Dear Resident,
Cornwall is unique. The Kilbrandon report in the early 1970s acknowledged the distinctiveness of Cornwall and suggested that it should be regarded as a "Duchy" rather than a normal county of England.
Recently, the Government announced a new, devolution deal for Cornwall. It could give Cornwall additional decision-making powers in key policy areas alongside measures to recognise Cornwall's unique culture and distinctiveness.
Linked to the agreement is a more controversial decision about whether Cornwall should have a directly elected mayor. I can see both sides of the argument and have an open mind, but I want to know what you think.
On the one hand, having a directly elected mayor could create in one individual a powerful "voice for Cornwall" and it could strengthen the accountability to local people in a more direct way.
On the other side of the argument, the idea of a single individual representing the whole of Cornwall unsettles some of our Cornish sensibilities. Can our historic "one and all" culture be represented in a "one for all" system of democratic accountability?
I hope that you will share your own thoughts with me on this and other issues in the below short survey.
Kind Regards,
Rt Hon George Eustice MP