Join MK in lobbying for greater recognition for Cornwall 2: Cornish tickbox on 2021 census

In May, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) published its initial response to the public consultation on topics for possible inclusion in the 2021 Census. In this, the ONS stated that they were not minded to include the option of a Cornish tickbox, adding that there would be a further consultation on options for the census questions on identity in the near-future.

On behalf of Mebyon Kernow, I have written to the ONS challenging their view, pointing out that they have failed to give adequate weight to the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and formally requesting that they urgently reconsider the inclusion of such a tickbox in this upcoming census.

Why not join MK in lobbying the ONS on this important issue.

The relevant email address is:
2021census.consultation@ons.gov.uk

For information, my letter to the ONS was as follows:

I am writing to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) on behalf of Mebyon Kernow, a political party campaigning for greater self-government for Cornwall, with regard to the ONS’s initial response to the public consultation on topics for possible inclusion in the 2021 Census, which were published in May.

We were particularly disappointed that the ONS stated they were not minded to include a Cornish tickbox in the national identity section, adding that the provision of write-in options were adequate. We would challenge this assertion and request that the ONS urgently reconsider the inclusion of such a tickbox in this upcoming census.

People in Cornwall were very pleased when the ONS agreed that, for the 2011 census, a code was allocated to the Cornish so that everyone who chose to write-in their national identity as Cornish would have it properly recorded. This was an important step forward at that time, but there has been a significant shift since then with the decision of the UK Government to recognise the Cornish as a national minority.

The ONS will recall that, at the time of the announcement, the Government stated: “The decision to recognise the unique identity of the Cornish, now affords them the same status under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as the UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.”

We note that in its response to recent consultation the ONS did reference the Framework Convention in a number of places, but we take the view that the ONS failed to give significant enough weight to the Framework Convention when coming to its view to not include a Cornish tickbox.

The inclusion of the Cornish within the auspices of the Framework Convention was a landmark ruling which, we consider, it would be illogical and unjust for the ONS to ignore. It is clear to us that the national identity question on the 2021 census must therefore treat the Cornish in the same manner as the “UK’s other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.”

Indeed, it is our view that the case for a tickbox for Cornish is overwhelming. Surely, it would be ridiculous to provide a tickbox facility for three of the UK’s four national minorities (the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish) but deny the opportunity to the fourth (the Cornish).

We would also point out that in the 2011 census, a total of 83,499 people from across Cornwall, England and Wales, used the “write-in” option to identify as Cornish. Within Cornwall itself, 73,200 people described themselves as Cornish on the form, equating to 13.8% of the population. This is comparable to the 14% of people in Wales who wrote-in Welsh in the 2001 census, prior to the inclusion of a Welsh tickbox in 2011. It is also particularly telling that, once a Welsh tickbox had been included, some 66% of respondents from Wales described themselves as Welsh.

As shown above with this simple comparison between Cornwall and Wales, if a Cornish tickbox were not to be included it would mean that the number of people with a Cornish national identity would be massively under-recorded.

It is our view that there should be parity between all national minorities within the United Kingdom, which would also give greater value and surety to the overall statistics.

We also note that the ONS previously confirmed that there would be a further consultation on options for the identity questions in the near-future, and would ask when this is likely to happen and we can make further representations on this issue.

Please look again at including a Cornish tickbox in the 2021 census.