Clear messages
Another Welsh Labour consultation is kick-started today in preparation for the 2011 Assembly Manifesto.
Yesterday it was Leighton Andrews and the Welsh economy. Today it's Alun Davies and Nia Griffith tackling the language.
"All too often the debate on the language has been hijacked by lawyers and lecturers" they write, though they can't possibly be thinking of Counsel General Carwyn Jones who delivered what was a very similar take on Labour's future direction on the language at the Eisteddfod this year.
The message is that it's time Labour claimed its place at the forefront of the debate, a debate it wants to steer away from linguistic rights and in the direction of jobs, skills, opportunities and partnerships.
"Now though" they sum up "is the time to make a clear, Welsh Labour message on the Welsh language" - a rather different one to the message conveyed by the former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott I imagine.
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
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What's the link to John Prescott ?
I clicked on it and only found a story about Prince Philip.
Thank goodness for the lawyers and lecturers.
I wonder where the Labour party would be if
none of their policies had been touched by the above professions.
The Welsh Labour party's message on the Welsh language has been clear for years.
George Thomas and Leo Abse (a lawyer)
wrote it, and people like Alun Davies, Eluned Morgan and Nia Griffith try and hide it .
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yes they really care about the language dont they....i wonder if everyone of them do....all the england-born members are most-likely dont care...they say they do, but i have never seen much effort for the language by this london-based party,
they fly the flag of wales and say they can speak the language and support it, just to please welsh-speakers, where plaid use it and want to evolve it because they are Welsh......i dont want to sound like i'm patronising Plaid Cymru,
but as a Welsh man i'd rather have someone that really cares and really supports Welsh language and culture by heart
Not by words on some stage or camera!
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For well nigh a century Wales has been in Labour's grip, with a majority of MPs and local government councillors. Perhaps it was fitting that a party which had its roots in the trade unions, the Fabian Society, and in the working class, came to represent a country composed largely of working people. It was then a party with principles, most of which, if not all, have been abandoned in recent decades.
One of its core beliefs was that of international socialism, which sees languages and cultures as divisive, leading to nationalism of the type spawned in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and 30s. There have been, and are, contemporary prominent elected members who are derisive of the Welsh language, it would not do to mention their names. To their credit, there have been others who have been proud of their native language, such as Jim Griffiths and Cledwyn Hughes. One or two Labour MPs, such as Paul Flynn, have taken the trouble to learn Welsh, and they are much to be praised for so doing.
On the whole, the Welsh language has declined markedly in the century in which Labour has dominated Wales. It is a fact. That must be the measure by which they are judged on that score. Support for the language by Labour has been lukewarm to say the least. What can be expected of a party whose fundamental aim is government of the UK? The Welsh language is not going to be an issue which would assist in achieving that goal.
No, we have to look to ourselves to safeguard the Welsh language. Others are not going to do it for us. They will not lose a night's sleep if it is wiped out. For us, it would be a tragedy, but for the Prescotts of this world, it would be the end of a quaint tongue, even an intolerable nuisance.
As for Prescott himself.... his own foul language does him no credit, neither for that matter did some of his actions when DPM. His most memorable act was to punch someone. Best relegated to the footnotes of history, or forgotten, as one of the least appealing politicians that I can remember, in any party.
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haha, the prescot punch was really funny!!
always remember that.....that guy deserved it n sum ways.....
I was listening to Radio Cymru....and the Welsh of the Labour AM's was just appalling, ....1 of them....i couldn't understand what she was saying........ unionists dont really care, especially the tories, labour in wales do support it, but its only a show to impress welsh-speakers.....
rodders was on telly today......talking on how he's party is helping the Welsh economy.....hang on i was confused.....it was ieuan wyn jones (plaid cymru) whos in charge of the economy......and he was the one with the idea to fund businesses.....to give extra cash to help people who will suffer from high bills this winter.....it was he's constituency that was pressing on use of renewable energy.....grrreeedy!
i seen plaid members on telly and the press more than rhodri and he's troops.....
i actually once thought he was on some early retirement.....
the media under labour never made any effort in evolving our language.....
its only now...that ITV have planned to work with S4C to launch a welsh language channel....
Welsh music must be heared by young people...its only a few that av heared of them.....and they are such great artists!
its sad that Welsh is being demonised and suppressed.....the unionist government have done so much effort in trying to destroy it rather than bring it back! look at Scotland.....its a good effort Gaelic television by the bbc is coming back there...
but its going to be hard to bring the language back.....
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it is easier to have a clear and simple message....
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