Wales: Speakers corner

Delyth Isaac Producer Political Unit BBC Cymru Wales

The Parliament Act of 1872 established Speakers Corner in Hyde Park in London.

Over a 130 years later Cardiff Council now plans to set up its own platform for free speech and debate in the heart of the Welsh capital.

Those brave enough to get on their soap box and speak up in Hyde Park have provided impromptu and fascinating street theatre over the years.

Famous speakers have included Lenin, George Orwell and Karl Marx.

But who will be getting on their soap box in Cardiff?

Politics Show Wales decided to find out.

Bea Davies, a pensioner from Pontypool

First up was Bea Davies, a pensioner from Pontypool, who is a regular viewer and caller to the show.

She said she would not hesitate about having her say on a variety of issues, including the calibre of today's politicians.

There are not enough quality candidates for political office.

Voters should have the option to reject all of them by ticking a box which says 'None of the Above'.

There have been many great political orators from Wales and the council plans to inscribe the words of one of them on to the plinth which will mark Wales's Speakers Corner.

Cllr Gretta Hunt, the Council's Deputy Leader, said;

Freedom of speech is a basic civil liberty and our Speakers Corner will be inscribed with a quote from Aneurin Bevan, 'This is my truth - now tell me yours', to remind us just how important that is.

Wales has a long history of free speech and the Council is keen to promote opportunities for the people of Cardiff and South Wales to engage in the democratic process.

We hope that people will take the opportunity to both speak and listen.

Goff Morgan had his say in verse

And if The Politics Show's viewers response to the challenge to stand up and have their say is anything to judge by, the council is unlikely to be disappointed.

Goff Morgan is a poet and he had his say in verse.

It's not my fault!

It's too much bother
For the 63% who think
There's no such thing as a wasted vote,
There's just a waste of time.
And when taxes rise,
Or public services decline,
You can always stand
By the graves of the daft buggers
Who died to give you the bloody vote
And smiling smugly say,
It's not my fault!

So, why bother?
The government always gets in!
(Har, har!)
And as each civil liberty
Is slowly picked away
By the acts of patriots
Trying to save us from ourselves
You can spud-out in front of
The latest re-run of last year's ¿Pop Idol'
And smiling smugly say,
It's not my fault!

Don't bother!
And when we've come to rack and ruin,
When the balloon's gone up,
And the chips are down,
And boots with snow,
Or sand,
Or any other undesirable substance
On their toe-caps
March up your street,
You can look up cheerfully
From the rubble of your living room
And smiling smugly say,
It's not my fault!

The chosen location for Wales's Speakers Corner is Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, which has traditionally been the venue for rallies in the Welsh capital.

The Council will be dedicating an area in the Gardens that can be used by anybody who has something to say.

The Politics Show

The Politics Show Wales wants your view.

If you want to have your say you can call 0845 300 90 10, or e-mail via the website. Or write to: The Politics Show, Room 1060, BBC Wales, Llandaff, Cardiff. CF5 2YO

The Politics Show - we aim to get closer to your community with our presenter, Rhun ap Iorwerth. Tune in to BBC One on Sundays at Noon.