Dick Cole (born 6 April 1967) is a Cornish politician,[1] currently serving as an elected member of Cornwall Council and the leader of the Cornish devolutionist political party,Mebyon Kernow,a role he has held since 1997. He is currently one of the longest serving political leaders in Britain.[2] Dick Cole was first elected MK leader in 1997.
Before becoming party leader in 1997,Cole had been Mebyon Kernow's press officer for the previous five years. Previous to that he had also campaigned for Plaid Cymru whilst at University in Wales.[citation needed]
In 2015 Cole again stood as Mebyon Kernow's parliamentary candidate for the St Austell and Newquay constituency in the United Kingdom general election. He gained 2,063 votes (4.1% of votes cast) placing him in last position (out of 6 candidates). Although he increased his vote total,his percentage of the votes cast declined by 0.1%.[8]
He lives in Fraddon,in Mid-Cornwall,where he is a member of St Enoder parish council,a governor of Summercourt Primary School,and a trustee of the Fraddon Millennium Green and the Indian Queens Pit.[9]
In Cornwall Council,Cole leads the Mebyon Kernow political group,chairs the Planning Policy Advisory Panel,and represents the council in the Local Government Association's County Councils Network Special Interest Group.[10]
He has been outspoken on issues regarding the incinerator in St Dennis and the plans to build thousands of new homes through the development of an eco-town. He has also led a delegation to 10 Downing Street to present 50,000 signatures from Cornwall in support of calls for a referendum on the creation of a Cornish Assembly.[11]
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