"Don't patronise the Cornish" - The Observer

The Observer has published a version of my letter of complaint concerning the Free Cornwall article published on 24th June. The letter has been rewritten rather than edited, and I have included both below.

The published letter is as follows:

Don’t patronise the Cornish

The article “Free Cornwall” (magazine last week) misrepresented what Mebyon Kernow – the party for Cornwall (MK) stands for. MK is not campaigning for independence, but greater self-government / devolution through a national assembly for Cornwall. The article was based around vague and unsubstantiated claims of “separation”, was disrespectful to the Cornish language and, in what century is it acceptable to describe Cllr Dr Loveday Jenkin as “a charismatic MK pixie”? It is little wonder that here in Cornwall the article has been variously described as “patronising,” “sarcastic,” “condescending” and “prejudicial.”

Now spot the differences! My original letter was as follows:

The “Free Cornwall” article in last week’s magazine section of the Observer was a poor piece of journalism and badly misrepresented what Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall (MK) stands for.

When contacted by the journalist who wanted to write a piece about the movement for “Cornish Independence,” we explained in considerable detail that MK was not campaigning for independence, but greater self-government / devolution through a National Assembly for Cornwall.

We are therefore very disappointed that he chose to ignore this and based his whole article around vague and unsubstantiated falsehoods of “separation,” “independence,” and an “independent  Cornwall.” The article includes a range of inaccuracies, it is disrespectful to the Cornish language and, frankly, in what century is it acceptable to describe Cllr Dr Loveday Jenkin, a respected professional woman, as “a charismatic MK pixie”?

It is little wonder that here in Cornwall the article has been variously described as “patronising,” “sarcastic,” “condescending” and “prejudicial.”

It saddens me greatly – as someone who has read the Guardian / Observer newspapers for most of my adult life – that the Observer has produced such a disrespectful article on the Party that I am proud to lead.