Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole steps down after 29 years

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 12 Oct, 12:30 · Archive

Dick Cole is standing down as leader of Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish political party, after 29 years at the helm.

Dick Cole is standing down as leader of Mebyon Kernow at the party's national conference in Truro on 24 October, after nearly three decades leading the party. He has been party leader since 1997 and is believed to be the longest-serving active leader of a political party in the UK, following Arthur Scargill's departure from the Socialist Labour Party in 2024. He will be replaced by Michael Bunney.

Cole joined Mebyon Kernow as a 21-year-old in 1988. He has also served as a councillor for 27 years, initially representing his home parish of St Enoder on Restormel Borough Council from 1999 and later on the unitary authority from 2013 onwards, being re-elected in 2017, 2021 and 2025. He contested Westminster constituencies in the General Elections of 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2017, and in 2009 topped MK's seven-person list for the European Parliament election for the south-west region.

During his 29 years as leader, Cole has been central to campaigns for greater recognition for Cornwall and the Cornish people. In 2000 he wrote the Declaration for a Cornish Assembly, which was supported by over 50,000 people and presented to 10 Downing Street in December 2001. Cole said he would continue campaigning for Cornwall and serving as group leader of the MK group on the unitary authority.

How it is being reported

• Cornwall’s Dick Cole, UK’s longest-serving party leader, steps down'His service to Cornwall has been unparalleled in his generation and he has always combined political focus with a real honest approach to looking after our communities'CornwallLive · 12 Oct, 12:11
• Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole to step down after nearly three decades at the helmIt is believed he is presently the longest-serving active leader of a political party in the UK.Falmouth Packet · 12 Oct, 09:51
• Mebyon Kernow leader Dick Cole to step down after nearly three decades at the helmIt is believed he is presently the longest-serving leader of a political party in the UK,Falmouth Packet · 12 Oct, 09:51

In this story: Dick Cole · Mebyon Kernow · Michael Bunney · Cornwall · Truro

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem