20,000 Cornishmen? Petition for Cornwall Nation Status Surges Past Milestone

An online petition calling for Cornwall to be granted nation status has passed the 20,000 signature mark.

The petition, hosted on the UK Government’s official petitions website, currently stands at 21,218 signatures.

Supporters are drawing parallels with the words of the Cornish anthem Trelawny, which famously begins, “And shall Trelawny die? Here’s twenty thousand Cornishmen…”

The petition calls on the government to officially recognise Cornwall as a nation within the UK, alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Government response and next steps

The UK Government will respond to any petition that reaches 10,000 signatures. If it reaches 100,000, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

You can view and sign the petition here: Petition to Grant Cornwall Nation Status.

A long-running debate

Campaigns for greater recognition of Cornwall’s distinct identity have been ongoing for decades. In 2014, the UK Government granted the Cornish people minority status under the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, putting them on the same footing as the Scots, Welsh and Irish.

However, campaigners say this has not translated into full national recognition. The latest petition reflects a renewed push to change that, with supporters citing Cornwall’s unique language, culture, and history as the basis for nation status.

Growing momentum

The petition has been gaining signatures quickly in recent weeks, with thousands more adding their names since the start of the summer. Supporters believe this growing momentum could help push it towards the 100,000 signatures needed for a parliamentary debate.