Welsh language minister criticised for English-only leadership bid website

The Welsh language minister has been criticised after launching an English-only website to canvass opinion about a possible leadership bid.

The website features a Google Translate button that, at the time of writing, did not work.

Eluned Morgan AM is among the favourites to become a candidate for the leadership of Welsh Labour and, subsequently, First Minister of Wales.

She said today that she had not decided whether she was going to run, but had launched a website, Beyond the Bubble, and Facebook group, to canvass opinion about the future direction of the country.

Heledd Gwyndaf, chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said that the new website was a “disgrace”.

“If the Minister for the Welsh language doesn’t follow best practice language policies, what is the point of her?” she asked.

“Is this what she wants with her weak Welsh language law, to allow more English-only websites? She goes on and on about promoting and persuading people to use Welsh rather than regulating, but she can’t even persuade herself. It’s ironic that her actions prove once again the need for strong legislation.

“The main aim of Eluned Morgan’s proposed Welsh Language Bill is to de-regulate: weaken people’s language rights for the benefit of rich companies and organisations.

“She doesn’t hide that. In the health field, she’s folded to the interests of the rich establishment at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society. She favoured pharmaceutical companies and vested interests over kids and dementia sufferers, people without power or a voice.

“If Eluned Morgan becomes First Minister, we fear that the de-regulation and unfairness would be bad, yes, for the Welsh language and its users, but also other groups. Would she weaken other workers’ rights for the sake of big business? There’s a big question mark over her values and her suitability to be First Minister.”