Attacks on non-Welsh speakers are completely unacceptable.
I’ll always stand up for those facing them. It doesn’t matter who they are.
But this does leave me in the unusual position of speaking in support of Labour’s Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens.
In recent days, Jo has come under sustained attacks for communicating in English.
Plaid Cymru separatist Senedd member Cefin Campbell called her a “dinosaur”.
Jo’s explanation made perfect sense. English is spoken by almost all of her constituents. Welsh is not.
To put things in perspective, over 80% of Welsh people do not speak the language. They’re English-only speakers. And that’s fine.
But Plaid Cymru separatists take a different view. They think they have a monopoly on Welshness.
Campbell’s vitriol shows how Plaid treats people they don’t consider their own.
In recent times, we’ve seen more and more discrimination against non-Welsh speakers.
The decision to choose Welsh-only constituency names for the Senedd elections is a good example.
For democracy to function, people need to recognise and identify with the electoral units in which they vote. A sense of place is vital.
In my own constituency, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, the Welsh name is not commonly used.
When people see the name “Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg”, they won’t recognise it. They’ll consequently feel excluded.
Be assured I’ll continue speaking out on this. I don’t care if there’s a backlash.
My duty isn’t ensuring I have an easy life. It’s standing up for the people I’m privileged to represent.