Cornwall Council has welcomed today’s Council of Europe report criticising Government support for the Cornish language and calling for people to be able to identify themselves as Cornish in the next census.

The Council also waded into a row with the county’s MPs over funding for the Cornish language – saying a commitment of £100,000 to all Cornish culture over the next two years did not replace last year’s controversial withdrawal of £150,000 of funding specifically for the language.

However, a Government spokesman insisted: ’We’re supporting the further development of Cornish culture and heritage, including with more than £800,000 funding since 2010. This complements Cornwall’s core spending powers of £1.7 billion over the next four years.’

In a statement, Cornwall Council said: ’We welcome the findings of the report from the Council ofn Europe which recognises the importance of Cornwall’s unique culture and heritage and sets out a series of clear recommendations for the UK Government on how to meet its legal obligations to protect Cornwall’s cultural identity.

’The Opinion Report raises serious concerns over the way in which the UK Government is currently meeting its legal obligations, particularly with regard to support for the Cornish language, and calls on the Government to take all necessary steps to ensure access to the linguistic, cultural and human rights provided by the Framework Convention to the Cornish minority. 

’We are aware that the Council of Europe Opinion Report was sent to the UK Government some time ago to enable it to prepare a formal response to the findings. 

’Unfortunately, while Ministers chose to share the Opinion Report with the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Ireland prior to today’s publication, they did not provide a copy to Cornwall.

’We are disappointed by this further evidence of discrimination which meant that we were unable to influence the Government’s response or prepare our own response to the findings or recommendations.’

The council said members would now consider a formal response both to the report, and to the Government’s reaction to it.