Cornwall Should Be Made the UK’s Fifth Nation, Petition Demands
10th September 2025
he Cornish are being urged to sign a petition demanding the government recognise Cornwall as the fifth nation of the UK — alongside England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — and grant it devolved powers.
The campaign is backed by Cornwall council, which passed a motion calling for recognised nation status by 53 votes in favour and 22 against.
The council, run by a Liberal Democrat-led coalition, has been pushing the petition on its social media channels as the deadline looms this week.
Perhaps the Upper Peninsula of Michigan could attempt to become a state. Or maybe the eastern tail of West Virginia. Or even Long Island–wouldn’t that be entertaining.
Rowland O’Connor, the Reform deputy leader on the council, said: “It feels like we are being asked to choose between being English and Cornish. In reality most of us are very proud to be Cornish and English.
Except that the Cornish are not English, unless they came from outside Cornwall. The Cornish are Celts and most closely related to the Welsh, not the Anglo-Saxon-Danes to their West.
On the other hand, it would give Prince William, it’s Duke, someplace to practice being a figurehead.