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Plaid AMs attack newspaper funds Plaid figures attack paper funds
(10 minutes later)
A former MP and AM has accused the Culture Minister of betraying a pledge to set up a Welsh-language newspaper. Leading Plaid Cymru figure Cynog Dafis has accused Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas of "betraying" a pledge to set up a Welsh language newspaper.
Cynog Dafis is one of a number of Plaid Cymru AMs to attack the move not to give more funds for Y Byd (The World). The former MP and AM is one of a number of Plaid voices to attack the move not to give more funds to Y Byd.
The company behind the project said a £200,000 annual grant for the next three years was "insufficient". Its founders said a £200,000 annual grant over three years was too low.
But Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme the move paves the way for new ways of daily news in Welsh. But Mr Thomas said the Labour-Plaid coalition had honoured its commitment, with more than £1m to be invested in the sector over the next three years.
Mr Dafis and a number of other long-standing Plaid Cymru supporters have written to Culture Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, accusing him of betraying a clear commitment to establish a Welsh-language daily. Mr Dafis and a number of other long-standing Plaid supporters have written to Mr Thomas, accusing him of "betraying a manifesto commitment" to establish a Welsh-language daily.
Plaid's former culture spokesman, Owen John Thomas, told Dragon's Eye that his party's ministers should heed the warning from disappointed grassroots members. Plaid's former culture spokesman Owen John Thomas told BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye that his party's ministers should heed the warning from disappointed grassroots members.
ViableViable
But Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the Labour-Plaid coalition government has honoured its commitment. However, Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis Thomas said it paved the way for new ways of daily news in Welsh, with its future on the internet.
The assembly government had said more than £1m will be invested in the sector over the next three years. "If some people did believe that there was a way for a national government to give money to a single newspaper, to be published in print, being subsidised by government adverts - if they believed that was ethically possible in terms of the standards of public life then they are living, as we say in the north, in cuckoo land," said Lord Elis Thomas.
Y Byd, with its office in Machynlleth, was first unveiled last June when the company said it would print the first copy on St David's Day. Y Byd, with its office in Machynlleth, was first unveiled last June when the company said it would print the first copy on St David's Day this year.
Five thousand subscribers were being sought for the publication, which was to cover Welsh, UK and international news.Five thousand subscribers were being sought for the publication, which was to cover Welsh, UK and international news.
However, in November the company announced that it was reviewing the timetable for the launch.However, in November the company announced that it was reviewing the timetable for the launch.
It said the move was prompted by the wider review of the Welsh-language press by the minister and the Welsh Language Board. It said the move was prompted by the wider review of the Welsh language press by the minister and the Welsh Language Board.
The report concluded there was evidence of interest but it also concluded not enough people would buy Y Byd to make it viable. The report concluded there was evidence of interest, but it also concluded not enough people would buy Y Byd to make it viable.