Cornish Republicanism

[Fulup le Breton]

So we have Cornish patriots who want an independent Cornish republic and we have others who want Cornish autonomy within a GB republic; personally would take either option at the moment. There is, however, no dedicated republican group or even blog. The CSP are distinctly republican in flavour but that’s all.

What does anybody else think? Are you republicans? What do you know about republicanism and its relevance to Cornwall?

Just a quick note to add that the UK Republic group now has a link to the CSP on their website : http://www.republic.org.uk//links/index.htm

I really hope these two organisations can learn from each other.

Here is a British republican forum: http://britrep.s4.bizhat.com/

Might do a tour of Welsh, Scottish and Irish republican forums and ask people to post their thoughts on republicanism here.

In the meanwhile here is a wiki article on Republicanism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republicanism
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The Cornish Democrat
Cornish Against Racism
The Breton Connection

[Fulup le Breton]

The problem as I see it is that we have two sorts of republican in the UK.

There are republicans who are largely English (but not totally) and envision a GB republic covering what is today the United Kingdom; State Republicans.

Then you have Welsh, Scottish, Irish and even Cornish republicans (I would add a hand full of English nationalist republicans as well now) who see in republicanism a way towards national independence and freedom from the monarch of another nation. These republican nationalists don't want a Queen or President / monarchy or civil service running their nations from London; Nationalist Republicans.

So is there still a possible common ground between these two groups
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The Cornish Democrat
Cornish Against Racism
The Breton Connection

[AnGof]

Ny wra gwaynya arv vyth hag yw gwrys er ow fynn.
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Rydhsys rag Kernow lemmyn

[Fulup le Breton]

Republican boards from the isles.

Welsh Republican Debate: http://ctd.6.forumer.com/index.php?sid=11e55f364449d72a33a96a6fca8361b8

Scottish Republican Voice: http://srv07.gettalk.net/index.htm%3Cbr%20/%3E

The Irish Republican Bulletin Board: http://admin2.7.forumer.com/
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The Cornish Democrat
Cornish Against Racism
The Breton Connection

[Andy]

I am a Republican in which i believe there is no room for an outdated undemocratic Monarchy in Britain, and that we should have a United Republic of Britain with the nations of Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Cornwall and England.

[Fulup le Breton]

Just in if anybody is interested:

The SRSM is pleased to announce a Republican Convention to take the struggle for Scottish Republican Socialism into a new era.

We will mix speakers, music and banter to create a convivial atmosphere in the heart of Glasgow.

Speakers are: Alan McCombs SSP, Bill Kidd, SNP, Gerry Cairns, SRSM, and Solidarity will (hopefully) confirm their speaker shortly.

The music will be Albannach (piper & drummers), Scotia, Scottish, Irish and "middle of the road", folk group. Bonnie Blue Graham, and the Pollok and Thornliebank Republican Flute Band. We have asked all the speakers to be brief and allow more time for discussion and to enjoy the music.

Getting there: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=260052&y=664565&z=0&sv=G40+2ST&st=2&pc=G40+2ST&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

For more information, email: events@srsm.net
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The Cornish Democrat
Cornish Against Racism
The Breton Connection

[Scottish Republican]

[Fulup le Breton]

Various Cornish campaigners have now expressed their grave concerns over the Duchy of Cornwall and its apparent boundless ability to affect decision making in and over Cornwall, so if the case, why do you wish this deformed and antidemocratic Duchy institution to be liquidated? If you are a republican what are your reasons?

Republic -the campaign for an elected head of state- (following Angarracks revelations it seems 'elected heads of state' would be more appropriate) are compiling a republican book written by us the subjects of this feudal system. If you have a point of view that you think should be included then click here and get writing: Republic Book Project: http://www.republic.org.uk/book/index.php

I know there are plenty of informed individuals who have something to say on the subject so why not get our cause a bit more publicity?

On a different subject the article below is taken from the blog of Republic. It calls into doubt the republican credentials of Plaid Cymru and the SNP and asks why they avoid the subject and at times even support the monarchy. I get the feeling that both parties and probably Mebyon Kernow just avoid this divisive issue that for many is tainted with IRA extremism and at the end of the day is not a massive vote winner.

To turn things around though I'd like to ask why Republic has not shown much greater support for nationalist republicans from around the isles. Where was Republic when the Cornish have tried to confront the Duchy?

Imagine Article: Nationalists and republicanism

August 22nd, 2008 Paul Cassidy

The following article is featured in the latest edition of Imagine. You can respond to the article here.

Since the nationalists came to power in Scotland last year, debate over the future of the union has gained in prominence on both sides of the border. Many hold the view that a continued increase in support for both Scottish and Welsh nationalists could result in seismic constitutional change – a view strengthened by speculation that most nationalists are also republicans.

It is important to stress that republicanism and nationalism are entirely independent ideologies, but it is often assumed that if you are a Scottish or Welsh nationalist you are necessarily against the monarchy.

In practice, however, this is not the case. Neither the pro-independence Scottish National Party nor the Welsh nationalist Plaid Cymru has an official position on the crown that could be described as ‘anti-monarchy’. SNP leader Alex Salmond has even expressed his support for the monarchy as a symbol of a ‘social union’ between England and Scotland that he hopes will remain even after Scotland achieve independence. In short, Salmond envisages an independent Scotland which nonetheless retains the monarchy.

An independent Scottish parliament, whilst a rejection of the 1707 Act of Union (which established a single Westminster parliament for both nations), would still leave in place the Union of the Crowns of 1603. Similarly, an independent Welsh parliament, whilst a repeal of the 16th Century Laws of Wales Acts, would nevertheless leave untouched the 1284 Statute of Rhuddlan . Thus it is conceivable for either Scotland or Wales to achieve full political independence whilst preserving the monarch as head of state.

But is there any reason for why nationalists should be anti-monarchy in principle? For everyone there is good reason to take a principled stance against the monarchy. For nationalists, however, there is another reason: support for the monarchy undermines the central aim of nationalism: sovereignty.

The primary objective of any nationalist movement is national sovereignty – the exclusive right of a nation to govern its own affairs. Accordingly no nation could be described as ‘sovereign’ if a significant aspect of its governance were controlled by some foreign body.

Now if Scotland were to achieve independence from Britain yet retain the monarchy, we would have a situation in which Scotland had a foreign head of state. This would mean a loss of sovereignty for an independent Scotland, as the highest position in their constitution would be occupied by the head of a foreign power that was neither a true representation of Scotland nor was subject to their laws.

So if the primary demand of nationalism is sovereignty, then it makes no sense at all for nationalists to advocate independence from Britain whilst retaining a foreign monarch. The loss of national sovereignty that would result from having a foreign head of state would undermine the very thing independence aimed to secure. In short, not all nationalists are against the monarchy, but they should be. As should we all.
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The Cornish Democrat
Cornish Against Racism
The Breton Connection