STANDING UP FOR Our pledges to you

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall is a . This situation has been greatly political party with a difference. MK is based in worsened by the cuts from recent governments. Cornwall and exists to win a better deal for all MK councillors will: the people of our nation. We have no political masters in Westminster to please and will  Campaign for decent levels of funding for always fight for the best interests for our area. local government, hospitals and social care, schools and our vital public services. MK is also leading the campaign for the of meaningful powers to Cornwall  Oppose the latest (Sustainability and through the creation of a National Assembly of Transformation Plan) reorganisation of the Cornwall. National Health Service, which reinforces the £264 million under-funding of the local Restore faith in local government NHS and threatens community hospitals. believes that councils should  Push for a Commission to investigate the serve the best interests of local communities, full extent of Government under-funding of but it is a sad fact that they are increasingly Cornwall and its communities. becoming just an agency of central government, imposing London-centric diktats onto the Protect the less-well-off and the people of Cornwall. vulnerable MK councillors will: Mebyon Kernow is committed to a just and fair society, in which we combat poverty and social  Be passionate and hard-working champions deprivation, and tackle ills such as in-work for their local area and Cornwall as a whole. poverty, low wages and poor housing.  Oppose unpopular top-down policies (such MK councillors will: as the privatisation of public services and unsustainable planning policies) which are  Champion efforts to provide decent public not in the best interests of Cornwall. services to support one and all – including the young, the elderly, the sick, those  Campaign against the loss of local political suffering from mental health issues, the control to unelected and unaccountable less-well-off and those in search of work. quangos, such as the Local Enterprise Partnership.  Prioritise programmes and initiatives which seek to protect and enhance the living Protect and improve public services standards for those in need. The savage cuts from recent governments have  Campaign for an end to the inequitable had a devastating impact on local government, council tax and its replacement with more the National Health Service, policing, schools progressive local taxation based on income, and a wide host of public services, undoing the with everyone paying their fair share. very basis of British society. Boost the Cornish economy MK councillors will: Cornwall’s economic performance continues to  Oppose the excessive and damaging cuts lag behind that of the rest of the United from central government, and lobby central Kingdom, with a GDP that is below 75% of the government to ensure adequate funding to UK average. MK is committed to measures to meet Cornwall’s needs. boost the Cornish economy, in order to help  Oppose the privatisation of the National people provide a better future for themselves Health Service and other public services. and their families.  Campaign against the centralisation of MK councillors will: services out of Cornwall into bodies  Challenge to develop a stretching across the Government’s SW long-term strategy for a sustainable and region, for example, keeping our Fire equitable economy to deliver prosperity for Service in Cornwall. Cornwall and its people. Fight for fair funding for Cornwall  Lobby central government to ensure Cornwall has had a raw deal from Westminster significant investment in lieu of the loss of for many years. Our vital public services have EU structural funds, which should also received less funding than other parts of the under local democratic control.  Campaign for greater support for Cornwall’s  Push for a zero waste strategy, which traditional industries, including farming, invests in the radical reduction of waste and fishing and mining. increased re-use and recycling. Demand pro-Cornwall planning policies  Campaign to defend Cornwall’s green fields and historic landscapes from inappropriate Mebyon Kernow is campaigning for the and unsustainable development. devolution of full control over all aspects of planning with a Cornish National Planning Policy Safeguard and invest in local facilities Framework. Local government and the wider public sector MK councillors will: continue to be under severe pressure due to cuts in funding. As a result, communities are  Promote well-balanced planning policies seeing a loss or reduction in local service which protect the Cornish countryside, provision. while allowing appropriate developments that meet the needs of local communities. MK councillors will:  Press for a lower and more sustainable  Seek to safeguard council and community housing target, with development geared to assets and services such as public principally meet local needs. buildings, playing fields, open spaces and libraries, which are vital to local towns and  Push for planning restrictions to stop and villages. then reverse the spread of second homes.  Put pressure on central government to Fight for proper local-needs housing invest in the local Post Office network and Mebyon Kernow believes that local families stop the closure or downgrading of local have a fundamental right to good quality branches. housing, both for purchase and rent, in their  Campaign for greater parity in how the own communities and at a price that is truly unitary authority spends its money across affordable. the various parts of Cornwall. MK councillors will: Win greater recognition for Cornwall  Campaign for a local-needs housing policy Mebyon Kernow exists to secure greater that will provide genuinely affordable recognition for the historic nation of Cornwall homes rather than schemes that just make and the rights of its people. large profits for developers. MK councillors will:  Prioritise the delivery of council houses through the local authority, and affordable  Campaign to ensure that the safeguards homes through registered providers and guaranteed through the Framework community land trusts. Convention for the Protection of National Minorities are properly enacted by local  Continue to challenge central government bodies and central government. for a major rethink of its regressive approach to affordable housing.  Work hard to protect Cornwall’s unique identity, its language, traditions and its Protect and enhance the environment distinct constitutional position; and oppose Cornwall and the wider world face a range of the imposition of a cross-Tamar serious environmental threats, and Mebyon “” seat. Kernow understands these issues need to be  Continue to lead the campaign for greater tackled at local as well as worldwide levels. self-government for Cornwall through the MK councillors will: creation of a National Assembly.  Promote initiatives to reduce greenhouse emissions and develop a truly sustainable and decentralised low-carbon economy, www.mebyonkernow.org with greater resilience in terms of food www.facebook.com/MebyonKernow/ production, energy, supply networks, and

an integrated public transport system.

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