Editing Mebyon Kernow (section)

==Electoral performance==
{{Main|Mebyon Kernow election results}}
MK has never won a parliamentary election to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]],<ref>{{cite web |author1=Steven Morris |title=Cornish party demands election broadcast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/13/cornish-nationalist-party-election-broadcast |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=13 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=John Anthony Ault |author1-link=John Ault |title='Culture, Character or Campaigns?' Assessing the electoral performance of the Liberals and Liberal Democrats in Cornwall 1945-2010 |url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/15973/AultJ_TPC.pdf?sequence=2 |website=[[University of Exeter]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=July 2014 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/15973/AultJ_TPC.pdf?sequence=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> nor has it ever won a seat in the [[European Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Cracknell |title=European Parliament elections: How has the UK voted in the past? |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/european-parliament-elections-how-has-the-uk-voted-in-the-past/ |website=[[House of Commons Library]] |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/european-parliament-elections-how-has-the-uk-voted-in-the-past/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cornwall Council===
MK has been represented on [[Cornwall Council]] since its inception in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Whitehouse |title=Mebyon Kernow - The Party for Cornwall is still fighting for more local power after 70 years |url=https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mebyon-kernow-party-cornwall-still-4869962 |website=Cornwall Live |access-date=24 January 2024 |date=10 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124162538/https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mebyon-kernow-party-cornwall-still-4869962 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Year
! Candidates
! Votes
! Share of votes
! Seats
|-
|[[2005 Cornwall County Council election|2005]]
|18
|9,421
|3.7%
|{{Composition bar|0|82|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2009 Cornwall Council election|2009]]
|33
|7,290
|4.3%
|{{Composition bar|3|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2013 Cornwall Council election|2013]]
|26
|6,824
|4.8%
|{{Composition bar|4|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2017 Cornwall Council election|2017]]
|19
|5,344
|4.0%
|{{Composition bar|4|123|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2021 Cornwall Council election|2021]]
|19
|8,897
|5.0%
|{{Composition bar|5|87|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2025 Cornwall Council election#Summary|2025]]
|18
|6,524
|4.0%
|{{Composition bar|3|87|#d5c229}}
|}

====2009 election====
In April 2009 MK leader Dick Cole announced his resignation from his job as an [[archaeologist]] with the new [[Cornwall Council]] to become the full-time leader of Mebyon Kernow and to stand for election to the Council. He had previously worked for [[Cornwall County Council]] for 14 years, but it is not permitted for employees of Councils to stand for election to a council they work for.<ref>[http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ Dick Cole to become full time leader of Mebyon Kernow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208035546/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ |date=8 February 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref>

On 12 May 2009, Dick Cole announced that thirty-three candidates would be standing for the party at the [[2009 Cornwall Council election|Cornwall Council elections]] on 4 June 2009.<ref>[http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ MK Cornwall Council candidates 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208035546/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/ |date=8 February 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref> This was the largest number of candidates that the party had ever fielded in a round of elections to a [[principal council]] or councils. Under the new arrangements, 123 members were to be elected to the new [[unitary authority|unitary]] Cornwall Council, in the place of the 82 councillors on the outgoing Cornwall County Council and another 249 on the six district councils within its area, all abolished.<ref>[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 Cornwall Council June 2009 Electoral divisions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725150141/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=17444 |date=25 July 2009 }}. Cornwall.gov.uk.</ref>

Having contested thirty-three of the 123 seats on the authority, Mebyon Kernow won three, or 2.4 per cent of the total. Andrew Long was elected to represent [[Callington, Cornwall|Callington]] with 54% of the votes.<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=9&RPID=692853 Election results for Callington] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116025945/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=9&RPID=692853 |date=16 November 2018 }}. Democracy.cornwall.gov.uk (4 June 2009).</ref> Stuart Cullimore was elected to represent [[Camborne]] South with 28% of the votes<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=692079 Election results for Camborne South] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013141818/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=692079 |date=13 October 2023 }}#</ref> and Dick Cole was elected to represent [[St Enoder]] with 78% of the votes<ref>[http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=693218 Election results for St Enoder] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116022807/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=693218 |date=16 November 2018 }}. Democracy.cornwall.gov.uk (4 June 2009).</ref>

====2021 election====
In the [[2021 Cornwall Council election|2021 election]], Mebyon Kernow fielded 19 candidates.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Richard Whitehouse |title='Stand together for Cornwall': Cornwall Council needs to stand together to get the best for Cornwall says Mebyon Kernow leader |url=https://cornishstuff.com/2021/04/28/stand-together-for-cornwall/ |website=Cornish Stuff |access-date=7 May 2021 |date=28 April 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507211742/https://cornishstuff.com/2021/04/28/stand-together-for-cornwall/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They gained a seat despite the number of seats on the council being reduced to 87, polling 5% overall.<ref name=CC2021>{{cite web |title=Cornwall Council elections - Thursday, 6th May, 2021 |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=40&RPID=509721406 |website=[[Cornwall Council]] |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142438/https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=40&RPID=509721406 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elections 2021: Conservatives take Cornwall Council |work=BBC News |date=7 May 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57028890 |access-date=7 May 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507174527/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-57028890 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Town and parish councils===
Mebyon Kernow is also represented in numerous town and parish councils across Cornwall.<ref name="MK Councillors" /><ref name=MKCouncillors2 /> In 2022, Zoe Fox, a Mebyon Kernow councillor, became Mayor of [[Camborne]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mayor of Camborne |url=https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/mayor-camborne |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Camborne Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124155537/https://www.camborne-tc.gov.uk/mayor-camborne|archive-date=24 January 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, their Parish representation stood at 24 councillors, their highest number to date.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Your Councillors |url=https://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=democracy.cornwall.gov.uk |language=en |archive-date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111003084952/http%3A//democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN%3DPARTY%26VW%3DLIST%26PIC%3D0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mebyon Kernow – The Party for Cornwall |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124230715/https://mebyonkernow.org/our-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===UK general elections===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Year
!Candidates
!Votes
!Share of votes
!Seats
|-
|[[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983]]
|2
|1,151
|1.2%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]]
|4
|1,906
|0.8%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]
|3
|3,199
|1.3%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]
|4
|3,552
|1.7%
|{{Composition bar|0|5|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]
|6
|5,379
|1.9%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]
|6
|5,675
|1.9%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019]]
|1
|1,660
|0.50%
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|-
|[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
|colspan=3 {{N/A|Did not stand}}
|{{Composition bar|0|6|#d5c229}}
|}

In the 2010 general election, Mebyon Kernow fielded candidates in each of the six constituencies in Cornwall. Their best result was in the St Austell & Newquay seat, where they came fourth, with 4.2% of the votes, up 4% from the previous election. The other main parties spent more on their election campaigns.<ref>[http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/figures-reveal-spending-by-parties-at-uk-general-election Figures reveal spending by parties at UK general election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403061502/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-media/news-releases/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/figures-reveal-spending-by-parties-at-uk-general-election |date=3 April 2011 }}. Electoral Commission.</ref> MK also blamed bad results on a tactical voting campaign whereby Labour voters in Cornwall were urged to vote Liberal Democrat to stop the Conservatives from getting in.<ref>[http://www.politics.co.uk/news/general-election-2010/brown-vote-lib-dem-where-labour-can-t-win-,70072.htm Brown: Vote Lib Dem where Labour can't win]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Politics.co.uk (9 April 2010).</ref> Overall they gained 1.9% of votes cast. All Mebyon Kernow candidates lost their deposits.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/region/9.stm | work=BBC News | title=BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – South West | access-date=25 June 2010 | archive-date=17 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617041842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/region/9.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===European Parliament elections===
In [[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979, in the first elections]] to the [[European Parliament]], Mebyon Kernow's candidate [[Richard Jenkin]] was able to attract more than five per cent of the vote in the [[Cornwall and Plymouth (European Parliament constituency)|Cornwall seat]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
!Candidate
!Votes
!Share of votes
!Position
|-
|[[1979 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1979]]
|[[Richard Jenkin]]
|10,205
|5.9%
|4th
|-
|[[1984 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1984]]
| colspan=4 {{N/A|Did not contest}}
|-
|[[1989 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1989]]
|Colin Lawry
|4,224
|1.9%
|6th
|-
|[[1994 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|1994]]
|[[Loveday Jenkin]]
|3,315
|1.5%
|7th
|}

In April 2009 Mebyon Kernow announced that its list of candidates for the [[South West England (European Parliament constituency)|
'South West Region']] seat in the European Parliament would comprise their six prospective parliamentary candidates for Westminster. The candidates were: [[Dick Cole (politician)|Dick Cole]] (St Austell & Newquay), Conan Jenkin (Truro & Falmouth), Loveday Jenkin (Camborne & Redruth), Simon Reed (St Ives), Glenn Renshaw (South East Cornwall), Joanie Willett (North Cornwall).<ref name=":3" /> Mebyon Kernow had also committed itself to continue the fight for a "Cornwall only" Euro-constituency, to promote Cornwall in Europe.<ref>Cole, Dick. (18 March 2009) [http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html MK fight for Cornwall only Euro-constituency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805094545/http://mebyonkernow.blogspot.com/2009/03/standing-for-european-parliament.html |date=5 August 2010 }}. Mebyonkernow.blogspot.com.</ref>

Mebyon Kernow polled 14,922 votes in the 2009 European elections (11,534 votes in Cornwall, no seats, 7 per cent of the vote in Cornwall) putting them ahead of the Labour Party in Cornwall.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_36.stm European Election 2009: South West] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608151714/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_36.stm |date=8 June 2009 }}. BBC News (8 June 2009).</ref>

Since 2009, MK has not stood candidates in European Parliament elections, given the difficulties of winning a seat in a constituency encompassing electorates outside Cornwall.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" />