The fight for language rights

I addressed Cymdeithas yr Iaith last Wednesday at lunch time when they vsited the Assembly to present their newly drafted Welsh Language Measure to the Presiding Officer.

Clearly, a lot of hard work has gone into this and Cymdeithas are now asking for all parties to comment on the measure before the end of January.

I believe that of all the opposition parties who turned up, we were all saying much the same thing :

That the current language act needs revision in order to properly accommodate language rights and that the way forward would be to appoint a Language Commissioner.

As usual, the Labour Party didn't turn up to this event.

Cymdeithas are a very effective lobbying group and it is sheer foolish arrogance not to take note of what they say and acknowledge the work they do.

I take my hat off to them in respect of the valuable work they have carried out in Carmarthenshire in lobbying against small school closure for Welsh language and bilingual schools.

I believe that the Culture Minister feels that he cannot sit down and discuss the Welsh language with them because he has them 'pegged' as an organisation who have steeped themselves in criminal activity. To adopt this attitude is unhelpful, unrealistic and immature.

He needs to remember that many groups, organisations and individuals have resorted to direct action in this country when they have fought for rights of various kinds.


The UK has a long history of this. Indeed, women in this country would not have the vote if they had not resorted to direct action.

He needs to get off that high horse and get around the table with Cymdeithas.