We're saddened that any MS or party in Wales can say that the rights of women and girls do not align with their values. nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymr…

EXCLUSIVE. Senedd bars national poet’s work from ceremonial opening… The National Poet of Wales has been barred from reading a poem in front of the King at the opening of the Senedd tomorrow because it is “too political”… Hanan Issa, who has been Cymru’s national poet since 2022, was commissioned by the Senedd to produce and read a poem ahead of the official opening of the seventh Welsh Parliament tomorrow. Her planned appearance in front of the King, Queen, First Minister and Senedd Members was, as of last week, widely publicised. The brief that she was given was “to celebrate Members and their achievements being elected” but also to serve as “a reminder of their commitment to the people of Wales”. It also added: “We are happy for Hanan to execute the poem as they wish. It can be a solo piece or it could have a community focus, potentially gathering and crafting views from across 16 constituencies on people’s hopes for Wales’ future and turn this into a poem to be read in the Siambr.” So in summary, Cymru’s national poet was commissioned to remind politicians of their commitment to the people of Wales however she wished. Ms Issa spent time speaking to people in Wales about the issues they felt mattered to them and produced a powerful poem called “To Grow” (you can view it at the bottom of my newsletter). In it she referenced a wide range of issues including the recent wildfires, cuts to women’s health services, Welsh water being guzzled up by new data centres and the atrocities committed in Gaza. Upon submitting this poem, I understand that she was told it was too political for the opening of parliament. Following this, she compromised by making these references less overt. She then submitted a second version of the poem (which you can also view in my newsletter). However, this too was rejected with the comment that while the Senedd Commission are “mindful of respecting the poet’s artistic independence and freedom of expression” they feel that “some aspects of the poem may still not align with the brief”. It’s worth bearing in mind that this is not a decision made by the Welsh Government but rather by the Senedd. In a statement Ms Issa said: “My concern is, if the ears of politicians are too delicate to hear issues affecting the lives of Welsh people in a poem, what hope have we got for them to listen in real life?” She added: “The brief asks that the poem be a ‘reminder (to members) of their commitment to the people of Wales’. Inspired by a famous Saunders Lewis quote that describes Wales as ‘a vineyard’ I wrote about Wales as a garden and MSs as the gardeners. “For such an important occasion I wanted to mention some of the issues affecting Welsh people’s lives today - the drought season we’ve just experienced over summer, the floods that we will no doubt face in winter, people’s concerns over living near proposed data centres, closure of vital health services such as Wales’ only endometriosis treatment centre, the nationwide pause on trans healthcare appointments, concerns surrounding weapons manufacturers with ties to the genocide in Gaza setting up shop here. “The original version references these issues openly but the feedback suggested they wanted the opening of the law making legislature to be an ‘apolitical event’. "Neutrality is a political choice. Maybe the most political choice. Just ask Ed Sheeran! “The original brief says ‘they are happy for Hanan to execute the poem as I wish’, however, I did try to compromise and edited the poem embedding these issues into more abstract imagery despite having John Lennon’s words ringing in my ears: ‘My role in society, or any artist’s or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel’.” Responding to this newsletter a Senedd spokesperson said: “The Senedd is the centre of political debate in Wales but the Ceremonial Opening of Parliament is a celebration. After a development process, we concluded that the poem was not the right fit for this occasion. We respect the National Poet of Wales’ artistic independence and continue to admire and value their work.” On the one hand, I can totally see why the Senedd Commission is nervous about having an emotive poem like this read out in such a public and significant way. However, overwhelmingly, I think the poem should have been accepted and read out. First things first, the very existence of the Senedd is political. It stands today in Cardiff Bay as a result of long running political battles and generations of campaigners who fought to give Welsh nationhood a voice and protection. There are literally MSs who will be standing in Senedd tomorrow who have been vocal in their questioning of whether the Welsh Parliament should even exist. In just the last half decade there have been meaningful and sustained efforts to undermine the status and power of the Senedd. Politics is infused into the heart of the institution. Secondly, what the hell is the point in art if it can’t directly communicate people’s fears and issues to those in power? Wales is one of the most nature-depleted countries, 40% of children under four live in poverty, our educational outcomes are the worst in the UK, our waiting lists are the longest and our housing is the lowest standard in Britain. Our elected representatives, elected government and our unelected head of state should have the reality of this intolerable situation shoved in front of their faces at every available opportunity. Finally, in my opinon, we shouldn’t “celebrate Members and their achievements being elected” at the start of a term. We should only offer this praise at the end of their four years when/if, they have achievements to celebrate. In Wales we have for too long been scared to bite the hand that starves us. Fairplay to Hanan Issa for having the courage to rock the boat. Links to both versions of the poems in the pinned tweet.