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Counting only Cornish?

Graham Smith | 12:21 UK time, Friday, 18 March 2011

Cornwall Council Tweets to say:

"Our campaign to get people who call themselves Cornish to say so on the Census has made it onto wikipedia https://bit.ly/h9qKX3"
I have asked the obvious question, namely if we can now look forward to a "council campaign" for people who consider themselves English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Jedi etc etc to say so on the Census. I can understand why the council would want to campaign for maximising overall participation, but I'm puzzled why this campaign should be limited to those who call themselves Cornish. Does nobody else pay council tax?

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Why should CC run campaigns on behalf of other British Nations and imaginary characters from films?

    Cornwall is unique in that 'Cornish people' are the only 'group' in Britain to be specifically excluded from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities even though they fit the requirements for inclusion more than many groups that have been included.

    Cornwall Council are obviously in agreement with the creators of the FCNM and believe that the Cornish should be included (and protected) - the other minorities you quote are already included and protected under the FCNM. By promoting the right to register as Cornish on the census, CC are obviously concerned about the future representation of the people of Cornwall who self-identify as Cornish. A good move in advance of future struggles to gain rightful inclusion in the FCNM.

    Would you question a Welsh council if they ran a Census campaign to promote Welsh identity?

    Not sure what the purpose of your post is apart from your apparent need to want to poke sticks in the hornets nest of Cornish identity, something you do not seem to quite grasp in its entirety IMO..

  • Comment number 2.

    I don't know if you have followed the story Graham, but I believe when the Conservative and Labour MPs voted against a Cornish tickbox during the Labour years, it was decided by the Office of National Statistics to publicise the Cornish option as a compromise to Westminster's intransigence. This was delegated to the council to publicise the Cornish write in option to make people aware of it. As you will know Graham Cornwall Council have expressed the need to fill in a census (for funding reasons) and informed people of the various Cornish options.

    The sole reason that they have not publicised other options is there is no idenitfiable need to. I presume as does Cornwall Council and the ONS that people wishing to identify their national/ ethnic/ linguistic grouping as Welsh or Irish or English etc etc will have the sense to tick the box next to that option. As these 'favoured' groups have a tick box. Quite frankly why the Cornish can idenitfy as such and are not allowed a simple tickbox next to that option verges on the petty and ridicolous. Hope this clears up the confusion.

  • Comment number 3.

    It will be interesting to find out how many people call themselves Cornish, and how many of these also consider themselves Cornish and English. I wonder what excuse the Cornish Nationalist brigades will have if the number of "Cornish only" census returns is say under 25% of the county total.

  • Comment number 4.

    but I'm puzzled why this campaign should be limited to those who call themselves Cornish. Does nobody else pay council tax?
    Graham Smith

    What I am concerned with more than puzzled Graham, what will the council be doing with this information when they have it, what use is it to them? If my neighbours put something different on their forms than I do, so what, they could have lived in Cornwall longer than me as well.

  • Comment number 5.

    I would imagine that the 2011 Census would be classed by Cornish nationalists as the next "big thing"

    If those that class themselves as Cornish goes over the 34,000 mark this time, I would imagine that the Celtic League will be off to to the U.N. demanding nation status.

  • Comment number 6.

    I believe it is reported that the Jedi may pay it in a world far, far away!

    Have you worked out how to fill those questions in yet Graham.

    I would imagine that England/English will be the words you will be looking for, or do you need a personal Cornwall Council campaign to help you?

    Otherwise I second what One-Cornwall and Rob have said.

    For me? Yes I will have to wait until later this year to write in Cornish in the Australian census .. no need to stir yourselves the usual suspects.

  • Comment number 7.

    Of course the nationalists will take it that anyone putting "Cornish" as their first choice (irrespective of if they also tick English,) want to be counted as fervent nationalists, who all support a Cornish Assembly and devolution. Just as every one of the hundreds of kids who took part in St Pirans Day parade are the young up and coming canon fodder for the celtic League.

  • Comment number 8.

    Of course, those who "put" Cornish as their choice, (I am not quite sure that Dave the Rave understands the census, as I can see no means of ordering ones "choices", there being no first, second, or third tick boxes) wish to be seen as just that, Cornish. Their political opinions are not questioned on the census, and I am sure that there will be many Cornish Tory's, Labour supporters, and Lib Dem's who will wish to be registered as Cornish, not just Nationalists, fervent or not.
    I think it safe to assume that Mr. Rave will not be one of them.

    Well done Mr. Smith, you have, once again, given those who wish to spread unsubstantiated lies and pursue their doctrine of hate, the opportunity to do so.

    To answer your question, the reason for the "campaign" is to ensure that those who wish to be recorded as Cornish, are fully aware of their ability to do so. The English, Scottish, Welsh, and Irish, all have a "tick box" on the census in clear view, as do many other "groups", they do not have to use a "write in" option. It is because the Cornish have been refused one that the campaign is important. If it is important for "us" to know the numbers, and distribution, of national/ethnic groups, then it is important to know the numbers and distribution of ALL such groups.
    The fact that you have included "Jedi" in your list of national/ethnic groups is making a mockery of the whole census exercise.

  • Comment number 9.

    What Mr Trembath fails to notice is that people looking for the truth, or "spreading hate" as he calls is, will have noticed that on the nationality question, we are asked to "tick all that apply".

    So we are able to, and many will, tick "English" "British", some may write in Cornish as well. Just as some may declare themselves English Pakistani/Chinese/Jedi

    It's perfectly acceptable for a person to tick English and write in Cornish. Just as many will now able to tick Welsh and write in Cornish.

  • Comment number 10.

    Dave the rave wrote:-
    "What Mr Trembath fails to notice is that people looking for the truth, or "spreading hate" as he calls is....."
    What I call "spreading hate" is comments like "Just as every one of the hundreds of kids who took part in St Pirans Day parade are the young up and coming canon fodder for the celtic League." Completely unnecessary, untrue, tasteless and indicative of your hate towards anything that even remotely leans towards a "nationalist" viewpoint.

    Dave the rave wrote:-
    ".......will have noticed that on the nationality question, we are asked to "tick all that apply"."
    Not only noticed, but fully OK with.

    Dave the rave wrote:-
    "So we are able to, and many will, tick "English" "British", some may write in Cornish as well. Just as some may declare themselves English Pakistani/Chinese/Jedi"
    Sorry to dispel your preconceived prejudice, but not only do I not have a problem with people "ticking" whatever box/write in option/s they feel best describes them, I would not want them to do anything else. If someone feels that they are "British/English", "British/English/Cornish", "British/Cornish", or even just "English" or "Cornish", then they should have equal opportunity to do so. I would be equally happy if someone where to write in "Earthling" or something similar, if that is what they see themselves as, it would also be making a valid political point.
    Your, and Grahams, inclusion of "Jedi" is just a pathetic way of attempting to discredit any response to the questions being discussed, as "Jedi" is a religion, aledgedly, and has absolutely nothing to do with Nationality or Ethnicity.

    Dave the rave wrote:-
    "It's perfectly acceptable for a person to tick English and write in Cornish. Just as many will now able to tick Welsh and write in Cornish."
    As I have said above.

    What you have obviously failed to recognise is that the campaign to get a Cornish Tick Box, and the subsequent one to advertise that there is the option to "write in" Cornish, was not to get those who do not consider themselves to be Cornish to choose the Cornish option, but to enable those that do, to be able to. Whether the number that do stays the same as last time, goes up, or down, is not the point. The point is that those who consider themselves Cornish will be able to be counted, and not, as last time, have to deny being British to be Cornish.

  • Comment number 11.

    "Whether the number that do stays the same as last time, goes up, or down, is not the point."
    Oh I think it is "the point", Mr Trembath. If the figure goes up, then I would doubt we will ever hear the end of it. If, by any chance, the figure goes down, then "Incomers" will get the blame for "distorting" the figures.

  • Comment number 12.

    No Slimslad, the point is to get an accurate count of peoples ethnicity and nationality. It is not a competition.
    Then we will all know where we stand, and can move forward.
    Why would you not wish to move forward Slimslad?

    Just for balance, I could equally state that if the figure goes down we will never hear the end of it, and if it goes up, then the council will share the "blame" with those nasty nationalists who obviously went out and brainwashed the gullible public.
    I could state that, but then, I'm not like you.

  • Comment number 13.

    by any chance, the figure goes down, then "Incomers" will get the blame for "distorting" the figures.
    Slimslad

    There is nothing stopping 鈥淚ncomers鈥 putting Cornish on their census form if they wish, who is to say they are not Cornish if they say they are? With the amount of publicity that has gone out to help people put Cornish on their census forms, it is inevitable that there will be a substantial increase this time, what help this will be to the council I have no idea.

  • Comment number 14.

    "With the amount of publicity that has gone out to help people put Cornish on their census forms, it is inevitable that there will be a substantial increase this time, what help this will be to the council I have no idea."

    It can be that Cornwall Council might expect more money from Europe to help with their deficit, and/or to increase their popularity at a time when the Con/Dem's who control Cornwall Council are less than popular, (except with the Celtic League, who have changed their opinion of the Council, for some reason).

  • Comment number 15.

    Slimslad wrote:-
    ".......at a time when the Con/Dem's who control Cornwall Council are less than popular..."

    It is clear that Slimslads knowledge of the subject is somewhat lacking, yet he still believes we should take note of what he has to say.

    Perhaps he would like to comment on the Con/Lab coalition in control of Westminster at the present time?

  • Comment number 16.

    I do beg your pardon, no overall control, but controlled by?
    Nationalist nit-picking is to be expected.
    Well the Cornish 6 certainly done a lot for Cornwall, since the last election!

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