An often-overlooked contribution to Tony Blair’s electoral success was his understanding of the ‘Estuary English’ vernacular and identity. Linguists tell us that this form of speech originated on either side of the Thames Estuary during the 1980s. Since then, elements of its accent and vocabulary have spread to other parts…

Is Cardiff the least Welsh town in Wales? A recent poll for The Sunday Times reported that 31 per cent of Welsh voters want independence — compared to 50 per cent of Scottish voters and 51 per cent of Northern Irish voters. …