Councillors in spat over the Welsh language

A language row has erupted following comments made by a Trewern councillor who stood as the Conservative candidate for Ceredigion in last year’s general election.

During a Powys Council meeting last week, Glantwymyn councillor and leader of Plaid Cymru in the county, Elwyn Vaughan, criticised Cllr Amanda Jenner, who wrote in an article on the Conservative website that she didn’t want to see the Welsh language ‘forced upon every tool and cranny of Wales’.

During a county council meeting where a report by the Welsh Language Commissioner, Aled Roberts was debated, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, (Glantwymyn) said: “Powys has moved forward tremendously in this field in the last couple of years.

“I welcome the comments that it’s relevant to all the communities of Powys, because contrary to what one leading Powys councillor said this week, the Welsh language is embedded in all our communities and is therefore relevant to us all.”

He was pointing to the article written by Cllr Amanda Jenner, who in 2019 stood as the Conservative candidate for Ceredigion in the General Election.

She had been discussing “devolution revolution” by bringing decision making to a more local level.

Part of her article included the comments:  “I don’t want to see the Welsh language forced upon every nook and cranny of Wales, including upon those communities whose traditions and cultures may not have the Welsh Language embedded in them.”

Cllr Jenner (Trewern), who is learning Welsh, responded: “Cllr Elwyn is referring to something I have written this week, he is incorrectly implying that I was solely referring to Powys in my article.

“I was commenting on the whole of Wales where as we all know there are some parts that do not have the Welsh language embedded, I wanted to clarify that.”

Earlier, Portfolio holder for the Welsh language, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, said: “I do acknowledge its (report) failings and where we must do more.

“The Welsh language is a treasure to be shared with all of the communities in Powys and we’d like to help all of our residents and staff  to appreciate and enjoy the Welsh language.”

“I hope we will continue to regard the Welsh language within PCC not as an add on or tick box we have to complete, but an aspiration to strengthen and develop it.”

The report was approved by 63 votes with no votes against or abstentions.

Following the meeting, Cllr Vaughan said: “The question should be how has it (the Welsh language) been undermined so much during the last century?

“The narrative of "forced" is the same historical language that has been used during that century to marginalise; to belittle, to make it irrelevant.

“It’s the power of the strong to bash the weak, the language of the oppressor over the oppressed, the language of intolerance, and that’s why we have to call it out and condemn it.”

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter