TV’s Huw blasts ‘venom and skulduggery’ in school row

MILD-MANNereD BBC anchorman Huw edwards has become embroiled in a ‘venomous’ row that has broken out over the future of his alma mater.

the 55-year-old newsreader says he has been shocked at the level of ‘antipathy, venom and skulduggery’ that has consumed the village of Llangennech, where he grew up in Carmarthenshire, West Wales.

the county council decided last month that Llangennech School’s children would be taught exclusively in Welsh from September, implementing the policy of the Labour-led Welsh government in Cardiff. Pupils at the primary school are currently taught in english and Welsh.

‘the antipathy, venom and skulduggery of recent months have taken even an old hack like me by surprise,’ edwards says. ‘It makes the recent trumpClinton election look genteel in comparison.’

the presenter, who anchored the BBC’s coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, adds: ‘Attitudes to the Welsh language — even in the heart of Welshspeaking Wales — can sometimes be difficult to predict.’ edwards was born into a Welshspeaking family and won a place at Llanelli Boys’ grammar School after Llangennech. He went on to study French at Cardiff. the change comes after the 2011 census showed the number of Welsh speakers to have fallen below 50 per cent in Carmarthenshire for the first time in history. edwards claims sites such as Facebook and twitter have escalated the row. ‘Social media brings great benefits, but it also presents real dangers,’ he says. ‘too often, people are intolerant of other points of view and hurl abuse or seek to make trouble for those who dare to challenge or ask questions. ‘Journalists who report “other” views are routinely accused of “bias”. It is a dangerous, unhealthy trend.’ He adds: ‘ Let us hope important lessons will be learned — by campaigners and journalists — about their use of language and tactics in such a sensitive area.’