24th September 2018

By Graham Smith

Labour Party members from Cornwall have staged their own impromptu rally at their national conference in Liverpool.

More than 40 activists from Cornwall are attending the event – the largest-ever representation from Cornwall, at what is the largest political conference in Europe.

Each of Cornwall’s six Parliamentary constituencies has sent at least six people – conference delegates, women’s conference delegates, youth delegates and visitors – amid talk that the Labour Party is looking to substantially raise its profile in Cornwall with an organisational shake-up designed to better serve its dramatically increased local membership.

At one evening reception, the Cornish contingent – draped in Cornish Tartan sashes and displaying a “Cornwall Labour Party” banner – provided a focus for front-benchers who were keen to learn more about proposals for a special conference, probably to be held in Camborne next year.

Activists believe that the large sums of cash they now raise through membership subscriptions should be retained in Cornwall, to employ full-time organisers and fund political campaigns.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has indicated that he supports the idea of Cornwall Labour Party grassroots’ members having a greater say in the development of policies relating to Cornwall Council – but is more cautious about suggestions that Cornwall could see the establishment of a separate Labour Party, with similar autonomy to that of Scotland or Wales.  There could be a debate about the proposals tomorrow (Tuesday.)

16-year-old Holly Hill, from Bodmin, at her first Labour Party conference, with 86-year-old Dennis Skinner MP

Above: Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry could not miss the Cornwall Labour Party gathering while below, North Cornwall constituency Labour Party's campaign co-ordinator Paul Bassett found time to watch Liverpool's footballers beat Southampton, in the company of Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.