I would refer to Mrs Saville Roberts’ comments printed in last week’s Cambrian News in connection with her call for the Welsh language to be protected.

As a non-Welsh speaker, I can also relate to this view of the MP simply by turning it on its head. Non-Welsh speakers also suffer remarks from Welsh speakers which make them feel “second-class citizens”.

Our MP states in the article that attacking the Welsh language and therefore Welsh speakers is, in effect, a hate crime”, well, there you have it Mrs Saville-Roberts, I have read many comments in the media over the time I have lived here attacking “incomers”, with correspondents voicing their opinions that “we” are a threat to the Welsh language.

The Joint Development Plan, which was recently turned down, is a typical example of how non-Welsh speakers are classed as second-class citizens, simply by the refusal to build new housing because it would be detrimental to the Welsh language.

My question to Mrs Saville-Roberts is: “Is it right that people should be turned down for housing accommodation purely because they do not speak the Welsh language?” I would suggest this is blatant discrimination and a hate crime, surely?

Finally, since I live in Mrs Saville-Roberts’ constituency, I would hope that the MP would be looking after me as a non-Welsh speaker, just as she wishes to look after the Welsh language by ensuring that no-one is attacked for speaking or not speaking the language.

The only fair way of opening a debate is to ensure that everyone is on board, Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers and, if Mrs Saville Roberts is serious about this issue, perhaps she should share the openness of her remarks not just with those in London, but within her constituency as well, so that a proper airing and discussion can take place, and where respect and tolerance will be earned.

Yours etc,

O Jean Thomas, Llanfair.

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