Andrew George
Promoting the
Politics of Courage
I’m running a positive campaign to restore decency and honesty to our politics. To build a brighter future. To combat those who want us to become more inward-looking, backward-looking, more self-absorbed. I’ll build a campaign for an outward-looking, forward-looking and compassionate country.
We’ve been misled by a privileged clique who’ve irresponsibly played on fears to stoke prejudice. We must get beyond the Brexit chaos they’ve dragged our country into. We must restore the things that matter for the sake of our children’s future – our NHS, our schools and the very sustainability of our planet.
Come and join a growing campaign team. We’re determined to win this seat back this time, to make the difference, to build a brighter future.
Many people say “you politicians are all the same”. That statement has never been more untrue. The choice here is stark:
Andrew George - Standing up for Cornwall
National campaigner, local campaigner, MP.
Andrew describes his role - "Seeking out the silent voices. Standing up to bullies. Fighting for justice”
Liberal Democrats - Building a brighter future
Today's Nuffield Trust report confirms Cornwall has the poorest access to NHS dentistry in the country. Where "two-tier" dentistry is now endemic. There's been a further 25% decline in NHS dentistry in the last decade.
The dentistry contract doesn't incentivise dentists to provide services to those who need it most. It should incentivise preventative dental work, but doesn't.
Our Health Committee has previously warned of the crisis in dentistry, of "dentistry deserts" in places like Cornwall, and of the need to review the contract and get services back on track.
Cornwall Council's recent Dentistry Summit was a helpful review of the challenges faced and identified the action needed.
I'll take these matters again to parliament.
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Risk of eviction from social housing of large group of residents, despite having good longterm tenancy record; help for those told to wait a year for urgent medical attention; out of school fining policy; opposition to granting Rosebank oil extraction licence; unacceptable obstacles in the way of community-led homes for locals projects; plea to extend summer bus services; fair funding for adult social care; opposition to illegal settlements in the Palestinian West Bank; allegations that child's best interests are being politicised in the Court service; alleged harassment of migrant worker; complaint about alleged failure of 999 police response following serious incident; calls for more action to protect "red list" species; proposal to establish local Climate resilience project; the need to better prepare for El Nino peak, forecast to cause even greater meteorological challenges in 2027; how to push government to promote the National Emergency Briefing (NEB) report (I attended the NEB in Westminster last Nov) and subsequent summary film (after my efforts to encourage fellow MPs to back my Parliamentary Motion EDM 93 (see chat)).
These were some of the many issues brought to me at my high street casework surgery in St Just at the weekend. It was a full-on session. I apologised to many because they had to patiently wait in an orderly queue. Fortunately the weather was fine!
I really value these occasions. I'll get back to everyone who attended and spoke to me (but if you haven't heard by the end of the week, drop me a line) and will take up many issues in parliament or with public services, as appropriate.
Thanks also to the organisers of the St Just Market which takes place every Saturday in the WI Hall, for being ready to host this event if the weather turned. I popped in there too, for a later coffee and lovely homemade cake 😊
Pictured here with the wonderful former Mayor of St Just, Sue James, who has herself done so much to support local community projects and initiatives.
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Cornwall has the best opportunity in a generation to determine how it is governed.
Beyond the usual media circus behind Andy Burnham’s brief visit to Cornwall at the weekend, a door has been opened which we must now walk through with determination to succeed. He’s invited Cornwall’s six MPs and Council Leader to meet him at his Downing Street North (Manchester) soon.
He wants to talk to the seven of us about the Government’s plans to devolve power to Combined Mayoral Authorities, which the government believes should be significantly larger than Cornwall.
We’ve so far successfully seen off ridiculous predatory attempts by Councils east of the Tamar to subsume us into a bland, placeless “Southwest” thingy. Our ambitions are for greater devolved status - a necessarily bespoke settlement specifically for Cornwall - to meet the government's objective and to "play a full and active part in this generational project to shape how our country, economy and democracy work”.
Agreeing Cornwall’s bespoke case would not set a precedent for other places with population levels, like Cornwall's, lower than the government’s notional norm, because Cornwall is unique; with unique non-English history and culture which has contributed to the formal recognition of the Cornish Language and of the Cornish as a National Minority. No English County has any such or similar recognition. Equally, the Government should take care not to be perceived to penalise Cornwall because it has such Government recognised status.
Cornwall’s many strengths would be considerably suppressed if it were forced into a larger strategic body simply to satisfy a simplistic belief that economies of scale and administrative convenience are of greater significance than Cornwall’s many strengths as a self-standing, strategic devolved region in its own right.
The government still wants to promote directly elected Mayors. They should understand that Cornwall is very different to Manchester, where we appreciate a directly elected Mayor may be popular, and appropriate.
The Cornish motto is not “Onen hag Oll/One and All” for nothing. It represents an essential cultural perspective - the importance of collective engagement. The “One” (Leader) accountable to and engaged with “All” those with whom essential shared decision-making is made. It reflects the reality of Cornwall‘s geography; distinct, and diverse communities, without a dominant “centre” as such. Strong, effective and successful Leaders in Cornwall are stronger, more effective and successful when they cooperate and work collectively, recognising these important factors.
He had kindly notified me in advance of his visit to let me know he was coming, explaining he wouldn’t make it so far west as my constituency, but promised we could have a catch-up meeting when I'm back in Westminster at the end of next week. I know Andy from past sporting team associations as well as joint campaigns (on NHS, Culture etc). So, I know something of how he approaches matters, and hope that’ll count for something.
Though I also want to get his support for my Private Members’ Bill, to help those in the most pressing housing need, I'm determined we should grab this chance with both hands.
LIGHTHEARTED POSTNOTE: Tis a pity he wasn't given "proper" Pasties from west Cornwall 😉 Leigh Frost Cornwall Councillor for Bodmin St Petroc
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Great that Andy's in Cornwall today.
There's so much to show and explain. He contacted me earlier and promised we can have a catch-up meeting when I'm back in Westminster in September.
As well as the many challenges from Bluetongue outbreak, consequences of the Climate emergency, the drought, wildfires and the cost-of-living crisis, I need to talk to him about making the most of my Bill to improve the housing chances of those in greatest need, as well as his plans for devolution of power.
We welcome and support the Prime Minister‘s “increased ambition, pace and scale to rewire the way our country works to deliver good growth”, and “by moving power out of Westminster”.
The government declared Cornwall will have Foundation Strategic Authority status. But our ambitions are for significantly greater devolved status and - based on what would need to be for Cornwall a necessarily bespoke settlement. This would chime with the government's request that Cornwall "plays a full and active part in this generational project to shape how our country, economy and democracy work”.
Local MPs and the Council have firmly restated that Cornwall strongly endorses the principles of the Government’s devolution intentions and offers a further opportunity to work in partnership with Government departments for the fullest possible devolution (beyond Foundation level).
Agreeing the terms of a bespoke settlement with Cornwall, would not set a precedent for other places with similarly lower population levels than the government would ordinarily accept, because of Cornwall’s unique status, and in view of Cornwall‘s numerous exceptional circumstances; which includes Cornwall‘s unique history and culture which have contributed to the Cornish being formally recognised by Government as a National Minority and our Cornish language being recognised not just within the European Charter a quarter of a century ago, but was recently granted enhanced Level 3 status within that Charter by this Government. No English county has any such or similar recognition. It is obvious these are factors which should be respected in any devolution process.
But equally, the Government should not be perceived to penalise Cornwall because it has such Government recognised status, and which could mean it may therefore not be permitted to fully benefit from Government policy, such as this policy to “move power out of Westminster”, as Cornwall doesn’t fit the centrally-created rules for devolution.
Cornwall’s unique geography and its “brand” recognition (because of all of the above factors) places it in a very strong position to enhance the government's welcome emphasis on economic growth. Cornwall’s strengths would be considerably suppressed if it were enforced into a larger strategic body simply to satisfy a simplistic belief that economies of scale and administrative convenience are of greater significance than Cornwall’s many strengths as a self-standing, strategic devolved region in its own right.
The government still requests a response to the question about “preference on mayoral or non-mayoral devolution". However, government should understand that Cornwall is very different to Manchester, where we appreciate a directly elected Mayor appears popular, successful and appropriate to the locality.
Cornwall‘s motto is not “Onen hag Oll/One and All” for nothing. It represents the essential cultural perspective and importance of collective engagement and cooperation in Cornwall. The “One” (Leader) being accountable to and engaged with “All” those with whom essential shared decision-making should be made. This in fact reflects the reality of Cornwall‘s geography, where communities are distinct, dispersed and diverse, but it also recognises that Cornwall is unusually without any clear “centre” as such. Strong, effective and successful Leaders in Cornwall are stronger, more effective and successful when they cooperate and work collectively, recognising these important factors. Something we hope our Prime Minister as a member of the Labour and Cooperative Party will appreciate.
We appreciate his visit and look forward to further engaging with him on all of these matters.
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