Andrew George MP, in response to the news Cornwall Council is to work with Devon on a dual economic partnership arrangement, has warned that Cornwall should remember the lessons of recent history and stand on its own two feet and avoid being straight jacketed by others.
“Cornwall has achieved more in economic development terms in the last decade since it achieved separation from Devon and secured Objective 1 – now Convergence – status than it had in the decades before, when it followed the “Devonwall” agenda.
“Cornwall should always seek to work in partnership with others whether in Plymouth or Portsmouth, Devon or Devizes, Torbay or Taunton, on an issue by issue, project by project basis. But we mustn’t lose control to others. Cornwall and Scilly do best when we stand on our own two feet. We do worse when we become dependent upon others,” said the St Ives MP.
He added, all economic executive functions should be based in Cornwall, partnership can be sought with areas that share the same interest, such as rail links or maritime connections, when needed.
“We don’t need to set up more wasteful organisations, talking shops or bureaucratic functions purely for the sake of it.
“We also don’t need to join with others purely to ‘gain clout in the corridors of power’. Where we have a shared interest with others we should demonstrate that shared interest. other than that we should stand on our own two feet,” said Andrew George.
Penzance Cornwall Councillor, Mario Fonk said: “Merging with Devon would be a recipe for disaster, we will once again end up as the poor relations.”