First of all, do not think I'm educating you nor any British here. I perfectly know I'm not well-settled to talk on this subject as I'm not British. Nevertheless, this doesn't prevent me from explaining my opinion:
Being recognized as a minor or regional language isn't at all a proof of perfect equaality in your country. Like I said, the only official language of UK is English. Celtic languagess are not. And if 99.9% of British speak English, it's because of your ancestors' imperialism. Celts are however not an Anglo-Saxon people, and the history of your country made that Celts had to be Anglicized without having wanted it. But you cannot redo history anyway.
Then, don't think I'm stupid enough to criticize English politics thinking the mine is perfect. Be sure that if I was president, official languages of France would be French, Alsatian, Western Flemish, Corsican, Occitan, Catalan, Basque, French Creole, Moselle Frankish and Breton. However, French would remain the language of the nation, mandatory for all French. Unlike you, my country is called France, nation of French people, while the yours is the UNITED Kingdom, a nation with a union of kingdom. However, perfect equality of people in UK is far to be like in Belgium, where there is really two ruling nations with proper languages. Then, you'll tell me that the revendications of its rulers lead to what we know now as a nation without government. However, Belgium is a bi-peopled nation since just over 100 years only, while British peoples are of the same country since more than that. But to come back to the French case I'd like to be, recognizing a formerly independant people would be the best way to promote multi-ethnicity of a country. Both our countries are responsible for the loss of independance of some nations. Don't you think giving them a way to express their belonging to a former nation is a good form of fees, if I don't use the terms 'apology' or 'debt'?
To finish, about assemblies, I'll just mention again the fact that England has imposed its culture through all the UK, and even outside (former British colonies speak English, not Gaelic), which means England is in my opinion represented enough by the whole British policy. I don't see what revendications English could request according to what Scottish/Welsh/Ulsterians request. Unless you want England to be independant and no more bound with Celtics people.
"Vous vous rendez compte, la France est le seul pays au monde où l'on recycle toujours les mêmes hommes politiques, même lorsqu'ils ont échoué !" Nicolas Dupont-Aignan
AGE OF VOIVODS
Still looking for DANISH, UKRAINIAN, LITHUANIAN and HUNGARIAN voices.[This message has been edited by fr steve (edited 01-28-2012 @ 03:40 PM).]