The narrative has to change.

We need to change the narrative around Cornwall. The belief seems to be, both within Cornwall, and outside, that Cornwall would be a basket case without tourism, that there is nothing here without tourism, and that we should be grateful for the money that tourists, and second home owners apparently bring to the county.

The reality is that for the roughly 20% of jobs in the tourist industry that may be true, but the other 80% seem to be largely forgotten and the potential opportunities for young people either forgotten or stifled by the impacts of tourism - high housing costs, lack of awareness of what goes on in Cornwall and so on. For example, I'm a software developer with clients all over the world. Among my friends and acquaintances I count just one person that relies on tourism; the rest are engineers, pharmaceutical devices experts, software people, environment specialists, boat designers/builders and so on. Those industries that could sustain a more balanced Cornish economy through apprenticeship schemes for example are starved of potential because of the way young people feel compelled to leave Cornwall if they are to have a future involving more than a minimum wage seasonal job.

Cornwall has been turned into a brand, a theme park even, by the minority of businesses, and second home owners who stand to benefit financially. None of these tourism-based businesses count among the top 30 of businesses in Cornwall, yet they dominate the narrative, and that imposes a terrific burden on the residents of Cornwall - both in terms of providing, through tax, services that many second home owners and businesses for example do not contribute a fair share yet are happy to burden immensely, as well as the mental health of the other 80% of the workforce, and residents, that have to suffer the impact of all this.

Cornwall continues to be carved up and mined for the extraction of wealth, it's not sustainable for our communities, our residents, or our long term economic health and 'economic robustness'. I for on am seriously considering leaving; I no longer recognise the Cornwall I grew up with, and I'm not alone. Cornwall cannot afford to lose the skill base that could ensure a better future for everyone, but it will if the current paradigm does not change.