We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that Cornwall Council will, by exception, become a single strategic authority in today's Budget in recognition of our unique cultural status.
This secures further devolution for Cornwall on a Cornwall only footprint and without the need to introduce a mayor, which the Council, MPs and Peers representing Cornwall have long campaigned for.
Today’s announcement comes on the back of very positive conversations with the Prime Minister and at No.10 North over recent months. Government has listened to Cornwall.
Confirmation that the Council will also receive a share of the £150m capacity funding to support strategic authorities, plus an allocation from £285m new Good Growth Fund to invest in our economy is good news for Cornwall taxpayers.
We look forward to continuing the discussions with Ministers over the coming months to gain an even greater level of autonomy and funding for Cornwall through the Government’s Rewiring the State Delivery Plan, to be published by the end of this year.
Responding to the Chancellor's announcements Cornwall Council leader Leigh Frost 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.
"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."
Cllr Leigh Frost, Leader of Cornwall Council, on behalf of Cornwall’s Members of Parliament - Andrew George, Perran Moon, Jayne Kirkham, Noah Law, Ben Maguire, Anna Gelderd - and Lord Hutton, Lord Teverson, Lord Taylor.
Published on October 28, 2026