Paul Miller survives no-confidence vote over Welsh-medium education comments
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S deputy leader, Cllr Paul Miller, has survived a vote of no-confidence brought over controversial remarks about Welsh-medium education.
Survived: Cllr Paul Miller
At a special meeting held on Monday (June 2), councillors voted 28 against, 16 in favour, and 11 abstained, rejecting the motion tabled by the council's Independent Political Group.
The motion followed comments made by Cllr Miller at a Cabinet meeting in April and again at the Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee in May, where he stated that 'mums he spoke to in Neyland didn't give a toss' whether their children were taught in Welsh or English, suggesting that some parents chose Ysgol Caer Elen for its facilities rather than its language policy.
Calls for accountability
Introducing the motion, Cllr Huw Murphy said the remarks were 'unacceptable in 2025' and risked undermining equality in the delivery of Welsh-medium education. He criticised Cllr Miller for proposing to gather data from parents on their language choices, despite being told that such a move fell outside the remit of the school admissions code.
He added that the Deputy Leader had ignored advice from senior officers, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and even his own party's former First Minister, Mark Drakeford.
Cabinet shift and apology
In response, Cllr Miller said he was repeating what had been told to him by local parents and insisted he had not intended to offend. He admitted his wording had been clumsy and apologised for any upset caused.
The Deputy Leader also pointed to a revised Cabinet decision made at an extraordinary meeting on May 21, which broadened the proposed parental survey to include all schools and all languages, rather than focusing solely on Welsh-medium settings.
Cllr Miller maintained that the initial motion had been mischaracterised and accused political opponents of seeking to 'sow division' over a non-issue.
Mixed reactions from councillors
Council Chair Cllr Delme Harries reminded members that enabling choice in education was a core responsibility and stressed the need for respectful dialogue. He said: 'How we respond to being incorrect is important. The Welsh language is a living language and deserves our respect.'
Some councillors, including Conservative Cllr Aled Thomas and Plaid Cymru's Cllr Michael Williams, acknowledged that the comments had been ill-judged but stopped short of supporting a motion of no-confidence. Others, including Cllr Jamie Adams and former Leader Cllr John Davies, said senior councillors must use discretion when amplifying public opinions.
Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements said the Cabinet had already changed course and called the motion unnecessary, citing the £2,000 cost of holding the extraordinary meeting. 'That money would be better spent filling the black hole in the local authority's finances,' she said.
Public response and political tension
The incident has sparked wider debate about the promotion of Welsh-medium education, with strong reactions on both sides. Prominent journalist Hefin Wyn criticised the council's leadership for downplaying the issue and called the remarks an affront to the principle of language equality. His comments are due to be published in full in Friday's edition of The Pembrokeshire Herald.
The council's revised position means parents of all school applicants may now be asked why they choose a particular setting.
The final shape and cost of this data-gathering exercise have yet to be confirmed.
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