Campaigners fear Reform’s ‘extremely dangerous’ plans for the Welsh language
Amelia Jones
Welsh language campaigners have said the Reform manifesto shows that the party understands nothing about Wales, after Nigel Farage claimed that the Welsh language is ‘thriving.’
When announcing the Reform manifesto today (Thursday, 5 March), Nigel Farage and Dan Thomas said the party intends to abolish the target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050 because the language is “thriving,” which, according to Cymdeithas yr Iaith, shows that the party understands nothing about Wales.
Cymdeithas has expressed concerns over Reform’s “extremely dangerous” plans for the Welsh language and Welsh communities.
Additionally, there is uncertainty over the future of the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office under Reform’s leadership.
The Reform UK party has made a promise to support the Welsh language when launching the party’s manifesto in Newport today.
Their promises include supporting the National Eisteddfod, and pressuring the Westminster Government to continue supporting S4C.
The party also said that they intend to replace “arbitrary” targets for the language, and party leader Nigel Farage MP added that there was no need for “quangos” either when asked about the position of Welsh Language Commissioner.
Farage said: “From what I can understand the Welsh language is thriving in Wales. It’s being taught in schools.
“It seems the under 40s speak a lot more Welsh than the over 40s in some parts. I would say let Welsh culture, let the Welsh language thrive
“I don’t see that it needs targets or quangos. If it’s happening, it’s happening because people want it to happen, and I think that’s a very good thing.”
The leader of Reform in Wales, Dan Thomas added: “There’s plenty of examples of arbitrary targets where they don’t work and in a decade or two time they get reversed. Look at the 50% target with regard to university admissions.
“…We support the Welsh language but we don’t think the target is necessary, it’s organically, on its own doing very well.”
Nigel Farage added that he was “impressed” with the effort that had gone into producing the manifesto.
He said: “The other parties have revealed fantasy policies, but this document is a serious plan to ensure the real change that Wales deserves.
“I’m looking forward to campaigning alongside Dan Thomas and the Welsh team between now and 7 May.”
Mr Farage also said at the event in Newport: “May 7 will bring an end to Labour’s dominance in Wales, particularly in the Valleys.
“And, if we get this right, we will get rid of the worst Prime Minister any of us have seen in our lifetime.”
In response, Owain Meirion, Chair of Cymdeithas said: “Considering that only 17.8% of Wales’ population can speak Welsh, and that the proportion of speakers has steadily declined over the last two censuses to the lowest figure ever, the fact that Nigel Farage believes Welsh is thriving shows his complete ignorance.
“Of course, Farage will not be a candidate in Wales nor accountable to the people of Wales.
“The only policy the party have regarding the Welsh language is to remove the target of a million speakers by 2050, thereby cutting the support that already exists for the language.
“Additionally, there is no mention of the Welsh language in any other section of the manifesto.
“It is clear that the party has no real interest in the Welsh language or our communities, and both would be in enormous danger under a Reform UK government.”
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They would wrather we speak Russian than Cymraeg!
The very man who feels uncomfortable hearing any language other than English spoken anywhere in his earshot on this island is saying the Welsh language is ‘thriving’ which gives him work to do in destroying it because it simply cannot be. He has no educated thought but to copy policies of the intolerant of the present and past so expect ‘Welsh not’ to return and the entire eradication of you, your family heritage and your national identity if you are thick enough to vote fir it. Don’t tell me you voted for it whilst pleading ignorance to what unfolds. You… Read more »
In the most populous most parts of Wales (Valleys and Cardiff) the language is clearly in a better place than it was 30-40 years ago. The decline has been in the heartand areas which have seen demographic change. Ironically enough, Reform’s policy of prioritising social housing for Welsh people would probably do more for the language in the North/West than anything else…. but I just don’t trust them to deliver.
In short, if a Farij fraud says they are going to do anything FOR Wales, read the lie.
Don’t forget that Welsh will not be the only attack. You may be OK if you are white with this lot, better off anyway. When farage sends his goon squads in to disappear you perhaps the reform voters will have a second thoughts though too late when you are dead or on a flight to somewhere.
Thankfully they won’t be running anything in Wales come the 8th May but they are a real danger to our great nation moving forward. They’ll have a lot of MS’s but expect them to squabble and fight after they fail to get their hands on power in May
Our language is one of the few things left that the Brits haven’t completely destroyed.
I highly recommend that Mr Putins puppet leaves it well alone. There are things left that people would physically fight for, but I genuinely belive that Mr Farage is actively seeking civil war in the UK.
His, just like any other fascist, is the politics of outrage. He’s sowing the seeds of division that his goons will be taking full advantage of to divide us as a people and nation. He’s already succeeded in that in England.
They want us to assimilate as English subjects. Before long they’ll be denying such a thing as Welsh identity had ever existed in the first place. Resist these gaslighting grifters.
In America, under Donald Trump, his administration has been erasing aspects of Black history by removing references to slavery and those involved — and Reform seem eager to imitate that prejudice.Under Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage and his glove puppet Dan Thomas, the latter’s recent conference comments in Newport about the Welsh language should indeed sound alarm bells. Reform’s policy of scrapping the 2050 target for a million Welsh speakers, along with its plan to undo the Welsh Language and Education Act — threatening Welsh‑medium schooling — is just the start. Once in power, they could do anything, especially if… Read more »
We all saw the hard stare Honest Nigel gave Llŷr when he dared to speak a few words in the original British language.
If you vote Reform, you are no longer Welsh.