I was told I had no right to be at Eisteddfod, says Reform MS

An MS has said she has faced criticism for attending the National Eisteddfod because she is a member of Reform.

The party's deputy Welsh leader, Helen Jenner, said online commenters said she had no right to be at the Welsh language festival because of her membership of the right-wing party.

Jenner, who grew up on Anglesey, said the criticism was ridiculous but that it didn't bother her.

She made the comments to the BBC Wales political podcast, Walescast.

"I see the odd comment [online], surprisingly, from some quite professional people making remarks about me."

She said a recent comment had claimed she had "no right to be in the Eisteddfod, because I'm in Reform, I had no right to be there, and that it was a disgrace that I was there speaking Welsh".

"You know, a lot of, I will be honest, Plaid Cymru, Yes Cymru supporters being very annoyed at the fact that I portray myself as a Welsh person because apparently, you know, you can't be Welsh-speaking in Reform.

"So, I get bits like that, but it doesn't bother me. I just think it's ridiculous."

Separately, Jenner said she is concerned for the safety of her own family after the death of Ann Widdecombe.

"What happened to Ann Widdecombe was so horrifying I don't even think I fully processed it.

"Because I think if I fully actually engaged with the nature of what happened I would just be in a bit of a state.

"I am concerned about... my family, I'm concerned about other members.

"I want my home to be secure but one thing it hasn't done is put me off. It has made me more determined to determine to carry on."

Jenner is the party's spokesperson on education and the Welsh language.

On the latter topic, she said she thinks the Welsh government needs a "different approach".

Despite the target for a million Welsh speakers, she said: "Something is kind of going wrong because there are fewer people at the moment, the uptick is a bit lower.

"I just think we need to look at it again, because what's the point in having that target if it's achieving the opposite?"

The 2021 census had shown a reduction in the percentage of Welsh speakers to 17.8%, which was approximately 538,000 residents aged three or older in Wales saying they can speak Welsh.

Jenner, a former teacher, said she wanted to see more Welsh-speaking teachers go into the education system and deliver a bilingual education.

"From my personal experience that is where a lot of youngsters get their Welsh and are able to... learn Welsh properly".