A new Welsh language policy for the Welsh Liberal Democrats

Speech by Eleanor Burnham AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Welsh Langauge delivered to Welsh Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, Wrexham 2006 on Fri 10th Mar 2006

Good morning conference, I would like to thank Gwynedd Liberal Democrats for submitting the motion on the future of the language.

As I have listened to the debates this morning and look ahead to what we will discuss this afternoon I am reminded of what the philosopher John Locke once said; "New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason than because they are not already common."

We are the party of new and radical opinions. Our opponents may suspect and attack our opinions but it is our courage and imagination that will win out.

The revival of the Welsh Language is one of the success stories of Wales' recent history. Its success has been nurtured and shepherded by the Welsh Language Board. The next time we convene for conference the Board may not exist.

The Labour Assembly Government, for reasons only it seems to understand, has decided to abolish the Welsh Language Board. Today I want to state publicly my thanks to the board and its members for the outstanding work they have done. Meri Huws and the board members and staff have worked tirelessly for the development of the Welsh language. There passion and energy has set a high standard for anyone who wants to claim their mantle. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have fought for to save the board. We will fight to stop the Labour Assembly Government from squandering the board's legacy.

I am proposing the motion on the future of the Welsh Language today because I believe that the future of the Welsh language is in jeopardy. It faces a crisis born of the vanity and vandalism of the Labour Assembly Government, of muddied thinking and a muddled merger.

In the place of an internationally respected, successful and vibrant organization the Minister Alun Pugh intends to replace it with his most radical idea yet, nothing.

It is like setting a boat on a winning course, and then in full sail, throwing the skipper overboard and declaring, "Don't worry, the ship will sail itself!"

First there was Peter Mandelson, Minister without Portfolio, now we have Alun Pugh, Minister without a clue.

We face possibly two or three years without any independent body to drive the language agenda forward. No permanent body to look after the statutory oversight of public bodies. And what is Alun Pugh's reply to these worry's, "trust me, I'm a Minister." There is a genuine fear among those involved with the language that the abolition of the board could lead to a loss of momentum through wanton neglect. Instead of progressing the language could regress.

This is an unnecessary crisis born of a Labour Government that is at best ambivalent and at worst negligent towards the needs of Welsh speakers.

In their rush to torch the quangos Labour are about to burn down the house.

It is up to us to safeguard the future of the language.

We are the party of constructive politics; we fought at the last election on a pledge to create language opportunities for individuals and build a lasting bi lingual community. We need an extended Welsh language act to extend incorporate those public services no longer within the public sector in order to do this.

We are the party that forges consensus; it was our colleague Jenny Randerson AM who as Minister built the cross party consensus that laid the foundation for Iaith Pawb. We are the party that is best placed to engage sectors, communities and organisations across Wales about how to take the language forward. Now, we must be the party that rebuilds that consensus.

We are the party that believes in people; in giving individuals power to determine there own lives. I am a liberal, unrepentantly so, I trust people. As a liberal, I think it's correct that we see the development and promotion of opportunities to use Welsh within the broad area of civil rights. I believe that the future of the Welsh language lies not in the heavy hand of the state but in the careful ownership of people. It should be a right and not just a favour that individuals, wherever practical, should be able to communicate in his or her language of choice with Government; with their communities; and with each other.

Giving people language rights will empower them to drive the growth of the language. It is one thing for the state to show people the benefits of the language; it is another to put them in possession of it.

We have reached an impasse. As people's appetite for greater rights grow Labour becomes more reluctant. It is, to borrow a phrase, a case of public will and political won't.

In passing this motion today, in making clear where we intend to lead the agenda and what laws people can expect a Welsh Liberal Democrat Government to pass; we are demonstrating our determination to safeguard the future of Welsh language and once again lead a constructive consensus on the future of the Welsh Language.

END