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Cornish National Minority Working Group


The Working Group was established by the Council’s Constitution and Governance Committee in June 2015.

The Working Group has been reconstituted as an Outside Body with appointments being made by the Leader. This is in accordance with the Council’s Outside Body Framework.

Members from the Council administration were appointed in June 2025:

  • Councillor Leigh Frost (Leader)         
  • Councillor Sarah Preece (Cabinet Member) 
  • Councillor Dick Cole (Mebyon Kernow)
  • Councillor Richard Barker (Reform UK)
  • Councillor Dean Evans (Green)
  • Councillor Julian German (Independent)
  • Councillor Alan Rowe (Labour)
  • Councillor Jordan Rowse (Conservative)

There will also be three co-opted members from Gorsedh Kernow appointed.

How is the Working Group governed?

The Constitution and Governance Committee has agreed the terms of reference of the Working Group.  These are to:

  • Lead, promote and celebrate Cornish National Minority Status
  • Support the development of Cornish as a community language
  • Take forward an action plan to address the provisions of the FCPNM and ECRML and to monitor its implementation
  • Formulate responses to the Council of Europe in respect of draft UK Government FCPNM compliance reports
  • Provide supporting information for the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee Opinion on the UK Government’s compliance reports
  • Formulate responses with regards to future compliance reports
  • Act in an advisory role, liaising with the Council of Europe and UK Government in respect of the FCPNM and ECRML

Current plans of the Cornish National Minority Working Group

The Working Group maintains an action plan for its future activities. They hosted the first ever UK-wide National Minority summit in 2019. The group continues to work closely with Cornwall's MPs. This is to appeal to the UK Government to honour its commitment under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. 

Members of the Working Group opposed proposals for a cross-border constituency under the Parliamentary Boundary Review. This began in January 2021 and is due to conclude in 2023. 

In partnership with the Council, the Group continues to press the UK Government for stable central funding for Cornish culture and language.

Working Group Documents

Current key documents produced by the Working Group:

Agendas and minutes

Last Updated:

25/06/2025

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