CORNISH LANGUAGE AND THE PRAYER BOOK REBELLION

Early day motion 803, tabled 8 July 1999 by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 25 members.

That this House supports the case being made by Gorsedd Kernow, Cussel an Tavas Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek, Agan Tavas, Dalleth, Kesva an Taves Kernewek and the Cornish Committee of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, for Her Majesty's Government's recognition of the Cornish language to be incorporated within the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; notes that Cornwall is commemorating the 450th anniversary of the Cornish Prayer Book Rebellion, which was so harshly put down with reprisals and executions by the young King Edward VI's troops and mercenaries that one in five of the male population in Cornwall was killed, and that the Cornish demands of 1549 stated that 'we the Cornyshe men (whereof certen of us understande no Englysh) utterly refuse this newe Englysh'; and recognises that the modern-day Cornish request for recognition is simply to seek modest recognition of the current existence and voluntary use of the language as Cornwall's own contribution to the celebration of diversity of cultures, religions, ethnicities and languages throughout Britain and Europe.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 16, Labour 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1.