Welsh debate - it's off!
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| 11:10 UK time, Wednesday, 1 August 2007
We all expected that an official debate [Welsh debate - expect a bumpy ride] about the importance and value of the Welsh language would be controversial - but we at least thought there would be a debate.
As I said yesterday morning, Meri Huws, Chair of the Welsh Language Board, decided to pull out of the Radio 4 debate programme Hecklers in which Sir Dai Llewellyn was due to argue that "Welsh language promotion has gone too far".
In a statement, Meri Huws says: "People in Wales and across the UK realise that the Welsh Language has moved beyond being mocking material. It is a national language and according to law to be treated on the basis that it is equal with English. Failure to acknowledge this appears to be at the very basis of this programme."
Then, one by one, fellow opponents pulled out via email - Dafydd Whittall, Chairman of the National Eisteddfod Council; Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Chief Constable; and Nic Parry, solicitor and Crown Court recorder.
In its statement, the 91Èȱ¬ says: "Use of the Welsh Language remains an important and controversial topic that clearly provokes strong passions in people, which is the reason Hecklers is providing a forum for debate and discussion on the subject. Naturally everyone who takes part will be given fair opportunity to put their own arguments across and we're sure listeners will find the programme fascinating."
So the decision has been taken by the 91Èȱ¬ to cancel the debate which was due to be recorded for broadcast at Mold's Theatr Clwyd next week.
Well, I'm sure we'll continue discussing the topic via the messageboard.
