The Kernow branch of the Celtic League had complained to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about people in the media calling them 'inbred' and joking about cider and pasties. Ok, so it's not nice, but should it really be illegal?

Although the Cornish Celtic League felt that this was racial or ethnic discrimination, they would need to be recognised under case law as a separate racial group from the English for a racial discrimination case to be successful. Despite the existence of the Cornish language and cultural identity, they are not currently identified as a racial group under the Race Relations Act.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, the general secretary of the Celtic League, said that they had been receiving messages of support from Cornish ex-pats around the world.

Should we in Devon support them? Even if they do think they're more special than us, pasties and cider are no joking matter after all... are they? Of course they are - surely this is more regional than racial. Every region has its jokes and sterotypes (my dad has a 'Yorkshire Passport'), and we have been known to have the odd pasty here in Devon too. It's not that big a deal. (I guess we don't exist either, just like our Westcountry neighbours!)

But logically if the Kernow Celtic League got their way, would it only be legal to tell Westcountry jokes if they weren't about Cornwall?

I think I'm going to bring back my Cornwall poll :)

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