A year in Cornish politics

Labour enjoyed unprecedented success in Cornwall at the General Election in July

Legend has it that visits to Cornwall helped inspire Charles Dickens to write his yuletide classic A Christmas Carol.

Like Ebenezer Scrooge, political ghosts of the past and present have spooked Cornwall's politicians this year - with ones of the future lurking around the corner in 2025.

Cornwall's Conservatives could be forgiven for still feeling haunted by July's General Election result.

The Tories, who had held all six Cornish constituencies in the previous parliament, were wiped out.

It was an historic night for Labour - gaining Truro & Falmouth and Camborne & Redruth, and for the first time winning in St Austell & Newquay and South East Cornwall.

The Liberal Democrats also reclaimed the North Cornwall and St Ives seats they lost in 2015.

The future of Newquay Airport has been one of the ongoing issues of 2024 in Cornwall

All of Cornwall's MPs have since raised concerns about the future of Newquay Airport.

Cornwall Council's ongoing talks over a deal to bring in a private operator for the airport estate was one of the dominant local issues of 2024.

It even led to resignations from the ruling Tory group - and leader Linda Taylor having to fight off a vote of no confidence.

However, the ghosts of the present pose a challenge to Cornwall's Labour representatives at Westminster in balancing their local and party loyalties with the new government's policies on winter fuel payments and farming inheritance tax particularly impacting Cornwall's older and rural population.

Cornwall Council leader Linda Taylor survived a vote of no confidence in November

Labour's push for more housing also means Cornwall will need to build more than 4,400 new homes annually - a 63% increase on the previous target.

Whether the construction of more homes - and the introduction next spring of a second homes council tax premium - helps Cornwall's housing crisis awaits to be seen.

Relief came with the confirmation of £47m from the Shared Prosperity Fund to continue for Cornwall next year.

A review of the funding formula announced in October's Budget was also warmly greeted as the council has long argued for a fairer allocation of money.

While extra funding was welcomed, the government's push for more renewable energy projects, potentially at the expense of farmland, was another continuing theme of 2024 and one expected to continue next year.

Will a combined authority and directly-elected mayor could be back on the cards in Cornwall in 2025?

Another ghost of the future will be the issue of devolution and how Cornwall can access the greater powers from Westminster it seeks.

Whether this can be done without accepting a mayor or combined authority with neighbouring Devon is a conundrum politicians from across all parties will have to try to solve.

It could even be one of the dominant issues at next May's local elections when all 87 seats on Cornwall Council will be contested.

The Conservatives will seek to retain some control locally, but are likely to face competition from independents, the Liberal Democrats and possibly Reform UK.

Forget A Christmas Carol - the coming months will determine whose Great Expectations will be met in 2025.