Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Letters

Cornish people need support, not abuse

Port Isaac ( Porthysek), a small and picturesque fishing village on the Atlantic Coast of north Cornwall
‘We should understand why many look back to a time before tourism and mass immigration made affording a decent home, or a home at all, beyond the reach of many Cornish people.’ Photograph: Sebastian Wasek/Alamy

Sir Tim Smit’s intemperate denunciation of Cornish people as “tossers” for looking back to the good old days helps to highlight a number of things about contemporary Cornwall (Eden Project co-founder under fire for rant about Cornish people, 16 February).

First, we should understand why many look back to a time before tourism and mass immigration made affording a decent home, or a home at all, beyond the reach of many Cornish people. The Cornish are now a minority in Cornwall, and are more likely to experience unemployment, low wages and poor health than non-Cornish residents.

Second, Smit’s remarks are not just offensive, they are possibly racist insofar as the Cornish are a recognised ethnic minority, a protected characteristic. Perhaps Mr Smit should look a little further into what Cornish people are doing to develop their economy, culture and language, and be supportive rather than abusive.
Prof Malcolm Williams
Cardiff University

• Surely Cornish folk need to lighten up a little about Tim Smit’s words. When I was a lad up north, I don’t recall being unduly troubled by that old favourite: “Derbyshire born and Derbyshire bred: strong in the arm and weak in the head.”
Alan Hallsworth
Waterlooville, Hampshire

Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.