Cornwall Labour Group Manifesto 2025: Building a Better Cornwall for All

A Vision for the Future

This is our vision for a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Cornwall. After years of neglect and financial mismanagement under the Conservative-run Council, we will build a Cornwall where no one is left behind, where communities thrive, and where future generations can enjoy the benefits of a sustainable economy and a protected environment. Together, we can create a Cornwall where everyone can enjoy a decent quality of life.

As a Labour Group we will focus on five main priorities for Cornwall:

1. Economic Growth: Creating a Prosperous Future

We will drive Cornwall’s economic growth by seizing the opportunities in clean, green energy. Our vision is to transform Cornwall into a hub for sustainable industries, generating quality, well-paid, and highly skilled jobs that benefit local people. The Labour Group are committed to Cornwall Council being an accredited Foundation Living Wage employer, and that any external contracts should also be. We will work in partnership with Trade Unions across the Council.

● Harnessing Clean Green Energy: Cornwall has the potential to be a leader in renewable energy. We will capitalise on this opportunity to provide cleaner energy, create jobs, and attract external investment.

● Quality Jobs: We will work to attract investment and support businesses to grow, ensuring our communities benefit from good-quality well paid jobs, with a focus on industries that offer long-term prospects.

● Supporting Our Towns: We will support our towns and high streets to recover, and become vibrant community hubs once again. Ensuring local businesses can thrive and our towns are places people want to live, work, and visit.

● Sustainable Transport Development: we will continue to explore ways to improve transportation and connectivity in Cornwall, working with train operators and bus companies to bring forward cooperative solutions that serve our rural communities. We will also create better infrastructure for safer cycling and walking.

● Transport Infrastructure: We will lobby the national government for a fair settlement on the Tamar tolls, additional funding for a safer A38, and ensure the A30 upgrades are completed well and on time, improving connectivity and road safety for all Cornish residents and visitors.

2. Housing: Building Strong Communities

Everyone in Cornwall deserves a safe, affordable, and quality home. After years of Conservative neglect, our housing policy focuses on delivering the right type of high quality housing in the right places, with community infrastructure to support it.

● Doubling Council Tax on holiday homes to better support services for vulnerable people and to end the scandal of Cornish families being forced into temporary accommodation

● Sustainable Housing Growth: Our plans will focus on building more sustainable homes, ensuring they meet the needs of local people while considering the environment and Cornwall’s future growth. We would seek to increase funding for social housing by persuading the Government to close the tax loophole which allows holiday home businesses to pay no tax.

● High-Quality Homes: We will ensure the right type of homes are built in the right areas, prioritising quality and sustainability for local people.

● Infrastructure Investment: Housing development must be matched with investment in infrastructure, including schools, transport, and green spaces, to create thriving communities.

● Support for Genuinely Affordable Housing: We remain committed to supporting the development of genuinely affordable housing, ensuring no one is priced out of their own communities.

3. Supporting Healthy and Happy Communities

We believe in building strong communities that are safe, healthy, and well-supported. Our focus is on ensuring Cornwall is a place where everyone can succeed, from rural villages to urban towns.

● Safe Communities: We will work closely with the police, Safer Cornwall partners, and local agencies to ensure that our towns, villages, and rural areas are safe places to live and work and to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls. We will also fight to make sure the Police and Crime Commissioner gives Cornwall a fair share of “bobbies on the beat.”

● Investment in Youth Services: We will prioritise funding for youth services and activities, focusing on early intervention and prevention, providing support for young people at risk.

● Public Health Provision: We will advocate for increased investment in public health services across Cornwall, ensuring our communities have access to advice, guidance and the healthcare they need.

● Dental Access Taskforce: We will set up a dental task force within Cornwall Council to tackle the growing issue of dental access, ensuring all residents can find the care they need.

4. Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity

Every family and young person in Cornwall deserves the opportunity to succeed. We will work to remove barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child has access to quality education and every family has the support they need.

● Access to Affordable Childcare: We will ensure that every family has access to high-quality, affordable childcare, supporting parents to balance work and family life.

● Mental Health Support for Children and Youth: We will provide better mental health support for children and young people, ensuring they can grow and reach their full potential.

● Improved Transport and Infrastructure: We will work to improve affordable transport options across Cornwall, ensuring that all areas are well-connected and accessible.

● Skills and Training: We will work with local education providers to ensure that young people and adults have access to the right skills and training opportunities for the jobs of the future.

● SEND: We will work to improve SEND provision across Cornwall. Giving SEND providers the tools to improve outcomes and treating parents and carers of SEND young people with respect and as partners in the process.

5. Protecting Our Unique Environment and Culture

Cornwall’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage are essential to our identity. We will work tirelessly to protect them while building a sustainable and prosperous future.

● Investing in Cornish Heritage: We will secure additional funding for the preservation and promotion of Cornish heritage, including providing more Cornish language lessons and expanding the use of Cornish road signs. Our aim is to celebrate and protect Cornwall’s unique cultural identity for future generations.

● Sustainable Devolution Deal: We will work with the Government to negotiate a devolution deal that puts power where it belongs - closer to the people of Cornwall. We will seek a deal which will ensure Cornwall has a stronger voice at the table in shaping the future of our communities. We will take a close look at the details of what’s on offer from the government to ensure Cornwall gets the best possible deal that protects our Cornish identity and culture while securing the improvements which Cornish people want to see in their daily lives, with additional investment in the local infrastructure and public services that meet the needs of our unique communities.

● Environmental Protection: We will prioritise environmental protection, seeking to end the pollution of our seas and rivers by holding SW Water to account and working with our farmers and fishing industry to ensure their businesses are both sustainable and profitable.