Clearly Theresa May hasn’t risen above the shame of that Times shoot in which she was branded an “out of touch with the people elitist £995-trouser wearer”. It’s taken a while for an opportunity to help dispel the myth. but three months on the moment arose, and the Prime Minister grabbed it with both hands.
Responding to a question from Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies regarding the safety of Welsh interests within the UK, May signed off by wishing all members of the House – not the people of Wales, obviously – a happy St David’s Day. In Welsh.
.@theresa_may speaks in Welsh at #PMQs to mark St David’s Day https://t.co/07wWJVFIpk pic.twitter.com/FDToH087Oo
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 1, 2017
The polls aren’t in yet to determine the success of May’s crafty plan among the Welsh electorate, but it’s fair to say on the Twittersphere – the most important medium these days anyway as we can’t be trusted to vote properly – it didn’t go down too well.
@BBCNews @theresa_may Yet Welsh MPs are refused the right to speak Welsh during parliamentary debates.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month— Raynor (@RaynorLewis) March 1, 2017
Don’t fall for this. Don’t celebrate it. It’s a cheap ploy for support. Speak all the welsh you want @theresa_may ,doesn’t change who u are https://t.co/jGm7K0qzZt
— Dan Z (@danactual) March 1, 2017
But let’s be fair, how did she really do? Well, the fact so many of her fellow Welsh-speakers pricked up their ears and took to Twitter suggest it was at least something resembling the real thing, even if spoken with the wide-eyed stare of a rarebit in headlights. However, not all were in agreement as to how accurate the delivery was.
@BBCNews @theresa_may No she did’nt, uttering three words is’nt speaking in Welsh, & the first word she uttered she got wrong.
— Mikebythemoor (@Mikeofthemoor) March 1, 2017
My colleagues on the BBC Wales political desk give @theresa_may 7 out 10 for her Welsh language skills
— Adam Fleming (@adamfleming) March 1, 2017
Personally, your mole is more concerned about the delivery of next month’s Brexit negotiations, but took solace in the fact May received an approving nod from the chancellor – and kudos to Hansard, who got it right first time.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus, got another leek to investigate.
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