It's OK to insult the Cornish because they don't exist, rules watchdog

It's OK to insult the Cornish because they don't exist, rules watchdog

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 11:25 AM on 29th January 2010

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After years of enduring jokes about being cider-swilling, pasty-munching yokels, the Cornish were today told that no action can be taken against people who insult them because officially the Cornish do not exist.

The Kernow branch of the Celtic League had complained to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about the use of the term 'inbred' and other mockery of the people of Cornwall in the media.

But the commission said it was powerless to prosecute anyone because, under the Race Relations Act, the Cornish did not exist as a separate nationality from the English.

Proud: Citizens of Cornwall, seen here celebrating St Piran's Day, were today told hat no action can be taken against people who insult them because officially the Cornish do not exist

In this reply to the Celtic League, Qaiser Razzak, the South Vfest regional manager of the EHRC, said that in order for any remedy to be available in domestic legal proceedings, the Cornish would need to be defined as a 'racial group' under the Race Relations Act, which had not yet been done.

'To date, case law has not established the Cornish as a "racial group", for the purposes of the Race Relations Act, so currently, it is not clear whether any claim of racial discrimination against Cornish people would be successful.'

He added that a European treaty, which the UK was bound to follow, set down protection for 'national minorities'.

'However, although binding on the UK Government, it has not been implemented into domestic law and does not therefore provide a right to bring any legal proceedings,' he said.

'The commission would like to look into this issue further as part of our Good Relations mandate. In this regard, I would welcome an opportunity to meet you and discuss this matter in more detail.'

Outrage: Port Isaac in Cornwall. The Celtic League had demanded action to stop media groups referring to the Cornish as 'inbred'

Last month, the Kernow branch of the Celtic League said it 'utterly condemned' repeated descriptions of Cornish nationals as 'inbred', and other insulting phrases, in newspapers and on the internet.

In the letter to Mr Razzak, Iwan Le Moine, secretary of the Kernow branch, wrote: 'Over the last few years, a number of individuals have contacted our branch to complain about various comments and articles that have been written in newspapers, magazines and aired on the radio referring to the Cornish as "inbred" and being generally derogatory and/or insulting.

'This refers to comments made by individuals, as well as from sources on the Internet, but a surprising number also come from supposedly well-respected sources.'

The pressure group includes regional as well as national newspapers such as The Times and The Guardian, BBC radio, the political magazine The Spectator and the website of Imperial College, University of London.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, general secretary of the Celtic League, said it had received 'many messages of support not only from within the British Isles but from as far afield as China and Australia from Cornish people'.

It planned to meet with the EHRC to discuss the issue.