View source for Mebyon Kernow

{{Short description|Political party in Cornwall}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = Cornwall
| name             = Mebyon Kernow
| native_name      = Party for Cornwall
| abbreviation     = MK
| colorcode        = {{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}
| logo             = Mebyon Kernow logo.svg
| leader           = [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]]
| founder          = [[Helena Sanders]]
| foundation       = 6 January 1951
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap
 | [[Cornish nationalism]]
 | [[Cornish devolution]]
 | [[Separatism]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lansford |first=Tom |date=2014-03-20 |title=Political Handbook of the World 2014 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Political_Handbook_of_the_World_2014.html?id=iC_VBQAAQBAJ |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |page=1522 |isbn=1483386260 |access-date=2025-07-21}}</ref>
 | [[Regionalism (politics)|Regionalism]]<ref name="Schrijver2006">{{cite book|author=Frans Schrijver|title=Regionalism After Regionalisation: Spain, France and the United Kingdom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u8gZklxHTMUC&pg=PA261|year=2006|publisher=[[Amsterdam University Press]]|isbn=978-90-5629-428-1|pages=261–290}}</ref>
 | [[Social democracy]]
}}
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Centre-left]]
| international    = 
| european         = {{Nowrap|[[European Free Alliance]]}}
| colours          = {{colour strip|#CCCC00|Black|White|border=1}}<br />[[Old gold]], black and white
| youth_wing       = Kernow Rydh
| headquarters     = Lanhainsworth<br />Fraddon Hill<br />[[Fraddon]]<br />[[St Columb Major|St Columb]]<br />[[Cornwall]]<br />TR9 6PQ
| website          = [http://www.mebyonkernow.org/ www.mebyonkernow.org]
| seats1_title     = [[Cornwall Council]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/your-council/political-breakdown-of-the-council/ |author=Cornwall council |title=Political breakdown of the Council - Cornwall Council |date=7 May 2021 |access-date=8 March 2024 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308122736/https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/your-council/political-breakdown-of-the-council/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg05.htm |title=The 2005 Local Government Elections in Northern Ireland |author=Nicholas Whyte |date=10 May 2005 |publisher=[[Northern Ireland Social and Political Archive]] |access-date=8 December 2009 |archive-date=9 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809161624/http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/flg05.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|3|87|hex={{party color|Mebyon Kernow}} }}
| seats2_title     = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] (Cornwall seats)
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|0|6|hex={{party color|Mebyon Kernow}} }}
| seats3_title     = Camborne Town Council<ref>{{cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/councillors |website=Camborne Town Council |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124151201/https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/councillors |archive-date=24 January 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|7|18|hex={{party color|Mebyon Kernow}} }}
}}
'''Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall''' ({{IPA|kw|mɛbjɔn kərnou|}}, '''MK'''; [[Cornish language|Cornish]] for "Sons of Cornwall")<ref name=":11">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cornwall24.net/2010/12/chris-dunkerley-mebyon-kernow-60-years-on-and-still-looking-good/|title=Mebyon Kernow – 60 Years on – and still looking good!|last=Dunkerley|first=Chris|date=3 December 2010|work=Cornwall24.net|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630105313/http://www.cornwall24.net/2010/12/chris-dunkerley-mebyon-kernow-60-years-on-and-still-looking-good/|url-status=live}}</ref> is a [[Cornish nationalism|Cornish nationalist]], [[Left-wing politics|centre-left]] political party in [[Cornwall]], in southwestern Britain. It currently has three elected councillors on [[Cornwall Council]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/cornwall_councillors.php|title=Cornwall Councillors|last=Cornwall|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135336/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/cornwall_councillors.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> and several town and parish councillors across Cornwall.<ref name="MK Councillors">{{cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/other_councillors.php|title=City, Town and Parish Councillors – Our Team|publisher=Mebyon Kernow|access-date=30 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135259/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/other_councillors.php|archive-date=26 June 2018}}</ref><ref name=MKCouncillors2>{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |website=Mebyon Kernow |access-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124230715/https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |archive-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

Influenced by the growth of Cornish nationalism in the first half of the twentieth century, Mebyon Kernow formed as a [[Advocacy group|pressure group]] in 1951. [[Helena Sanders|Helena Charles]] was its first chair, while the novelist [[Daphne du Maurier]] was another early member. In 1953 Charles won a seat on a local council, but lost it in 1955. Support for MK grew in the 1960s in opposition to growing migration into Cornwall from parts of England. In the 1970s, MK became a fully-fledged political party, and since then it has fielded candidates in elections to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] and the [[European Parliament]], as well as [[Cornwall Council|local government in Cornwall]]. Infighting during the 1980s decimated the party but it revived in the 1990s.

Ideologically positioned on the [[centre-left]] of British politics, the central tenet of Mebyon Kernow's platform is Cornish nationalism. It emphasises a distinct Cornish identity, including the [[Cornish language]] and elements of [[Cornish culture]]. It campaigns for [[devolution]] to Cornwall in the form of a [[Cornish Assembly]]. Economically, it is [[social democracy|social democratic]], calling for continued [[public ownership]] of education and healthcare and the renationalisation of railways. It also calls for greater [[environmental protection]] and for the UK to rejoin the [[European Union]].

The party is a member of the [[European Free Alliance]] and has close links with [[Plaid Cymru]], the [[Scottish National Party]] and the [[Breton Democratic Union]].<ref name=BBC2000 /><ref name=":9" />
Several former Cornish MPs have been supporters of MK, including [[Andrew George (politician)|Andrew George]] ([[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]), [[Peter Bessell]] ([[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]), [[John Pardoe]] (Liberal Party), [[David Mudd]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]), and [[David Penhaligon]] (Liberal Party).<ref>[http://www.mebyonkernow.org/?q=history_1950s_and_1960s Mebyon Kernow history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918034653/http://www.mebyonkernow.org/?q=history_1950s_and_1960s |date=18 September 2007 }}. Mebyonkernow.org.</ref> George was himself a member of MK in his youth.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/06/duchy-original-cornish-national-consciousness-gets-stronger-by-the-year/|title=Duchy original: Cornish national consciousness gets stronger by the year|last=Watts|first=Andrew|date=3 June 2017|work=[[The Spectator]]|access-date=24 June 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625090021/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/06/duchy-original-cornish-national-consciousness-gets-stronger-by-the-year/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==

=== Founding (1950s) ===
In the half-century preceding its foundation, Cornish identity had been strengthened by the [[Celtic Revival]], especially by the [[Cornish language revival|revival of the Cornish language]].<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=14}}</ref> [[Politics of Cornwall|Cornish politics]] was dominated by the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], with the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] a distant third in the Duchy, in part because of Cornwall's declining tin-mining industry.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=21}}</ref> Both the Liberal Party and the Labour Party had courted Cornish nationalism in their local campaigns, with both parties portraying "a distinctly Cornish image"; in turn, this meant that Cornish nationalism was from its inception associated with [[centre-left politics]].<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=19–21}}</ref> Many of MK's initial supporters came from the Liberal Party, which had endorsed [[Irish Home Rule movement|Home Rule for Ireland]].<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=19}}</ref> Early members of MK cited their absence from Cornwall during their university years and the war as instrumental in the formation of their Cornish identity.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=27–8}}</ref> A catalyst for the party's foundation was the [[Celtic Congress]] of 1950, held at the [[Royal Institution of Cornwall]] in [[Truro]], which facilitated the exchange of ideas between Cornish nationalists and other Celtic groups.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=29}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Williams|2014|p=12}}</ref>

MK was founded as a [[Advocacy group|pressure group]] on 6 January 1951.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jan/26/cornish-party-mebyon-kernow-future|title=Cornish party Mebyon Kernow sees the future in black and white|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=26 January 2012|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> At the party's inaugural meeting, held at the Oates Temperance Hotel in [[Redruth]],<ref name=":1" /> thirteen people were present and a further seven sent their apologies. [[Helena Charles]] was elected as the organisation's first chair. MK adopted the following objectives:<ref name=":11" />

#To study local conditions and attempt to remedy any that may be prejudicial to the best interests of Cornwall by the creation of public opinion or other means.
#To foster the [[Cornish language]] and [[Cornish literature]].
#To encourage the study of [[History of Cornwall|Cornish history]] from a [[Cornish people|Cornish]] point of view.
#By self-knowledge to further the acceptance of the idea of the [[Celt]]ic character of [[Cornwall]], one of the six [[Celtic nations]].
#To publish pamphlets, broadsheets, articles and letters in the Press whenever possible, putting forward the foregoing aims.
#To arrange concerts and entertainments with a Cornish-Celtic flavour through which these aims can be further advanced.
#To co-operate with all societies concerned with preserving the character of Cornwall.

By September 1951 they had officially come to a stance of supporting self-government for Cornwall,<ref name=":1" /> when the fourth objective was replaced with: "To further the acceptance of the Celtic character of Cornwall and its right to self-government in domestic affairs in a Federated United Kingdom."<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=32}}</ref>

In its early years, MK engaged in cultural activities, such as producing Cornish calendars and sending a birthday prayer in Cornish to the [[Duke of Cornwall]]. It highlighted the high proportion of executives in local government which were not Cornish and campaigned against inward migration to Cornwall from the rest of the United Kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=33–4}}</ref> From 1952, the party was supported by ''New Cornwall'', a magazine which was edited by Charles until 1956.<ref name="Deacon34">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=34}}</ref> MK's agenda received support from the Liberal Party, whose candidates endorsed Home Rule for Cornwall.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=35}}</ref> MK won its first seat in local government in 1953, when Charles won a seat on Redruth-Camborne Urban District Council, under the slogan of 'A Square Deal for the Cornish'.<ref name=":11" /><ref name="Deacon34"/> Charles lost her seat in 1955.<ref name="Deacon36"/>

Following infighting between senior members who were frustrated at her radical separatism, in contrast to the passive culturalism of the broader Cultural nationalist movement,<ref name="Deacon36"/><ref name="Williams13">{{harvnb|Williams|2014|p=13}}</ref> and following frustration at the party's dispersed and unenthusiastic membership,<ref name="Deacon36">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=36}}</ref> Charles resigned as Chairman of MK in 1956.<ref name="Deacon34"/> Charles was replaced by Major [[Cecil Beer]], a former civil servant who sought to reunify the Cornish nationalist movement.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=37}}</ref> Beer's three years as chairman of MK provided "a period of quiet but steady growth", in which MK increased its membership and focussed on cultural rather than political issues.<ref name="Williams13"/><ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=38}}</ref> Party meetings largely focussed on "calendars, Christmas cards, serviettes, Cornish language classes and proposals for things like the Cornish [[kilt]]."<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=46}}</ref>

[[Daphne du Maurier]], the well-known novelist, was an early member of MK.<ref name=":0" /> From its founding until the 1980s, the party was divided between proponents of [[ethnic nationalism]] and proponents of [[civic nationalism]].<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=3}}</ref>
[[File:Young Daphne du Maurier.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Daphne du Maurier]], perhaps the best known supporter of Mebyon Kernow.]]

=== Growth (1960s–1970s) ===
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, MK was in essence a small political pressure group rather than a true political party, with members being able to join other political parties as well.<ref name=":11" /> In February 1960, Beer was succeeded by Robert Dunstone as Chairman of MK.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=44}}</ref> By March 1962, the party had seventy members,<ref name="Deacon45">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=45}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Williams|2014|p=14}}</ref> of which thirty were attending the party's infrequent meetings.<ref name="Deacon45"/>

Under Dunstone, the party followed a policy of "patient, persistent, and polite lobbying", the standard for which was set by its reaction to proposed railway closures in 1962, which included public meetings, letters of protest and the formation of a transport sub-committee of the party.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=46–7}}</ref> MK campaigned for the establishment of a Cornish University, a Cornish Industrial Board, and the repatriation of [[Heligoland]] [[Frisians]] whose land was used by the British government as a bombing range in the mid-1950s. It published numerous policy papers to support its positions.<ref name=":11" />

MK gained popularity in the 1960s, when it campaigned against 'overspill' housing developments in Cornwall to accommodate incomers from Greater London.<ref name=":1" /> MK's opposition prompted opponents to label the party as [[racialist]]; the party denied the allegations and responded with ''What Cornishmen Can Do'', a pamphlet published in September 1968 which proposed more investment in natural resources, food processing and technological industries, as well as a Cornish University, tidal barrages and more support for small farmers.<ref name="Deacon53">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=53}}</ref> Partly due to its opposition to overspill, by 1965, the party numbered 700 members, rising to 1,000 by early 1968.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=48–9}}</ref> In April 1967, Colin Murley was elected for MK onto [[Cornwall Council|Cornwall County Council]] for the seat of [[St Day]] & [[Lanner, Cornwall|Lanner]]; he had stood on an anti-overspill platform.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":1" /> MK members also sat as independent councillors on the district council.<ref name="Williams18">{{harvnb|Williams|2014|p=18}}</ref> The party grew to become the leading champion for [[Cornish nationalism]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfJYBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT159|title=Engel's England: Thirty-nine counties, one capital and one man|last=Engel|first=Matthew|date=2014|publisher=Profile Books|isbn=978-1-84765-928-6|page=159}}</ref>

On [[St. Piran's Day]] in 1968, the first edition of ''Cornish Nation'' was published; this is the party's magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/cornish-studies-library/cornish-studies-library-collections/newspapers-and-periodicals/local-journals-and-periodicals/?page=14295|title=Local journals and periodicals – Cornwall Council|website=www.cornwall.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210534/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/cornish-studies-library/cornish-studies-library-collections/newspapers-and-periodicals/local-journals-and-periodicals/?page=14295|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/articles/article.php?id=172|title=Cornish Nation no. 76 ... available now!|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=28 October 2017|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135618/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/articles/article.php?id=172|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Williams|2014|p=19}}</ref> In the same year, Leonard Truran succeeded Dunstone as Chairman of MK;<ref name="Deacon53"/> Dunstone then became the party's first Honorary President.<ref name="Deacon127">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=127}}</ref>

By the 1970s the group developed into a more coherent and unified organisation.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}} At the annual conference in October 1967, party members voted for a resolution to contest elections to the [[House of Commons (United Kingdom)|House of Commons]],<ref name="Williams18"/> marking a turning point in MK's transition from a pressure group into a political party. The decision meant that councillors, prospective parliamentary candidates and MPs who held dual party membership began to disassociate themselves from MK.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=54}}</ref> Despite the decision, a faction in MK remained frustrated at the continuing possibility of dual party membership, the wide range of views on Cornish nationalism in the party and MK's slow transition into a political party; this dissident faction formed the Cornish National Party in July 1969. The CNP's members were expelled from MK, but the CNP had disappointing election results in the 1970 county council elections, leading most CNP members to rejoin MK by the mid-1970s.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=56}}</ref>

In the [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970 election]], [[Richard Jenkin]], who would succeed Truran as Chairman of MK in 1973,<ref name="Deacon128">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=128}}</ref> won 2% of the vote in the [[Falmouth and Camborne (UK Parliament constituency)|Falmouth & Camborne]] constituency. [[James Whetter]] stood for MK in the [[Truro (UK Parliament constituency)|Truro]] constituency in the general elections of [[February 1974 United Kingdom general election|February]] and [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election|October]] 1974, achieving 1.5% and 0.7% of the vote respectively. The party contested the constituencies of [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]] and Falmouth & Camborne in both the [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] and [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]] elections.<ref name="Craig">F. W. S. Craig, ''British parliamentary election results, 1950–1973''.</ref> MK also contested the [[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979 European Parliament election]], winning 5.9% of the vote in the constituency of [[Cornwall and West Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)|Cornwall & West Plymouth]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/epe1.html|title=United Kingdom European Parliamentary Election results 1979–94: England (part 1)|website=www.election.demon.co.uk|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-date=22 August 2011|archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110822212436/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/epe1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following Dunstone's death in 1973, [[E.G. Retallack Hooper]] was elected the party's Honorary President; Hooper was a former Grand Bard of the [[Gorseth Kernow]] who had been a founding member of MK and was a prolific Cornish language writer and journalist.<ref name="Deacon127"/>

The CNP's formation highlighted deep fissures in MK between its constitutionalist and separatist wings; these were exacerbated by continuing inward migration to Cornwall, leading to a 26% increase in its population in the two decades to 1981. The ''Cornish Nation'' gave increasingly sympathetic coverage of Irish republicanism; MK warned of civil unrest in Cornwall and the extermination of the Cornish national identity if overspill continued; and its members talked openly of plans to install a shadow government "in the name of the Cornish people in the event of civil breakdown".<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=60–1}}</ref> A motion to restrict party membership to those who were Cornish by "family trees going back through several centuries" was defeated in 1973;<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=62}}</ref> and a September 1974 issue of the ''Cornish Nation'' describing [[Michael Gaughan (Irish republican)|Michael Gaughan]], an [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] hunger striker, as a "Celtic hero" was widely criticised in the press and rebuked by the party.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=63}}</ref> MK's divisions came to a head in May 1975, when a motion to depose the party's leadership and integrate the party with the [[Revived Cornish Stannary Parliament|Revived Stannary Parliament]], which had newly reopened in 1974, was narrowly defeated.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=65–6}}</ref> On 28 May 1975, Whetter, who had led the defeated motion, resigned his membership of MK to form a second [[Cornish Nationalist Party]], which campaigned for full [[Cornish self-government movement|Cornish independence]] on a pro-European platform.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=66}}</ref> This second CNP also had disappointing electoral results and has not contested elections since 1985.<ref name="Deacon81"/>

During the 1970s, MK held rallies in support of Cornwall's fishing industry and against regional unemployment and nuclear waste;<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=70}}</ref> in the 1980s, these rallies were aggravated by the policies of the incumbent [[Thatcher ministry (disambiguation)|Thatcher government]].<!--Intentional link to DAB page--><ref name=":11" /> Following the 1975 split, the party was re-energised by an influx of new, younger members, which also pushed MK more firmly away from its separatist wing.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=67}}</ref> Citing concerns about its effect on Cornwall's fishing industry, the party opposed the Common Market;<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|url=https://is.cuni.cz/webapps/zzp/detail/86508/|title=Revival of the Cornish Language: Its Reasons, Challenges and its Relation towards the Cornish Identity|last=Zadražilová|first=Dagmar|year=2010|location=Prague|pages=52|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213702/https://is.cuni.cz/webapps/zzp/detail/86508/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=71–2}}</ref> MK only began to endorse the UK's membership of the EEC in the 1980s.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=87}}</ref>

=== Decline (1980s) ===
The party declined in the 1980s and was close to collapse by 1990.<ref name=":1" /> In 1980, renewed infighting over the party's structure led to a spate of resignations which received media attention;<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=72–3}}</ref> this included the resignation of Truran, who had served as party secretary after Jenkin had replaced him as Chairman of MK in 1973.<ref name="Deacon128"/> Leading the infighting was a new, youthful leftist faction of MK, which sought to define the party's policies on defence, the monarchy and public ownership, bringing the party away from its traditional nationalist focus.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=75–6}}</ref> While the infighting consolidated MK's economic stance as left-of-centre, the party's everchanging positions confused voters and presided over the decline of its magazines, including the ''Cornish Nation''.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=76–7}}</ref> In 1983, Jenkin was replaced by Julyan Drew as the party leader;<ref name="Deacon81">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=81}}</ref> Drew was succeeded by [[Pedyr Prior]] in 1985 and [[Loveday Carlyon]] in 1986.<ref name="Deacon82">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=82}}</ref>

At the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]], MK achieved 1.2% of the vote in both Falmouth & Camborne and St Ives, reduced from 3% and 4% respectively in the previous election.<ref name="Craig" /> It contested neither the [[1984 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1984 European Parliament election]] nor the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]]; it received 1.9% of the vote in Cornwall & West Plymouth in the [[1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1989 European Parliament election]].<ref name=":8" /> During this period, the party focussed on its opposition to the creation of a [[South West England]] region<ref name=":11" /> and the construction of a nuclear station at [[Luxulyan]];<ref name=":12" /> this latter campaign culminated in the formation of the Cornish Anti-Nuclear Alliance, which drew over 2,000 attendees to its first rallies in Truro in July 1980.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=79}}</ref> MK's vociferous response to the planned building of 40,000 new homes in Cornwall, manifested in the formation in 1987 of the Cornish Alternatives to the Structure Plan, gained high-profile notability in Cornwall.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=83}}</ref> MK also campaigned against tourism-centred economic development and the [[Poll tax (Great Britain)|poll tax]].<ref name="Deacon82"/> Nevertheless, public support for action was far lower than the previous decade and MK regressed into a pressure group.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=84–5}}</ref>

In 1988, MK established the Campaign for a Cornish Constituency, which won the support of Cornwall County Council, all the district authorities, several Cornish organisations and three of Cornwall's five MPs.<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|url=https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10026.1/2071/PHILIP%20JOHN%20PAYTON.PDF?sequence=1|title=Modern Cornwall: The Changing Nature of Peripherality|last=Payton|first=Philip John|publisher=[[University of Plymouth]]|date=December 1989|location=Plymouth|pages=394–5|access-date=4 July 2018|author-link=Philip Payton|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213202/https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10026.1/2071/PHILIP%20JOHN%20PAYTON.PDF?sequence=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite book|url=https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2014/Neo-Liberalism,%20Regionalism%20and%20Mebyon%20Kernow.pdf|title=Neo-Liberal Economic Development, Competitiveness, and the Growth of Mebyon Kernow in Cornish Politics|last1=Willett|first1=Joanie|last2=Rowe|first2=John|publisher=[[University of Exeter]]|year=2014|location=Manchester|pages=8|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213508/https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2014/Neo-Liberalism%2C%20Regionalism%20and%20Mebyon%20Kernow.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The campaign was well-publicised, attained national attention,<ref name=":13" /> and collected over 3,000 signatures in three months.<ref name=":14" /> The campaign called for an exclusively-Cornish European Parliament constituency and was founded on MK's long-standing opposition to amalgamating public boards and companies in Cornwall and Devon, a process which had steadily increased during the decade.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=85–7}}</ref>

=== Relaunch (1990s) ===
In 1989, Carlyon resigned as MK's leader, leading to a review of the party's long-term strategy. Being close to collapse, in April 1990, the party's London branch convened a general meeting of all party members to consider whether the party should disband; it was agreed that the party would continue.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=90}}</ref> [[Loveday Jenkin]], daughter of Richard Jenkin, was promptly elected MK's leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kevrenor/mk.htm|title=Mebyon Kernow Page in Australia|date=November 1997|website=members.ozemail.com.au|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402123319/http://members.ozemail.com.au/~kevrenor/mk.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Deacon132">{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=132}}</ref> At this time, Truran, who had become a leading light in the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|Social Democratic Party]] in Falmouth & Camborne since he had left the party in 1980, rejoined MK, re-energising the party.<ref name="Deacon128"/> Nevertheless, MK did not contest the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]], focusing its efforts on lobbying for an exclusively-Cornish European Parliament constituency, a Cornish unitary authority, and the recognition of Cornwall as a European region.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=92–3}}</ref>

Despite a promising local election result in 1993, obtaining an average of 17.5% per candidate in local government elections,<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=93}}</ref> MK's vote share declined further to 1.5% of the vote in the [[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994 European Parliament election]], in the new constituency of [[Cornwall and West Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)|Cornwall & West Plymouth]].<ref name=":8" /> Jenkin, who stood as the party's candidate, campaigned on a platform opposing out-of-town developments and a second Tamar crossing, and calling for greater Cornish representation in Europe.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=93–4}}</ref>

In 1996, MK published 'Cornwall 2000 – The Way Ahead', its most detailed manifesto to date.<ref name=":11" /> The party fought the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] on its 18,000 words and delivered over 300,000 leaflets during the campaign; however, it polled merely 1,906 votes across four constituencies.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=96}}</ref> MK activists were heavily involved in the 500th-anniversary commemorations of the [[Cornish Rebellion of 1497]]; these included a march from [[St. Keverne]] to [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]] retracing the steps of the rebels, following which the participants demanded a Cornish Development Agency, an exclusively-Cornish seat in the European Parliament, a university campus in Cornwall and a Cornish curriculum for Cornish schools.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=97}}</ref> The renewed interest in Cornish nationalism from this march led a group in MK to leave the party and form the An Gof National Party, another short-lived splinter group.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=97–8}}</ref>

On 4 October 1997, at the Mebyon Kernow National Conference, Jenkin was replaced by [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] as the leader of MK.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cornish-times.co.uk/article.cfm?id=112203&headline=MK%20leader%20marks%2020%20years%20at%20helm&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017|title=MK leader marks 20 years at helm|date=2 October 2017|work=[[The Cornish Times]]|access-date=26 June 2018|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> One of Cole's earliest actions as leader was to launch the Cornish Millennium Convention on 8 March 1998, coinciding with protests at the closure of [[South Crofty]], Cornwall's last working tin mine.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=98–9}}</ref> However, the Convention's launch was eclipsed by the formation of [[Cornish Solidarity]], a pressure group involved in direct action which grew from the South Crofty protests and had similar aims as MK.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|pp=99–100}}</ref> At the party's annual conference in 1998, Richard Jenkin was elected to succeed the late Hooper as Honorary President of MK.<ref name="Deacon128"/>

In 1999, over 95% of members voted in favour of relaunching MK as '''Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall''' in order to distance itself from the ethnic nationalist 'Sons of Cornwall' label; the name change was adopted.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=101}}</ref> Mebyon Kernow stood 25 candidates in the [[1999 UK local elections|1999 local elections]] in Cornwall, its highest number ever.<ref name=BBC2000 /> The party did not contest the [[1999 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1999 European Parliament election]], given the size of the new [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|South West England constituency]] and the large prerequisite £5,000 deposit. It contested the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], winning 3,199 votes across three constituencies.<ref>{{harvnb|Deacon|Cole|Tregidga|2003|p=104}}</ref>

==== Cornish Assembly Campaign ====
{{See also|Cornish Constitutional Convention}}
On 5 March 2000, MK launched a petition for a [[Cornish Assembly]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1704112.stm|title=Blair gets Cornish assembly call|date=11 December 2001|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=26 June 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314052239/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1704112.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This was modelled from the "Declaration for a Cornish Assembly", which stated that:[[File:1. Declaration for a Cornish Assembly.jpg|thumb|upright|Picture of Mebyon Kernow's assembly petition]]{{blockquote|[[Cornwall]] is a distinct region. It has a clearly defined economic, administrative and social profile. Cornwall's unique identity reflects its Celtic character, culture and environment. We declare that the people of Cornwall will be best served in their future governance by a Cornish regional assembly. We therefore commit ourselves to setting up the [[Cornish Constitutional Convention]] with the intention of achieving a devolved Cornish Assembly.|[[Senedh Kernow]]}}

Three months later the [[Cornish Constitutional Convention]] was held with the objective of establishing a devolved Assembly. Within fifteen months, Mebyon Kernow's petition attracted the signatures of over 50,000 people calling for a referendum on a Cornish Assembly, which was a little over 10% of the total Cornish electorate.<ref name=":1" /> A delegation including Cole, [[Andrew George (politician)|Andrew George]], then the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]], and representatives of the Convention presented the Declaration to [[10 Downing Street]] on 12 December 2001.<ref name=":2" />

=== Early 21st century (2001–2009) ===
Ahead of the [[2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2004 European Parliament election]], MK reached an electoral partnership with the [[Green Party of England and Wales]]. MK agreed not to stand its own candidates in the European election; in return, the Green Party would back MK candidates at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenparty.org.uk/archive/news-archive/1301.html|title=Green Party {{!}} Historic election deal between Cornish party and Greens|date=25 March 2004|website=www.greenparty.org.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135515/https://www.greenparty.org.uk/archive/news-archive/1301.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In this latter election, MK did not contest George's seat of [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/stives/|title=UKPollingReport Election Guide 2010 » St Ives|website=ukpollingreport.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135310/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/stives/|url-status=dead}}</ref> in return, the Greens did not contest other seats in Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/160.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Cornwall North|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=16 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516123918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/160.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/161.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Cornwall South East|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626141229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/161.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/248.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Falmouth & Camborne|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=1 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101220540/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/248.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/586.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Truro & St Austell|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120115455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/586.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The electoral partnership was not renewed for the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009 European Parliament election]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html|title=Standing for the European Parliament|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=18 March 2009|access-date=28 April 2009|archive-date=5 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805094545/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2008 MK deputy leader, Conan Jenkin, expressed Mebyon Kernow's support for a proposed legal challenge by [[Cornwall 2000]] over the [[UK Government]]'s exclusion of the [[Cornish people|Cornish]] from the [[Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities]]. Cornwall 2000 need to show that they have exhausted all domestic legal avenues by having the case summarily dismissed by the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]], the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Appeal Court]] and the [[House of Lords]], before the case can be put to the [[European Court of Human Rights]]. MK requested the support of all of its members for this legal action.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} However the fund failed to meet the required target of £100,000 by the end of December 2008, having received just over £33,000 in pledges, and the plan was abandoned.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

=== Unitary authority (2009–present) ===
In 2009, the former Cornwall County Council was replaced by the unitary authority of [[Cornwall Council]]. In the first election to the new body, three MK candidates were elected: Andrew Long ([[Callington (electoral division)|Callington]]), Stuart Cullimore ([[Camborne|Camborne South]]) and [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] ([[St Enoder (electoral division)|St Enoder]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=1&V=1&RPID=690631|title=Election results by Electoral Divisions|date=4 June 2009|website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116025330/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=1&V=1&RPID=690631|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2010, an independent councillor, Neil Plummer ([[Stithians]]), joined the MK group, citing his increasing disillusionment with the independent group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/grahamsmith/2010/08/neil_plummer_quits_independent.html|title=BBC – Graham Smith's Blog: Neil Plummer quits Independent group for MK|last=Smith|first=Graham|date=5 August 2010|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=21 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021100858/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/grahamsmith/2010/08/neil_plummer_quits_independent.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=64|title=Councillor Tamsin Williams Joins Mebyon Kernow|last=Long|first=Andrew|date=12 September 2012|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135700/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=64|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2011, former chair of the party [[Loveday Jenkin]] was elected in a by-election in [[Crowan & Wendron (electoral division)|Wendron]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2011/11/loveday-jenkin-wins-wendron-for-mebyon.html|title=Loveday Jenkin wins Wendron for Mebyon Kernow|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=24 November 2011|website=mebyonkernow.blogspot.com|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135817/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2011/11/loveday-jenkin-wins-wendron-for-mebyon.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2012, Tamsin Williams ([[Penzance Central (electoral division)|Penzance Central]]) defected to MK from the Liberal Democrats, increasing MK's number of councillors on Cornwall Council to six.<ref name=":5" />

Mebyon Kernow contested every seat in Cornwall in the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]].

In 2011, the party gained some prominence owing to the [[Devonwall (possible UK Parliament constituency)|Devonwall]] affair; this was the proposal of a parliamentary constituency which would have been partly in Cornwall and partly in Devon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12199467|title=Seat changes will prove 'chaotic'|date=15 January 2011|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=4 July 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717140559/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12199467|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill]] sought to equalise the size of constituencies in the United Kingdom. An amendment to the bill by [[Robin Teverson, Baron Teverson|Lord Teverson]] would have ensured that "all parts of Cornwall and the [[Isles of Scilly]] must be included in constituencies that are wholly in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly"; this amendment was defeated by 250 to 221 votes in the [[House of Lords]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/february/av-report-stage/|title=Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill – News from Parliament|date=10 February 2011|website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]]|language=en|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153812/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/february/av-report-stage/|url-status=live}}</ref> with 95% of Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers rejecting it. MK "accused the [[Conservative/Liberal Democrat Coalition|coalition government]] of treating Cornwall with "absolute contempt" as a result of this, stating that Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] and Deputy Prime Minister [[Nick Clegg]] had "devised the bill to breach the territorial integrity of Cornwall", and that it broke election promises from their parties to protect Cornish interests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2011/02/95-of-conservative-liberal-democrat.html|title=95% of Conservative / Liberal Democrat peers oppose amendment to Keep Cornwall Whole|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=11 February 2011|website=mebyonkernow.blogspot.com|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153815/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2011/02/95-of-conservative-liberal-democrat.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Cameron replied to concerns by stating that "it's the [[River Tamar|Tamar]], not the [[Amazon River|Amazon]], for Heaven's sake"; his controversial remark was widely ridiculed in Cornwall.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/oct/06/cameron-cornwall-tamar-boundary|title=Cameron upsets Cornwall with dismissive remark about river|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=6 October 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=4 July 2018|location=London}}</ref> MK welcomed the later rejection of the parliamentary constituency boundary review, which in turn prevented the introduction of a cross-border Devonwall constituency for the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]] and [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]] general elections.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

In the [[2013 Cornwall Council election]], the party was reduced to three seats. Williams did not seek re-election and MK lost her seat; MK did not win any of the newly-redrawn seats in Camborne; and Plummer unsuccessfully contested [[Lanner and Stithians (electoral division)|Lanner & Stithians]] as an independent. Only Cole and Jenkin held their seats; the party also gained a seat in [[Penwithick and Boscoppa (electoral division)|Penwithick & Boscoppa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=15&V=1&RPID=506007763|title=Election results by Electoral Divisions|date=2 May 2013|website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116031848/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=15&V=1&RPID=506007763|url-status=live}}</ref> It held these seats and gained no further seats at the [[2017 Cornwall Council election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=33&V=1&RPID=506007821|title=Election results by Electoral Divisions|date=4 May 2017|website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116024236/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=33&V=1&RPID=506007821|url-status=live}}</ref>

MK decided not to stand candidates in the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European elections]], claiming the system was skewed against them winning seats.<ref name=":15">[http://illoganblogger.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/europe-in-or-out.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531164750/http://illoganblogger.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/europe-in-or-out.html|date=31 May 2014}}. Stephen Richardson | Blog</ref> MK contested all six Cornish constituencies in the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]]. It complained against not being granted a party election broadcast: under current guidelines, it would need to stand in eighty-three constituencies outside of Cornwall in order to qualify for a broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11652880.Mebyon_Kernow_demands_Party_Election_Broadcast_for_2015_general_election/|title=Mebyon Kernow demands Party Election Broadcast for 2015 general election|date=9 December 2014|website=[[Falmouth Packet]]|language=en|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704123609/http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/11652880.Mebyon_Kernow_demands_Party_Election_Broadcast_for_2015_general_election/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum]] on the issue, MK endorsed the United Kingdom's continued membership of the [[European Union]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=266|title=MK backs "remain" vote in EU referendum|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=3 April 2016|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526035620/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=266|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 23 June 2016, Cornwall voted to leave the European Union by 56.5%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu_referendum/results/local/c|title=EU Referendum local results – C|website=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=17 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717065205/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu_referendum/results/local/c|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the vote, MK reiterated its promise to campaign for a devolved Cornish Assembly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=285|title=EU Referendum – What now for Cornwall?|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=27 June 2016|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135459/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=285|url-status=dead}}</ref>

MK declined to stand candidates in the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], citing a lack of financing and resources.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=317|title=Mebyon Kernow is not standing in the General Election|date=11 May 2017|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704153518/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=317|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also did not stand candidates in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2019 European Parliament election]],<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=369|title=Mebyon Kernow will not be standing in European Parliamentary Elections|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=24 April 2019|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=20 May 2019|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719133556/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/news/article.php?id=369|url-status=dead}}</ref> but its leadership endorsed the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] because of their historic cooperation, support for a Cornish Assembly and other similar policies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2019/05/statement-on-eu-elections-from-mks.html|title=Statement on EU Elections from MK's Leadership Team|last=Cole|first=Dick|date=20 May 2019|website=mebyonkernow.blogspot.com|access-date=20 May 2019|archive-date=8 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608054503/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2019/05/statement-on-eu-elections-from-mks.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

At a policy forum on 22 June 2018, Mebyon Kernow launched an updated version of its campaign publication titled "Towards a National Assembly of Cornwall."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cornishstuff.com/2018/06/26/mk-publishes-new-version-of-towards-a-national-assembly-of-cornwall/|title=MK publishes new version of "Towards a National Assembly of Cornwall"|access-date=26 June 2018|publisher=Cornish Stuff|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135333/https://cornishstuff.com/2018/06/26/mk-publishes-new-version-of-towards-a-national-assembly-of-cornwall/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mebyon Kernow chose not to field any candidates in the [[2024 UK general election|2024 general election]].<ref name=24GE>{{cite news |title=MK urges new MPs to unite in demanding meaningful devolution for Cornwall |work=[[St Ives Times & Echo]] |issue=5837 |date=12 July 2024 |page=5}}</ref> After the election, the party called on Cornwall's new MPs to "unite and take this opportunity ... to demand meaningful devolution".<ref name=24GE />

==Ideology and policies==
MK is an advocate of [[Cornish nationalism]], seeing Cornwall as a separate nation rather than an English [[Counties of England|county]]. It emphasises Cornwall's distinct [[Celtic nations|Celtic]] culture and [[Cornish language|language]], as well as its border along the [[River Tamar]], which has largely remained unchanged since 936 AD.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmodpm/977/977we20.htm|title=Memorandum by the National Executive Committee of Mebyon Kernow, the Party for Cornwall (RG 17)|date=15 March 2006|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019225734/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmodpm/977/977we20.htm|archive-date=19 October 2023}}</ref> The party's leaders identify as both Cornish and British but Cornish first.<ref name=":1" /> It rejects that Cornwall is a region of the United Kingdom or a county of England, preferring the label of 'duchy'.<ref name=":9" /> It advocates a National Curriculum for Cornwall, increased investment in the Cornish language, and a full inquiry into Cornwall's constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/Mebyonkernow.pdf|title=Key Campaign Priorities May 2010 – Mebyon Kernow|date=May 2010|website=politicsresources.net|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410124400/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/man/parties/Mebyonkernow.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The party advocates the establishment of a "fully devolved, democratically elected" [[Cornish Assembly|Cornish National Assembly]], established by "a dedicated, stand-alone, bespoke Act of Parliament."<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":10" /> This would be complemented by a Cornish Civil Service.<ref name=":10" /> It accuses the civil service and government of "deep-seated prejudice" against Cornwall.<ref name=":9" /> as part of their devolution commitments, MK seek devolved powers over health services establishing a “Cornish NHS”.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=Pledges |url=https://mebyonkernow.org/pledges/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308122736/https://mebyonkernow.org/pledges/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On economic policy, MK is [[Centre-left politics|left-of-centre]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.plmr.co.uk/blog/comments/mebyon-kernow-the-cornish-ukip|title=Mebyon Kernow – The Cornish UKIP?|last=Hollow|first=Nathan|date=5 March 2013|work=plmr.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135845/https://www.plmr.co.uk/blog/comments/mebyon-kernow-the-cornish-ukip|url-status=live}}</ref> It rejects "austerity politics, deregulation and support for trade treaties such as [[Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership|TTIP]]."<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/articles/article.php?id=102|title=Kernow and the European Union|last=Curry|first=Edward|date=5 April 2016|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044911/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/articles/article.php?id=102|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is committed against poverty and social deprivation; it advocates free and equal access to education, health and welfare services. It advocates tackling tax avoidance.<ref name=":10" /> It opposes the privatisation of the NHS and would renationalise railways and utilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/11536/|title=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall leaflet|date=29 April 2015|website=ElectionLeaflets.org|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704123519/https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/11536/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/9019/|title=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall leaflet|date=25 March 2015|website=ElectionLeaflets.org|access-date=4 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704152927/https://electionleaflets.org/leaflets/9019/|url-status=live}}</ref> The party regularly highlights problems with the [[Economy of Cornwall|Cornish economy]]: Cornwall has lower wages and higher unemployment than the rest of the United Kingdom.<ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/day-two-liskeard-to-penzance-the-traveller-enters-a-lost-kingdom-1244049.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/day-two-liskeard-to-penzance-the-traveller-enters-a-lost-kingdom-1244049.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Day Two Liskeard to Penzance: The traveller enters a lost kingdom|last=Vallely|first=Paul|date=6 August 1997|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=28 June 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/jan/12/localgovernment.devolution|title=Cornwall wants to go it alone|last=Parker|first=Simon|date=12 January 2001|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=28 June 2018}}</ref>

The party is environmentalist, advocating strong environmental safeguards and a "Green New Deal for Cornwall" aimed at creating jobs in the environmental sectors. It is pushing for a zero-waste strategy, which they believe will lead to "radical reduction of waste". It supports increasing planning restrictions to reverse the building of second homes in Cornwall, As well as a commitment to lower "more sustainable" housing building targets.<ref name=":17" /> It would scrap the [[Trident (UK nuclear programme)|Trident]] nuclear programme. It supports debt forgiveness for third world countries and supports the UN target of committing 0.7% of the UK's GDP as foreign aid.<ref name=":10" />

The party would introduce proportional representation to UK elections through the [[Single transferable vote|Single Transferable Vote]] and would abolish the [[House of Lords]].<ref name=":10" />

MK supported the UK's membership of the European Union.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> It endorsed a [[People's Vote|referendum]] on the [[Brexit negotiations|final Brexit deal]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/MebyonKernow/status/1063762635550789635|title=Mebyon Kernow on Twitter|date=17 November 2018|work=Twitter|access-date=25 November 2018|language=en|archive-date=14 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514124034/https://twitter.com/MebyonKernow/status/1063762635550789635|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cornwall is part of the [[Regional Assemblies in England|South West Regional Assembly]] and the [[South West of England Regional Development Agency|South West Regional Development Agency]] (SWRDA) administrates economic development, housing and strategic planning. MK claims that the area covered is an artificially imposed large region and not natural.<ref>[http://www.mebyonkernow.org/ Mebyon Kernow opposes SWRA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411082457/http://www.mebyonkernow.org/ |date=11 April 2023 }}. Mebyonkernow.org.</ref><ref>[http://www.mebyonkernow.org/?q=policies_economy Mebyon Kernow says Cornwall needs its own Development Agency] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607201539/http://www.mebyonkernow.org/?q=policies_economy |date=7 June 2011 }}. Mebyonkernow.org.</ref> Mebyon Kernow wants to break up the SWRDA into small county areas and implement a Cornish Regional Development Agency.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

The party supports making [[Saint Piran]]'s day, the day of Cornwall's patron saint, which falls on 5 March, a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cornwalllive.com/labour-to-create-four-new-bank-holidays-for-the-nation-s-patron-saints-but-not-the-cornish-one/story-30288363-detail/story.html|title=We could get four extra bank holidays if Labour get in power|date=23 April 2017}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It also advocates the establishment of a Cornish University.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":10" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Office |first=Press |date=2024-03-05 |title=Happy St Piran's Day |url=https://mebyonkernow.org/news/happy-st-pirans-day-2/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308122736/https://mebyonkernow.org/news/happy-st-pirans-day-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The party has resisted proposals to reduce the number of councillors in Cornwall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/26/westminster-failings-fuelling-cornish-crisis-of-democracy|title=Westminster failings fuelling Cornish 'crisis of democracy'|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=26 December 2017|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>

Mebyon Kernow is a member of the [[European Free Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-f-a.org/whos-who/member-parties/|title=Member parties|year=2013|publisher=[[European Free Alliance]]|access-date=17 October 2014|archive-date=21 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921195518/http://www.e-f-a.org/whos-who/member-parties/|url-status=live}}</ref> The party has close links with [[Plaid Cymru]], with Plaid's [[Blaenau Gwent]] branch being 'twinned' with Mebyon Kernow's [[Falmouth and Camborne (UK Parliament constituency)|Falmouth and Camborne]] branch.<ref name=BBC2000>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/615798.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} WALES {{!}} Celtic cousins' Cornish campaign|date=24 January 2000|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=4 July 2018}}</ref>

{{anchor|Kernow X}}{{anchor|Kernow Rydh}}

==Organisation==
MK is run on a day-to-day basis by a 20-member National Executive, which includes the leadership team, policy spokespersons, and local party representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mebyon Kernow - The Party for Cornwall|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413171817/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] is the current leader.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/|title=Spokespeople|website=www.mebyonkernow.org|access-date=26 June 2018|archive-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135551/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/people/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party's youth wing for under-30s is known as Kernow Rydh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mebyonkernow.org/documents/membership_application_form.pdf|title=Mebyon Kernow Membership Application Form|website=Mebyon Kernow|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-date=19 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419230548/https://www.mebyonkernow.org/documents/membership_application_form.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Party leaders===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=2| Leader
! Years
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 1
| style="width:200px;"| [[Helena Charles]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1951–1957
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 2
| style="width:200px;"| [[Cecil Beer]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1957–1960
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 3
| style="width:200px;"| Robert Dunstone
| style="width:100px;"| 1960–1968
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 4
| style="width:200px;"| Leonard Truran
| style="width:100px;"| 1968–1973
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 5
| style="width:200px;"| [[Richard Jenkin]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1973–1983
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 6
| style="width:200px;"| Julyan Drew
| style="width:100px;"| 1983–1985
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 7
| style="width:200px;"| [[Pedyr Prior]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1985–1986
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 8
| style="width:200px;"| [[Loveday Carlyon]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1985–1989
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 9
| style="width:200px;"| [[Loveday Jenkin]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1990–1997
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Mebyon Kernow}}; color:#fff;" | 9
| style="width:200px;"| [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1997–present
|-
|}

===Honorary presidents===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Honorary presidents
! Years
|-
| style="width:200px;"| Robert Dunstone
| style="width:100px;"| 1968–1973
|-
| style="width:200px;"| [[E. G. Retallack Hooper]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1973–1998
|-
| style="width:200px;"| [[Richard Jenkin]]
| style="width:100px;"| 1998–2002
|-
| style="width:200px;"| [[Ann Trevenen Jenkin]]
| style="width:100px;"| 2011–2024
|-
|}

==Electoral performance==
{{Main|Mebyon Kernow election results}}
MK has never won a parliamentary election to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]],<ref>{{cite web |author1=Steven Morris |title=Cornish party demands election broadcast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/13/cornish-nationalist-party-election-broadcast |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=John Anthony Ault |author1-link=John Ault |title='Culture, Character or Campaigns?' Assessing the electoral performance of the Liberals and Liberal Democrats in Cornwall 1945-2010 |url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/15973/AultJ_TPC.pdf?sequence=2 |website=[[University of Exeter]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=July 2014 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/15973/AultJ_TPC.pdf?sequence=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> nor has it ever won a seat in the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Cracknell |title=European Parliament elections: How has the UK voted in the past? |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/european-parliament-elections-how-has-the-uk-voted-in-the-past/ |website=[[House of Commons Library]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/european-parliament-elections-how-has-the-uk-voted-in-the-past/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cornwall Council===
MK has been represented on [[Cornwall Council]] since its inception in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Whitehouse |title=Mebyon Kernow - The Party for Cornwall is still fighting for more local power after 70 years |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mebyon-kernow-party-cornwall-still-4869962 |website=Cornwall Live |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=10 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mebyon-kernow-party-cornwall-still-4869962 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Year
! Candidates
! Votes
! Share of votes
! Seats
|-
|[[2005 Cornwall County Council election|2005]]
|18
|9,421
|3.7%
|{{Composition bar|0|82|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2009 Cornwall Council election|2009]]
|33
|7,290
|4.3%
|{{Composition bar|3|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2013 Cornwall Council election|2013]]
|26
|6,824
|4.8%
|{{Composition bar|4|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2017 Cornwall Council election|2017]]
|19
|5,344
|4.0%
|{{Composition bar|4|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2021 Cornwall Council election|2021]]
|19
|8,897
|5.0%
|{{Composition bar|5|87|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2025 Cornwall Council election#Summary|2025]]
|18
|6,524
|4.0%
|{{Composition bar|3|87|#d5c229}}
|}

====2009 election====
In April 2009 MK leader Dick Cole announced his resignation from his job as an [[archaeologist]] with the new [[Cornwall Council]] to become the full-time leader of Mebyon Kernow and to stand for election to the Council. He had previously worked for [[Cornwall County Council]] for 14 years, but it is not permitted for employees of Councils to stand for election to a council they work for.<ref>[https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ Dick Cole to become full time leader of Mebyon Kernow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208035546/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ |date=8 February 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref>

On 12 May 2009, Dick Cole announced that thirty-three candidates would be standing for the party at the [[2009 Cornwall Council election|Cornwall Council elections]] on 4 June 2009.<ref>[https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ MK Cornwall Council candidates 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208035546/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ |date=8 February 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref> This was the largest number of candidates that the party had ever fielded in a round of elections to a [[principal council]] or councils. Under the new arrangements, 123 members were to be elected to the new [[unitary authority|unitary]] Cornwall Council, in the place of the 82 councillors on the outgoing Cornwall County Council and another 249 on the six district councils within its area, all abolished.<ref>[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 Cornwall Council June 2009 Electoral divisions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725150141/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 |date=25 July 2009 }}. Cornwall.gov.uk.</ref>

Having contested thirty-three of the 123 seats on the authority, Mebyon Kernow won three, or 2.4 per cent of the total. Andrew Long was elected to represent [[Callington, Cornwall|Callington]] with 54% of the votes.<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=9&RPID=692853 Election results for Callington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116025945/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=9&RPID=692853 |date=16 November 2018 }}. Democracy.cornwall.gov.uk (4 June 2009).</ref> Stuart Cullimore was elected to represent [[Camborne]] South with 28% of the votes<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=692079 Election results for Camborne South] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013141818/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=692079 |date=13 October 2023 }}#</ref> and Dick Cole was elected to represent [[St Enoder]] with 78% of the votes<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=693218 Election results for St Enoder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116022807/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=693218 |date=16 November 2018 }}. Democracy.cornwall.gov.uk (4 June 2009).</ref>

====2021 election====
In the [[2021 Cornwall Council election|2021 election]], Mebyon Kernow fielded 19 candidates.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Whitehouse |title='Stand together for Cornwall': Cornwall Council needs to stand together to get the best for Cornwall says Mebyon Kernow leader |url=https://cornishstuff.com/2021/04/28/stand-together-for-cornwall/ |website=Cornish Stuff |access-date=7 May 2021 |date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507211742/https://cornishstuff.com/2021/04/28/stand-together-for-cornwall/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They gained a seat despite the number of seats on the council being reduced to 87, polling 5% overall.<ref name=CC2021>{{cite web |title=Cornwall Council elections - Thursday, 6th May, 2021 |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=40&RPID=509721406 |website=[[Cornwall Council]] |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142438/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=40&RPID=509721406 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elections 2021: Conservatives take Cornwall Council |work=BBC News |date=7 May 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57028890 |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507174527/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57028890 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Town and parish councils===
Mebyon Kernow is also represented in numerous town and parish councils across Cornwall.<ref name="MK Councillors" /><ref name=MKCouncillors2 /> In 2022, Zoe Fox, a Mebyon Kernow councillor, became Mayor of [[Camborne]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mayor of Camborne |url=https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/mayor-camborne |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Camborne Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124155537/https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/mayor-camborne|archive-date=24 January 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, their Parish representation stood at 24 councillors, their highest number to that date.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Your Councillors |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111003084952/http%3A//democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN%3DPARTY%26VW%3DLIST%26PIC%3D0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124230715/https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2025 Local Election ===
In the 2025 Local Election Mebyon Kernow fielded candidates for both Cornwall Council as well as Town and parish councils, with a total of 27 councillors elected to Town and parish and on 1st May [https://mebyonkernow.org/news/full-list-of-mk-councillors/]. Reece Weatherburn would be go on to be elected as Deputy Mayor of Camborne <ref>{{Cite web |last=Cantrill |first=Steve |date=2025-05-22 |title=Camborne Mayor & New Deputy Elected |url=https://camborne-tc.gov.uk/camborne-mayor-new-deputy-elected/ |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=Camborne Town Council |language=en-GB}}</ref>with being elected Paul Andrew Deputy Mayor of Helston [https://www.helston-tc.gov.uk/people/m-p-andrew/].On Cornwall Council Andrew Long was elected to represent Callington & St Dominic with 42% of the votes <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=Election results for Callington & St Dominic, 1 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=800&RPID=538809223 |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> well Loveday Jenkin was elected to Crowan, Sithney & Wendron with 47% of the votes <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=Election results for Crowan, Sithney & Wendron, 1 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=807&RPID=538809223 |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> and Dick Cole was elected to represent St Dennis & St Enoder with 58% of the votes<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-01 |title=Election results for St Dennis & St Enoder, 1 May 2025 |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=867&RPID=538809223 |access-date=2025-10-20 |website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>.

===UK general elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Year
!Candidates
!Votes
!Share of votes
!Seats
|-
|[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
|2
|1,151
|1.2%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]
|4
|1,906
|0.8%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]
|3
|3,199
|1.3%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
|4
|3,552
|1.7%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
|6
|5,379
|1.9%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]
|6
|5,675
|1.9%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]
|1
|1,660
|0.50%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|}

In the 2010 general election, Mebyon Kernow fielded candidates in each of the six constituencies in Cornwall. Their best result was in the St Austell & Newquay seat, where they came fourth, with 4.2% of the votes, up 4% from the previous election. The other main parties spent more on their election campaigns.<ref>[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/figures-reveal-spending-by-parties-at-uk-general-election Figures reveal spending by parties at UK general election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403061502/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/figures-reveal-spending-by-parties-at-uk-general-election |date=3 April 2011 }}. Electoral Commission.</ref> MK also blamed bad results on a tactical voting campaign whereby Labour voters in Cornwall were urged to vote Liberal Democrat to stop the Conservatives from getting in.<ref>[http://www.politics.co.uk/news/general-election-2010/brown-vote-lib-dem-where-labour-can-t-win-,70072.htm Brown: Vote Lib Dem where Labour can't win]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Politics.co.uk (9 April 2010).</ref> Overall they gained 1.9% of votes cast. All Mebyon Kernow candidates lost their deposits.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/region/9.stm | work=BBC News | title=BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – South West | access-date=25 June 2010 | archive-date=17 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617041842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/region/9.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===European Parliament elections===
In [[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979, in the first elections]] to the [[European Parliament]], Mebyon Kernow's candidate [[Richard Jenkin]] was able to attract more than five per cent of the vote in the [[Cornwall and Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)|Cornwall seat]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Candidate
!Votes
!Share of votes
!Position
|-
|[[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979]]
|[[Richard Jenkin]]
|10,205
|5.9%
|4th
|-
|[[1984 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1984]]
| colspan=4 {{N/A|Did not contest}}
|-
|[[1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1989]]
|Colin Lawry
|4,224
|1.9%
|6th
|-
|[[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]
|[[Loveday Jenkin]]
|3,315
|1.5%
|7th
|}

In April 2009 Mebyon Kernow announced that its list of candidates for the [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|
'South West Region']] seat in the European Parliament would comprise their six prospective parliamentary candidates for Westminster. The candidates were: [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] (St Austell & Newquay), Conan Jenkin (Truro & Falmouth), Loveday Jenkin (Camborne & Redruth), Simon Reed (St Ives), Glenn Renshaw (South East Cornwall), Joanie Willett (North Cornwall).<ref name=":3" /> Mebyon Kernow had also committed itself to continue the fight for a "Cornwall only" Euro-constituency, to promote Cornwall in Europe.<ref>Cole, Dick. (18 March 2009) [https://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html MK fight for Cornwall only Euro-constituency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805094545/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html |date=5 August 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref>

Mebyon Kernow polled 14,922 votes in the 2009 European elections (11,534 votes in Cornwall, no seats, 7 per cent of the vote in Cornwall) putting them ahead of the Labour Party in Cornwall.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_36.stm European Election 2009: South West] . BBC News (8 June 2009).</ref>

Since 2009, MK has not stood candidates in European Parliament elections, given the difficulties of winning a seat in a constituency encompassing electorates outside Cornwall.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Cornwall}}
*[[Cornish nationalism]]
*[[List of topics related to Cornwall]]
*[[Cornish Nationalist Party]], an early splinter of MK (1975), often conflated with it.
*[[Plaid Cymru]]
*[[Scottish National Party]]
*[[Unvaniezh Demokratel Breizh]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book|title=Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism|last1=Deacon|first1=Bernard|last2=Cole|first2=Dick|last3=Tregidga|first3=Garry|author-link1=Bernard Deacon (linguist)|author-link2=Dick Cole (politician)|author-link3=Garry Tregidga|publisher=Welsh Academic Press|year=2003|isbn=1860570755|location=Wales}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XgakBAAAQBAJ&q=%22mebyon+kernow%22+%22celtic+congress%22+%221950%22&pg=PA12|title=Following 'An Gof': Leonard Truran, Cornish Activist and Publisher|last=Williams|first=Derek R.|date=1 July 2014|publisher=The Cornovia Press|isbn=9781908878113|location=Sheffield|language=en|access-date=14 December 2020|archive-date=13 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013141807/https://books.google.com/books?id=XgakBAAAQBAJ&q=%22mebyon+kernow%22+%22celtic+congress%22+%221950%22&pg=PA12|url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Deacon |first1=Bernard |author-link1=Bernard Deacon (linguist) |last2=Cole |first2=Dick |author-link2=Dick Cole (politician) |last3=Tregidga |first3=Garry |author-link3=Garry Tregidga |title=Mebyon Kernow and Cornish Nationalism: The Concise History |publisher=Welsh Academic Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-86057-075-9 |ref=none}}

==External links==
* [http://www.mebyonkernow.org Mebyon Kernow website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411082457/http://www.mebyonkernow.org/ |date=11 April 2023 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090714024736/http://www.kernow-x.org/ Kernow X website]

{{Political parties in the United Kingdom}}
{{Cornish self-government movement}}
{{Nationalism in the United Kingdom}}
{{Members of the European Free Alliance}}
{{2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1951 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cornish nationalism]]
[[Category:Cornish nationalist parties]]
[[Category:European Free Alliance]]
[[Category:Home rule in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1951]]
[[Category:Politics of Cornwall]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Regionalist parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Social democratic parties in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Political parties of minorities in the United Kingdom]]