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| Cornwall activists to protest against creation of 'Devonwall' constituency Campaign group rejects idea of having parliamentary constituency straddling ancient county boundaryIn most parts of the country parliamentary boundary changes are probably top of the agenda only for political types and fans of geography. But in Cornwall protesters are taking to the streets – and river – to object to moves that could result in the erosion of the county's ancient border with Devon.Over the weekend leaders of the campaign will march alongside the river Tamar, which has marked the boundary between Cornwall and Devon since the 10th century.More than 1,000 people are expected to join a rally at Saltash, on the Cornish side of the Tamar, protesting against the idea of a cross-border "Devonwall" constituency and the sharing of an MP.Adam Killeya, the mayor of Saltash and convenor of the Keep Cornwall Whole campaign, said the border was an "ancient and distinctive" one and most people wanted it kept that way.A redrawing of boundaries designed to create constituencies of more equal size is going through parliament and the Cornish campaigners fear it will almost certainly lead to a "Devonwall" constituency. One possibility is some residents from Saltash could find themselves sharing a constituency with voters from Plymouth in Devon.Killeya, who will also take to the river on a boat as part of the weekend of protest, said Cornwall had a very different history, culture and needs to Devon and the rest of England. "The argument is that the economic and social and cultural issues are different in Cornwall," he said."It would not work to have one MP representing people in both Cornwall and Devon. Why should electoral maths overrule all those things?"The campaign (slogan: Cornwall ends at the Tamar) began with a Facebook group but has grown quickly. Members have met the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, but were not encouraged by his response to their pleas.Politicians of all hues in Cornwall and Devon have joined the debate.Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, said: "If possible, we shouldn't go across county borders. I shall certainly be speaking against crossing county boundaries, and probably voting against too."Campaigners say the border has been in place for more than 1,000 years since a treaty between King Athelstan of Wessex and King Hywel of Cornwall.Steven Morrisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Duffy claims strip-search 'abuse' A Lurgan republican accused of the Real IRA murder of two soldiers is claiming he was subjected to sexual and physical abuse during a prison strip-search. bbc.co.uk |
X Factor 2010 hopefuls in nod to musical heroes Fourteen X Factor finalists sang tracks by their musical heroes as they battled to save themselves from being booted off the reality show. telegraph.co.uk |
Nick Clegg shares the prime minister's love of Radiohead for his desert island Nick Clegg wants 'annoying' Waka Waka on his desert island because of his 'obsessed' little boy, but the discs show he has even more in common with his coalition partner David CameronIn the five months since David Cameron and Nick Clegg went public with their relationship, we have discovered the men have more in common than just their ages, expensive educations and eerily smooth complexions. To the list we can now add: a love of Radiohead.Appearing on Desert Island Discs yesterday, the deputy prime minister chose Street Spirit (Fade Out) by the Oxford quartet as one of his favourite records, four years after his coalition partner plumped for Fake Plastic Trees by the same band."I've got no great story attached to this," Clegg told Kirsty Young, "other than the fact that a lot of people from my generation – I'm now 43 – will have a Radiohead song on their list."Some of the group's fans will no doubt be aghast at the endorsement, but anyone who remembers the operatic manband G4 covering Creep in the 2004 edition of X Factor will have accepted that Radiohead entered mainstream consciousness some time ago.Clegg, something of a cosmopolitan polyglot, picked tracks from all over the world. There was Petit Pays, Cesária Évora's beautiful paean to her native Cape Verde, and Chopin's Waltz in A Minor played by the Turkish pianist Idil Biret. Both pieces, he said, reminded him of his wife, Miriam González Durántes, an accomplish pianist herself.He steered clear of anything too obvious or trendy and, with the exception of David Bowie's Life On Mars, chose lesser-known tracks when picking famous artists.And, like many political castaways, Clegg had something fun in the mix to show a different side to his character. Whereas Cameron went for Benny Hill's Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West), Clegg – apologising first to the listeners – went for Waka Waka, the theme to the 2010 World Cup, by the Colombian popstrel Shakira.Keen chart watchers will know that the Colombian singer is politically engaged: she once donated 10,000 pairs of tennis shoes to impoverished children in her hometown of Barranquilla, and has donated millions of dollars to charity.But Clegg chose the track for personal, not political, reasons. "This is actually a track I really find quite annoying, but I would love to have it on my desert island because it particularly reminds me of my little one-and-a-half-year-old," he said. "He is obsessed. He wakes up in the morning and looks at you with an absolutely excited expression and say 'Waka Waka' and so I listen to this dozens of times every day."Nick Clegg, 24 October 2010Chopin's Waltz in A Minor played by Idil BiretSunday Morning Coming Down by Johnny CashThe Cross by PrincePetit Pays by Cesária ÉvoraStreet Spirit by RadioheadLife on Mars by David BowieWaka Waka 2010 World Cup theme, by ShakiraSchubert's Impromptu No.3 in G Flat Major played by Alfred BrendelBook The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di LampedusaLuxury A stash of cigarettesDavid Cameron, 28 May 2006Tangled Up In Blue by Bob DylanErnie by Benny HillWish You Were Here by Pink FloydMendelssohn's On Wings of Song performed by Kiri Te Kanawa and Utah Symphony OrchestraFake Plastic Trees by RadioheadThis Charming Man by The SmithsPerfect Circle by R.E.M.All These Things That I've Done by The KillersRecord: Tangled Up in BlueBook: The River Cottage Cookbook by Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallLuxury: A crate of Scottish whisky.Nick CleggDesert Island DiscsRadioheadDavid CameronHelen Piddguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Boys held over murder of girl, 15 Two 15-year-old boys are arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a teenage girl is found in woods near Bridgend. bbc.co.uk |