A TOP ranking police official is reporting Sunday Times columnist Rod Liddle to the newspaper industry watchdog because of his “morally repugnant” views about the Welsh and the Welsh language, and is urging Gwynedd residents to do the same.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones has been inundated by complaints about Liddle’s comments in relation to the controversial plan to rename the Severn Bridge and call it the Prince of Wales Bridge instead.
According to Mr Jones, the complaints have come from people from all political parties who were upset by the “offensive and irresponsible” comments.
He revealed he would be urging the Independent Press Standards Organisation to take action against Liddle and the Sunday Times.
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The plan to rename the bridge has provoked a massive backlash and a 25,000-name petition opposing the idea, with Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood among the fiercest critics.
Liddle provoked widespread condemnation after he waded into the row.
In his column he said: “The Welsh, or some of them, are moaning that a motorway bridge linking their rain-sodden valley with the First World is to be renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge. In honour of the venal, grasping, deranged (if Tom Bower’s new biography is accurate) heir to the throne.
“That Plaid Cymru woman who is always on Question Time has been leading the protests. They would prefer it to be called something indecipherable with no real vowels, such as Ysgythysggymlngwchgwch Bryggy.
“Let them have their way. So long as it allows people to get out the place pronto, should we worry about what it’s called?”
Mr Jones said: “North Wales Police have carried out an assessment and have come to the conclusion that no criminal offence has taken place.
“However, that does not change the fact that the views expressed in the Sunday Times are morally repugnant and an absolute disgrace.
“The people who’ve contacted me come from across the political divide."
See this week’s north papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition tomorrow