Majority of Welsh want broadcasting powers devolved, new poll suggests

ACLEAR majority of the Welsh public want to devolve powers over broadcasting from Westminster to the National Assembly, according to a YouGov opinion poll published today.

According to the results of the survey, commissioned by the Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, 52% of people in Wales support placing responsibility for the media in the hands of Assembly politicians, while only 27% want politicians in Westminster to keep the power.

Excluding those who said they didn’t know, 65% favour devolving responsibility for broadcasting to Wales, with 35% against.

Support was strongest among those who voted for Labour, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru in 2015, with 61% of those who voted for Carwyn Jones’ party backing the change, 62% of Liberal Democrats and 83% of those who voted for Leanne Wood’s party.

The news comes after campaigners announced that over 50 people are currently refusing to pay for their TV licences as part of the campaign to transfer broadcasting powers to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

Heledd Gwyndaf, who chairs Cymdeithas yr Iaith, said: “It’s very encouraging that there is very strong support for the campaign. Decisions over broadcasting in Wales should be made by the people of Wales.

“We’ve had enough of MPs in London controlling Wales’ airwaves. That’s not just because of their severe cuwts to the Welsh language media, but also because they support a system which gives so little attention to Welsh matters and doesn’t reflect Welsh life. So we’re not pressing for devolution for the benefit of the Welsh language alone, but also for the benefit of Welsh democracy. The lack of Welsh content in the media threatens our very system of self-government.”

Ms Gwyndaf made the point that Scotland will have a new TV channel next year, as part of increased funding to BBC Scotland. She said Wales would only get “crumbs” in comparison, adding: “In other devolved nations like the Basque Country and Catalonia, broadcasting is devolved, and their media is in a much healthier position as a result – with several TV and radio stations.

“The Welsh Government could use these new law-making and financial powers in a similar way: to normalise the Welsh language across the media, as well as content about Wales and local communities around the country.

“One only needs to look at the new ’Made in North Wales’ local TV channel to see the problems caused by the current set-up. The channel’s headquarters are in Liverpool, not the north of Wales.

“Only 3% of its programming is in Welsh and only 16% is local content. Ofcom [the broadcasting regulator] shouldn’t be allowing this to happen; and, with the lack of interest in London, devolution to Wales is the only answer.”

In recent years concerns have been expressed both about a decline in the number of English language TV programmes made in Wales about Wales, and about budget cuts to S4C.

In 2010 the recently elected Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition ended the arrangement under which S4C received a guaranteed inflation-linked increase to its funding from the UK Government.

The bulk of S4C’s funding is now allocated by the BBC out of the licence fee, with around £7m coming from Westminster.

Plaid Cymru’s manifesto includes a commitment to give Wales the power to decide its own media and broadcasting policy.

The Conservatives oppose devolving responsibility for broadcasting.