Cornwall’s devolution deal confirmed, and there’s no mayor

For years the question hanging over devolution in Cornwall has been whether more powers would come with a mayor attached. Now there’s an answer.

The Chancellor announced in the Budget on Wednesday (28 October) that Cornwall Council will become a single strategic authority. The government is making Cornwall an exception, in recognition of its unique cultural status.

The council’s leader, Cornwall’s six MPs and three peers have put out a joint statement welcoming the decision.

A Cornwall-only deal

According to the statement, the decision means further devolution for Cornwall on a Cornwall-only footprint, with no need to bring in a mayor. The council, MPs and peers representing Cornwall say they have campaigned for exactly that for a long time.

They also say the announcement follows “very positive conversations” over recent months with the Prime Minister and at No.10 North, and that in their view “Government has listened to Cornwall.”

What comes with it

The council will also get a share of £150m in capacity funding set aside to support strategic authorities.

On top of that, it will receive an allocation from the new £285m Good Growth Fund, which it plans to invest in the local economy. The signatories call this good news for Cornwall’s taxpayers.

More powers to come?

The statement describes this as the start of the process rather than the end. The group says it will keep talking to Ministers over the coming months to win more autonomy and funding for Cornwall through the government’s Rewiring the State Delivery Plan, which is due to be published by the end of this year.

What the council leader said

Leigh Frost, Leader of Cornwall Council, said: “This is a significant moment for Cornwall, and something we’ve been working towards for a long time.

“Cornwall has its own identity and ambitions, but we also have our own unique challenges to face. That’s why it’s so important that decisions about Cornwall are made here in Cornwall by people who understand the needs of our communities.”

Leigh also made clear he sees more to do.

“Today’s announcement is an important step forward, but it’s not the end of our journey. We want to build on this agreement and secure the powers and resources we need to shape Cornwall’s future for the benefit of one and all.”

Who signed the statement

Leigh issued the statement on behalf of Cornwall’s MPs, Andrew George, Perran Moon, Jayne Kirkham, Noah Law, Ben Maguire and Anna Gelderd, and on behalf of Lord Hutton, Lord Teverson and Lord Taylor.

The Rewiring the State Delivery Plan, where the next round of talks is expected to land, is due out before the end of the year.