Recollections of 1974 as covered in our new book ‘Only Three Votes’ – the Battle for The Political Soul of Wales in 1970s Carmarthenshire.

Three events – 

Oath of Allegiance in Welsh language

Speaking Welsh in Assembly of the Council of Europe.

President of the Day, Eisteddfod Bro Myrddin August 1974 – 50 years to the day

With the launch of the book ‘Only Three Votes’ by Parthian held on Aug 9 at Storyville, Pontypridd during Eisteddfod week it brought back to mind events described in the book.

I have always looked back with satisfaction and not a little pride on my endeavours to visibly promote Welsh language and culture in 1974.

Two of them caused some consternation and annoyance within the executive of the Carmarthen constituency Labour Party as well a number of Welsh Labour MPs’ at Westminster. The third caused concerns and anger within Plaid Cymru in the constituency.

Taking the Oath of Allegiance in Welsh February 1974 - covered on page 103.

For some years there had been claims that after winning the by election in July 1966 Gwynfor Evans had taken the Oath of Allegiance in Welsh on entering Parliament but that wasn’t the case. For information, without taking the Oath an MP cannot take part in Commons proceedings.

After the 1970 General Election there was an influx of Welsh speaking Labour Members from Wales so we sought permission to take the Oath in Welsh and again was refused. Tom Ellis and I in late 1973 approached the Speaker and Clerks of the House making the case why it was appropriate and right for the Oath to be made in Welsh after the next election.

So it came to pass that an election was held in February 1974 and I retained Carmarthen by ‘Three Votes’. This time the ground work had been prepared regarding the Oath in Welsh. So February 1974 was the first time that the Oath was taken in Welsh in Parliament and several Welsh MPs did so.

Speaking Welsh in the Strasbourg Assembly of the Council of Europe May 1974 – pages 153 to 156

I won’t record here how it came about and what was the reaction in the Assembly at the time or more importantly the reaction afterwards. Best to read the book! Suffice it to say the idea was the brain child of John Smith MP (later the former Labour Party leader who tragically died prematurely). What happened hit the main new headlines back in UK Reaction within the party executive in Carmarthen and Welsh MPs' was not that favourable. However the pilot of the plane that flew the British delegation back to London, who came from Llanelli, was delighted.

Been a source of immense pride that I was the first politician to speak Welsh in an European Assembly gathering.

President of the Day, Eisteddfod Bro Myrddin, August 9 1974 – pages 139-141 and 164-166

Fifty years to the very day I delivered my speech as President of the Day. The decision of the Eisteddfod Committee was criticized by Plaid Cymru in Carmarthen and they made every effort to get the invitation overturned. It was always going to be futile because for decades  it was a tradition that the local MP if he/she was Welsh speaking would be invited to address the gathering. Again I won’t record here the events, what were the expectations and the reaction afterwards. Best to read the book! Other than a snippet from the Western Mail correspondent

‘we were all packed into the pavilion to hear what was he going to say’ ... ‘and what will happen?’

Treasured pages from memory - life is like a book; it has numerous chapters