Eisteddfod launch for history book

Weathergirl Sian Lloyd signing Plaid's petition

A new book examining Wales's contribution to the Labour Party in the past century has been launched at the National Eisteddfod.

Key party figures including Keir Hardie, Aneurin Bevan, Michael Foot, Jim Callaghan and Neil Kinnock feature in "The Labour Party in Wales, 1900-2000".

The book launch took place on Monday - the third day of Wales's largest annual cultural event.

For the first time ever, the week-long event being held on a purpose-built site at the Millennium Coastal Park in Llanelli.

On the second day, the population census form came under the spotlight with both the Independent Wales Party and Plaid Cymru calling for a category to allow people to say they are Welsh.

Ceredigion MP Simon Thomas

The parties are asking that the forms for the 2001 census be amended to include provision for people across the UK to describe themselves as Welsh, English, Scottish or Irish as well as other groups.

"This is a tremendously important issue," said Ceredigion MP Simon Thomas.

"The 200s Census in its current form will be flawed. It will not be able to gauge the number of Welsh people in the UK neither will it be able to five accurate information regarding the number of Welsh speakers.

'Insulting'

"In short, the forms have not been amended to respond to the needs of devolution.

"Apart from the fact that ignoring the Welsh identity is downright insulting, it is worrying that people in Wales and England will be invited to describe themselves as British, whilst those in Scotland can use the term Scottish."

Elsewhere in the Maes, the first Plaid Cymru MP, historian and author Gwynfor Evans is due to receive an award from the committee representing Welsh people world-wide.

Anrhydodd Cymry'r Cyfanfyd/World-wide Welsh Award, is to be made by Archdruid, the Reverend Meirion Evans.

"It is a non-political initiative which has evolved out of a desire by Welsh people throughout the world to honour a man who has devoted his life to his country," said award co-ordinator Henry Jones-Davies.