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Former Tory MP ‘stopped doing Welsh Language interviews’

23 Sep 2021 1 minute read
Glyn Davies (CC 2.0)

A former Tory MP has said he “stopped doing Welsh language interviews”.

Glyn Davies, who was the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, said his reason for doing so was because he was “put in the ‘Welsh Language box’ and not asked to ‘perform’ in English”.

But he added now that he is Welsh Conservative Chairman he is “happy to do it though”, and that the “Welsh Language matters big-time to Wales”.

He made the revelation following an interview with Guto Harri for the S4C politics show Y Byd yn ei Le.

Glyn Davies said: “Few years ago, when I was an MP, I stopped doing Welsh Language interviews because it meant I was put in the ‘Welsh Language box’ and not asked to ‘perform’ in English.

“And my Welsh is not remotely good enough. Now I’m Welsh Conservative Chairman I’m happy to do it though.

“The Welsh Language matters big-time to Wales and the Conservatives have done more to ensure the language prospers that any other party. Think Wyn Roberts. For some reason, we don’t shout that out from the rooftops. We should.”


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GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

No, the party that has done the most for the Welsh language is Plaid because they had to undo the mess the Tories made by trying to wipe it out its existence. Pure lies from the bradwr.

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

Plaid itself has been ambivalent towards the language. Times when it has stood up for it, but others when it was prepared to relegate the language in favour of some other “hot topic” or flavour of the month. When it comes to the language no-one has the desirable level of consistent commitment.

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Absolutely!
Where were the Plaid AMs when the (then ) assembly discussed a bill to stop Welsh names being changed to English?
And the silence over supporting the daily paper Y Dydd?
And in coalition (then and now) where’s the demand for Welsh history to be taught, or REAL encouragement in developing the language at all level?
Or support for the Language Board in it’s campaign to amend mis spelt place names?
I know why – wrong issues.

R W
R W
3 years ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

However there would have been no S4C if it wasn’t for Gwynfor Evans, a Plaid Cymru MP. What have other parties achieved for the language?

Geoffrey ap.
Geoffrey ap.
3 years ago

I would like to remind Glyn Davies of Thatcher’s betraying Wales by backtracking on the promise to set up S4C. It was only Gwynfor Evans very real threat to “fast to death” that forced her to stick with her election promise. She claimed to be “the lady not for turning” she turned when faced by Gwynfor. That’s how the language has survived to date, by the people of Cymru fighting the Tory system, giving their lives and freedom over many years, to save our language and the very existence of Cymru it’s self.

Geraint
Geraint
3 years ago

Welsh is not remotely good enough to be interviewed as an MP, but it is good enough to be interviewed as Chair of the Tory party????

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago
Reply to  Geraint

From what I’ve heard on TV his Welsh is pretty good. Not up to posh Welsh standard but fine for everyday conversation. I suppose he doesn’t feel able to discuss detailed policy in Welsh. Carwyn Jones said something similar years ago but then realised most of us Welsh speakers don’t use academic level Cymraeg!

Gaynor
Gaynor
3 years ago

Glyn Davies spoke great Welsh. But lets be honest he is past it when it comes to interviews in both languages and has been for a couple of years. He sounds half asleep most of the time.

Gaynor
Gaynor
3 years ago

And if he is now chair, they are obviously desperate

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

No Glyn…. your inbuilt party bigotry and the type it sires wouldn’t like that one little bit.

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
3 years ago

The Tory party website is not in Welsh.

j humphrys
j humphrys
3 years ago

It’s also we English speakers who must get our heads down and learn and use Cymraeg.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
3 years ago

So failed Tory Glyn Davies said, he stopped doing Welsh interviews as he was put in the ‘Welsh Language box’ and not asked to ‘perform’ in English”. Not asked to perform in English? What, does he think he’s bloody seal? What next. Does he want us to throw jam & cream scones at him, the most English of sports. Or sing Jerusalem while saluting the Queen on all fours. Do us a favour. Shut up / Caewch i fyny. To be brutally honest Glyn. Although you are able to speak Welsh are not Welsh in my opinion. Anyone who considers… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Y Cymro
Grayham Jones
3 years ago

Kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Richard
Richard
3 years ago

Glyn Davies support for the Welsh lanhuage is long standing. Like many of us who speak it either as a second or re learnt language – Glyn has always been open – often seeking to show those in his own corner the languages relivance to modern Wales. He and folk like Eddie Rae and Gwilym Owen both of whom i served on the Welsh Language Board with were key to influencing Welsh Office policy under the direction of Wyn Roberts. Our language belongs to all as my late friends Dafydd Orwig and John L williams often said and the fact… Read more »

defaid
defaid
3 years ago

As one of his former constituents all I have to say about him is ‘dissembling hypocrite’.

“… done more to ensure the language prospers…” !!? Lying hypocrite.

His use of the word ‘perform’ is a very accurate indication of the sincerity he achieves.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago

“…the Conservatives have done more to ensure the language prospers than any other party”. I love that! Give us a for-instance.

Brudd
Brudd
3 years ago

Glyn lying. The Tories brought in the Welsh Not

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