Overview

• The petition has drawn nearly 23,000 signatures ahead of its September 11 closing date, surpassing the 10,000 threshold that requires a formal government response but short of the 100,000 needed for a parliamentary debate.
• Cornwall Council, led by a Liberal Democrat–run coalition, voted 53–22 to back recognised nation status and has promoted the petition across its channels.
• Council leader Leigh Frost said the effort is not about independence and argued that decisions affecting Cornwall should be made locally.
• Most Reform UK councillors, from the largest party on the council, opposed the motion, with deputy leader Rowland O’Connor warning the move could create social division.
• The campaign unfolds alongside the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, with Cornish leaders resisting a requirement for a joint Cornwall–Devon mayor to access top-tier powers, citing Cornwall’s distinct identity and prior devolution arrangements.