Prime Minister to meet with Cornish MPs about potential devolution deal

Sir Keir Starmer said steps are being made in the south west with the signing of the devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay

Author: Megan PricePublished 16th Oct 2024

The Prime Minister will meet with Cornwall's MPs about a potential devolution deal.

It's after he was asked for one by Lib Dem MP for North Cornwall Ben Maguire at Prime Minister's Questions.

Ben Maguire, MP, is calling for a Cornish Assembly without a mayor, to recognise the 'unique culture, language and national minority status' of Cornwall - which he says would unleash the Duchy's economic potential.

He told Sir Keir Starmer the Duchy's being let down by London.

Ben Maguire MP said: "North Cornwall is an amazing place to live and work but a top down approach from Westminster has failed us. Public services are chronically underfunded, young people are forced to move away to pursue careers elsewhere and affordable housing is a promise which is simply never kept."

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, responded: "We are already making steps in the south west by signing the devolution agreement for Devon and Torbay.

"I would actually encourage local authorities to work with their neighbours to pursue deeper and wider devolution for their area and I will make sure we have the meeting he is asking for."

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