The recent EU Referendum organised and mishandled mainly by Westminster politicians has brought about an increase in reports of racist and hate incidents in our community some of which has even been aimed at indigenous Cornish people who have been called 'inbreds', 'sister shaggers' and worse by those voting differently.

We hold the Westminster politicians firmly responsible for this, their only concern being personal political advancement at any cost as is being witnessed in their disgraceful behaviour at this time. Never before have the people had so much cause to be so disgusted with these politicians and their games and the complete lack of leadership shown. If division was their aim, they have certainly succeeded.

The Cornish have a long track-record of embracing and welcoming other peoples and cultures to its shores, from prehistory to the present day.

As long ago as the 4th century BC, the Greek explorer and geographer Pytheas of Massalia was so impressed by his welcome to West Cornwall that he described the native Celtic population as "hospitable, courteous, civilised and ingenious".

From medieval times, Bretons, Flemings, Welsh and Irish lived alongside the Cornish in complete harmony: some of them even fought alongside us in the Cornish uprisings of 1497 and 1549.

It was not the Cornish who drove many of them out, but 16th century English cultural and religious aggression enforced by and from London.

In more recent centuries, the Jewish community was welcomed in our ports. We built them synagogues in places like Penzance and Falmouth, the buildings having the same basic designs as our native Methodist chapels.

Exclusively Jewish cemeteries can still be found in both locations. The Quakers were welcomed, meeting places being built and cemeteries established. Some founded prominent families and businesses of Cornwall, such as those of the Fox and Ellis families.

In 1799, the black slave, Joseph Emidy arrived in Falmouth. Marrying a local girl in 1802, Emidy remained in Cornwall to perform, teach and compose throughout the Duchy organising concerts, pioneering harmonic societies and eventually becoming Leader of the Truro Philharmonic Orchestra. His own chamber works, concertos and symphonies made him the most celebrated and influential musical figure in early nineteenth century Cornwall. He was honoured by the Cornish people and fully accepted. Would this have happened elsewhere at that time? We doubt it.

At no time has any conflict between these distinct ethnic groups within Cornwall been recorded. The evidence shows that they not only accepted each other, but liked each other and did not interfere with, despise or discriminate each other's cultures.

After World War II, Poles and Italians are brought in to work in the Cornish tin mines of Geevor and South Crofty. Once again, they were welcomed. Many of them made firm friendships with the Cornish people, stayed on, settled and founded their own families whose descendants are still here today.

We can also note with some pride that one of the most popular and respected current Cornwall Councillors is an ethnic Maltese.

Racism in Cornwall has only reared its ugly head when mass in-migration from England commenced in the 1960s, but it must be stressed very heavily that this is restricted to a small minority of those incomers, and from only certain parts of England. We must not, and cannot, tar the bulk of those incomers with such a brush, but to deny the presence and behaviour of this loathsome minority would only serve to ignore, conceal and thereby condone, the problem they have brought to our land.

The Cornish people themselves, their culture, language and heritage are a common target of these spiteful people, but we are not the only target by any means. Rightful anger shown by us against this hatred, and the people who practice it, is then proclaimed by them as "evidence" of "Cornish racists".

Racism is a disease that is all too easily spread to those of less intellectual ability within our own numbers, and it is a disease that must be eradicated from Cornish culture and shores as effectively as polio and tuberculosis have been dealt with, and before it becomes ingrained. History proves that racism is alien to Cornish culture, and our long tradition of toleration and cordial co-existence must be preserved.

We have been made aware of numerous reports and have directed and encouraged all those subject of racism and hatred to report it via the official 'True Vision' website:

http://report-it.org.uk/home

John, Teresa, Craig, Tony, Matt, Mike, Clive, Ronan & Samuel

Elected Members of the KMTU Steering Group