S4C future does no lie in English language programmes.

The recent YouGov poll, commissioned by S4C programme Y Byd ar Bedwar , found 53% agreed the channel should show English programmes, with 18% disagreeing and the rest not expressing a view. Welsh speakers were more evenly split, with 36% backing English-language programmes on S4C and 35% against.

However this do show why people would want English language programme on S4C.

• They may think that this this only way S4C could survive.
• They may be fed up with the piss poor Welsh productions of Independent TV companies and the haphazard way BBC covers Wales.

Labour MP Chris Bryant said: “I want S4C to serve all of Wales, not just part of Wales.”

But the poll did not ask as far as I know “would you like more programmes with a Welsh context onS4C but simplerly more programmes in English".

However those of us who can remember what Welsh Language programmes were like before the creation of S4C (and I suspect neither Chris Bryant or Peter Black ,who expresses similar views do) know what it was like 

 Programmes (what there were) scattered all over the schedule, and often in the afternoon or very late at night. and when they were shown English speakers complining thet could not watch their shows.

If English language programmes were to be included on S4C, how long before demands were made that should take up the prime-time spots?

I have argued  here  that f we need to increasase S4C's audience by attracting  Non-Welsh speakers to S4C then they should look at European productions and subtitle them in Welsh and English.

In the meantime Synidau points out the problems of existing English Language programmes on the BBC which relate to Wales and this would be multiplied if S4C was to fail but in a digital age but why do we have this problem?

I for one believe that when we only had five or six terrestrial channels that this always one programme that I wished to watch . Now with freeview there numerous channels there is all to often not one programme of quality I would wish to see. More choice seems to have left me with no choice.

If the future of S4C and its quality are to be discussed why single it out ? Can it be that this is merely an excuse for those who are opposed to the Welsh language to attack it through cutting S4C funding so that it becomes increasingly lees viable so they can abolish it all together.

The spurious call for the likes of Chris Bryant for English language programmes on S4C is an attempt to use a valid argument about English Language broadcasting  about Wales.Is just attempt to attack the Welsh Language, which they see as furthering Nationalism.Of course in reality they would be quite content that monoglot English speakers in Wales remained ignorant of Wales . They most certainly would not like to see a series like Pen Taler now showing on S4C or any series that gave the impression Wales was not anything but a subordinate part of the British State.

The future of Broadcasting in Wales is to vital for those who wish to divide Wales and its people (whatever Language they use) to win through.

Can Federalism Work?

Yesterday I commented on both Peter Black's and Synidau's  Blog on the proposal to reduce the number of MPs particularly in Wales.

 On Peter Blog I commented,

"But the question we should ask are Wales, Scotland,Northern Ireland and England equal members of the U.K as countries are equal members of the European Union.
If you are a federal party as you claim, shouldn't you bee arguing for more Welsh, Scottish and Northern Ireland MPs?
If English MPs are able to simply dominate policy on non-devolved issues, how are we equal partners and how is this a fair union"?

Peter's reply was,

"That makes no sense whatsoever. As a Federal Party we should and are arguing for equal representation at a Federal level and more powers at a Welsh level. If English MPs can dominate on non-devolved issues, and I have seen no evidence that they act as a block at all, it is because England is bigger than the other countries. This bill is entirely consistent with our Federalism"..

And of course Peter was right.My comment makes no sense but only if you do not recognise Wales as a Nation but only as a region of the UK.

The Lib-Dems may be a Federal party but they don't exactly promote this very effectively and there must be a question of what is meant by federalism?

If they mean that that the Union should be a Federal Union of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England then my argument would holds firm and that in the Westminster Parliament that deals with Non-devolved issues then there should be more Welsh,Scottish and Northern Ireland MPs on a line with the allocation of member states of the European Union, and Ministers from Wales for Instance should have Veto powers.

If the Lib-Dems mean that power should be devolved to English Regions then this would mean Wales and Scotland will be regarded as mere UK regions and not Nations and they equality would be the same as say the South West of England and what would that mean for the claims of Cornwall?.

There could be different measures of Devolution in the "Regions" of course as there is Spain. The Basque country for instance operate s its own police force.

But a grat deal of power would still be operated by MPs from England and they would as they do now control the purse skins.

I remind everyone that only 23 members of the current Lib-con government come from Wales,Scotland  and Northern Ireland and only 9 of these are Tories.

We still are being ruled by a government which as a Nation we did not vote for.

So I accept Peter argument that my proposal does not make sense because if we are a Nation then the only thing that makes sense is Independence. Perhaps those Labour members and supporters who are complaining that Wales is being badly treated by an Alien Westminster should now realise this.

It will not be the Welsh Region of the UK who play Australia on Saturday.