12. 11. Debate: Renaming the National Assembly for Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:24 pm on 5 July 2016.

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Photo of Gareth Bennett Gareth Bennett UKIP 6:24, 5 July 2016

Okay, thanks, Lee; can I carry on? Right, the cultural bubble. The point is we are in a political bubble—I’m in it myself now as well—but we have to remain in some contact with the real world out there. [Interruption.] Okay, thank you. In the Wetherspoon’s pub in Canton, few people would know what I was talking about if I started talking about the ‘Senedd’, and I can tell you that from experience.

Bethan has mentioned the Urdd, Chwarae Teg and Merched y Wawr. Yes, but the problem is most people outside the Welsh-speaking colony of Pontcanna—most people in Cardiff—don’t know what these things are. On that basis, I fear that we need to kick this term ‘Senedd’ into the long grass. By all means use it informally as the Welsh translation, but please not as the principal name of this political institution. Otherwise, we are further distancing the Assembly from the majority of the people of Wales. Thank you.