Discrimination against non-Welsh speakers has become very common. It’s completely unacceptable. But it happens, nonetheless.
To put things in perspective, over 80% of people in Wales don’t speak Welsh.
Here in the Vale of Glamorgan, that number is even higher. Yet our new Senedd constituency, “Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg”, uses the Welsh name only. It was a deliberate choice.
Many Vale residents responded to a consultation on the proposed name. They requested politely that, as non-Welsh speakers, they wanted the English name used too. They were ignored.
This was a tactical decision. It’s important people identify with the electoral units in which they vote. A sense of place is crucial.
Naming constituencies in accordance with local identity is essential. If voters don’t recognise constituency names, they’re less likely to turnout.
This effectively disenfranchises English-only speakers.
It isn’t the only example of discrimination, either.
Recently, Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens has faced many unpleasant attacks.
It stemmed from Jo’s constituency communications, which she carries out in English.
I’m the same. Like most proud Welsh people, I’m an English-only speaker.
Yet Plaid Cymru separatist Senedd member Cefin Campbell attacked Jo. He called her a “dinosaur”.
Campbell’s vitriol is nothing new. But it shows how Plaid treat people they don’t consider their own.
Many were surprised by Campbell’s comments. They thought Plaid were a safe, neutral option. They didn’t know what they’re really like.
Last week, the separatists’ leader Rhun ap Iorwerth let the cat out of the bag.
He admitted a Plaid win in May’s Senedd election is “the road to independence”. He said the separatists would “use their time in government” to pursue this cause.
That would be disastrous.
Senedd ministers have long chosen to take a different path to England for the sake of it. It’s what I call soft separatism.
In health and education, it’s led to worse outcomes in Wales.
But for separatists, creating division doesn’t matter. To those whose goal is separation or independence from the rest of Britain, the ends justify the means.
Plaid pursued Senedd expansion for this reason. Putting 36 more politicians in the Senedd will make the institution bigger, causing more conflict with the British government.
This tactic is nothing new.
It’s straight out of Nicola Sturgeon’s playbook. That’s hardly surprising– the SNP is Plaid’s sister party, don’t forget.
Sturgeon’s party has long argued that SNP victories in Scottish elections constitute a mandate for independence.
They claim that SNP votes are votes for independence too.
Plaid Cymru separatists will do similar.
A vote for Plaid isn’t a safe protest vote. It’s a vote for the hateful rhetoric and division that separatism brings.
It’s important people are aware. That’s the real Plaid.
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