People in Cornwall are trying to shut down a Reform UK conference

At an upcoming Reform UK Cornwall conference, Nigel Farage won’t quite get the welcome reception he has bargained for. This is because a local coalition of more than a dozen groups is gearing up to tell the racist Reform leader where to go – and it sure won’t be Kernow on 24 February.

Reform UK Cornwall Conference: Kernow won’t be a recruiting ground for the far-right

Reform UK is hosting its Cornwall conference at Carn Brea Leisure Centre on Monday 24 February. Naturally, Reform leader Nigel Farage is planning to attend the event as its keynote speaker.

However, coalition of local radical groups Cornwall Resists will show the party that its not welcome there.

The coalition will hold a demonstration to coincide with the conference. Its call-out to local residents and activists on its social media stated:

Tell Farage he is isn’t welcome in Kernow!

Let Reform know Kernow will not be an easy recruiting ground for their far-right hatred!

What’s more, it highlighted that Farage and the Reform represents the interests of the rich – not the Cornwall community’s:

There’s no doubt that Kernow needs reforming. Our land is nothing but a playground for the rich. We, the locals, are priced out of our communities, our land stolen by second home owners. Our services have been decimated by years of Tory – and now Labour – cuts. Meanwhile our wonderful language, history, culture and desire for autonomy is mocked or dismissed.

Our country is broken and our first-past-the-post parliamentary system is an archaic shambles that doesn’t represent us. We all know that radical change is needed. But Reform is not, and will never be, the answer.
Reform scapegoat refugees and asylum seekers because those at the top of the party are rich. They have no interest in helping ordinary working people. Our services aren’t collapsing because of refugees – they’re collapsing due to years of underfunding while the rich just get richer. [They are blaming those in dinghies, not yachts]

Farage is not a man of the people. On top of his £91k a year salary, he earns over £1 million in other work. He is part of the problem. He is part of the rich elite that is screwing over the rest of us while the planet burns.

So, the protesters will pitch up outside the conference to remind residents that Farage and his party are corporate-captured cronies for the capitalist elite.

Cornwall Resists also pointed out that Farage and company are blatant fascists who’ve put Black, brown, and migrant people at risk in their Cornwall communities:

Let’s be clear – while not every Reform voter is a fascist , those at the top of the party undoubtedly are – and their rhetoric, and every vote for them is a threat to every person of colour in our communities.

It’s clear that Kernow won’t let Nigel Farage and Reform scapegoat and spout hate in their name.

Protesters will gather to tell Farage where to go at 3.30pm outside the leisure centre. The group reminds protesters to:

Wear a mask, don’t talk to cops – bring instruments – MAKE SOME NOISE!

‘SHUT IT DOWN!’: there’s ‘no place for hatred and racism in Cornwall’

While the local groups are preparing to stand up to Reform UK in Cornwall on Monday, they’re also wasting no time in resisting the far-right party ahead of its conference.

Cornwall Resists has issued a call to action to get the local leisure centre to cancel the event. It posted instructions for people to follow in a social media post:

Using people power and *communications* – such as email, telephone – maybe even in person if you’re close by – we are encouraging people to get in contact with the Leisure Centre and let them know how YOU feel about them hosting Farage and his fascist entourage!

Their email address is: [email protected]
And their phone number is 01209 714766
Please be kind to staff when letting them know of your rage – it likely wasn’t the workers decision!

Enter 141 before the number to keep your number hidden, and think carefully about using an email address with your name!

Lets try and make the best scenario possible happen – which would be them cancelling their event!
Fascism dosent need a venue in Kernow!

SHUT IT DOWN!

Groups supporting the protest include the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, Radical Pride, Falmouth and Penryn Acorn, All Under One Banner Kernow, Youth Demand Falmouth and the Kernow Antifascist Network.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Resists said:

It’s amazing to see so many groups mobilise against the far-right in Cornwall. We know that to beat Reform we need to do more than organise against one conference – and this is ongoing work. But when fascists try to speak and mobilise in our communities, local people can and will respond.

When fascists tried to target refugees at the Beresford hotel two years ago, local people shut them down. We are proud of our heritage, proud that our patron saint was a refugee, and we will let Farage and Reform know that there is no place for hatred and racism in Cornwall. Kernow is antifascist!

Featured image via the Canary