Celebration as Cornish granted national minority status in Britain
Governmentannouncement giving the people of Cornwall the same recognition as the Irish, Scots and Welsh leads to dancing in streets
Cornish people were dancing in the streets as they celebrated the British government's announcement that they are to be recognised as a national minority for the first time.
"I think it's a very important day for Cornwall," said Bert Biscoe, an independent councillor and a long-time campaigner for the status.
"Up to now we have been an invisible minority. This makes us visible. We've long been regarded as an eccentric add-on. I think this gives us an opportunity to gain more dignity, more respect."
The announcement came last week from London, more than 300 kilometres away.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said it meant Cornish people would be classified under the European framework convention for the protection of national minorities in the same way as the UK's other Celtic people, the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.
Alexander said: "Cornish people have a proud history and a distinct identity. I am delighted we have been able to officially recognise this and afford the Cornish people the same status as other minorities in the UK."
The communities minister, Stephen Williams, said: "This is a great day for the people of Cornwall, who have long campaigned for the distinctiveness and identity of the Cornish people to be recognised officially."