not be appropriate for a unique Celtic region like Cornwall.”

The council leader’s view

Leigh Frost, who met Burnham in Cornwall in person, said she had made the council’s position clear at that meeting and was glad to see it reflected in the Prime Minister’s first Commons statement.

“When I met the Prime Minister here in Cornwall, I made sure he heard our position loud and clear, including our red lines on a forced Mayor or a merger with Devon,” she said. “It’s encouraging that he’s listened and is now committing to work with the Council and all six of our MPs through Number 10 North. There’s a lot of detail still to work through, but this feels like a genuine opportunity to get the right deal for Cornwall, and I’m glad he has used his first speech in the Commons to set this out.”

Detail on powers, funding and timing has not yet been published. The next milestone is the promised follow-up meeting between Burnham, Frost and Cornwall’s six MPs at Number 10 North.