00:00Hello and happy St Piran's Day to one and all. Today is the day we celebrate everything that
00:05makes Cornwall so special and if I list them all now we'd be here all day. But there are a
00:10few
00:10things in particular I really want to mention because yes Cornwall was famous for its beautiful
00:15coastlines and landscapes but we're about so much more than that. We also have a unique and storied
00:21history and a proud Celtic identity. St Piran's Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on what
00:27that really means. It's also a chance to celebrate the many ways in which this place connects us
00:33whether you were born here or have chosen to call Cornwall your home. And the celebrations they're
00:38not just confined to Cornwall they're happening all over the world from pasty tossing on the streets
00:43of Grass Valley in California to St Piran's Day celebrations in South Australia, Hong Kong and
00:49London. Wherever Cornish people have traveled over the centuries we've never forgotten our roots or
00:55our heritage. The global Cornish community is as strong today as it ever has been. And on this
01:01St Piran's Day we asked particular reasons to be proud. We began 2026 with the news that the Cornish
01:08language, Canuic, had been formally recognized under part three of the European Charter for Regional
01:14or Minority Languages. I can't stress enough how significant that is. It means Canuic now enjoys
01:20the same level of promotion and protection as other Celtic languages across the British Isles including
01:26Welsh, Manx and Gaelic. It doesn't stop there. This is the year of Cornwall. In July Cornwall will take
01:34centre stage at the Inter-Celtic Festival held in Lorient, Brittany. It is one of the largest gatherings
01:40of Celtic nations anywhere in the world and attracts around a million visitors every year. For us to be the
01:48focus of that festival is a huge honour and shows just how much interest there is in our culture
01:53and identity and the kinship we share with our Celtic cousins. So plenty for us to look forward to in
02:002026 but celebrating Cornwall also means standing up for Cornwall. Today I've written to two government
02:07ministers to make that point clearly. I've asked Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
02:13for stronger recognition of the Cornish language within the BBC and Public Service Broadcasting
02:19so Cornish voices and stories can be more easily heard and seen. The second letter to Darren Jones,
02:26Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, sets out Cornwall Council's position on the 2031 census.
02:32It calls for proper recognition of Cornish national minority status and the Cornish language so
02:39as well as the most national statistics finally reflect our distinct culture and community. These simple,
02:45practical steps to make sure our language and culture are respected at a British national level
02:51because Cornwall is more than just a place on the map. So whatever your plans are today, whether you're
02:58attending an event, flying St Piran's flag or simply taking a moment to reflect on what Cornwall means to you,
03:05I hope you'll join us in celebrating everything that makes the place we live so special.
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