SuperTed will lead a protest in Cardiff against planned cuts to S4C's budget today (12 noon, Monday, 4th October).The Tory-Liberal Democrat government in London is intending to cut the budget of the only television channel available in the Welsh language, by up to 40%. The UK government is not seeking similar cuts to the funding of any other broadcasters.In April this year, the Leader of the Conservatives in Wales, Nick Bourne said:"As you know we have strongly supported S4C in the past and we will in future...we are totally committed to the funding of S4C as in the past."Author Catrin Dafydd will address the protestors who will also walk to the Liberal Democrat offices in the city.Heledd Melangell Williams, a Cardiff University student and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg member said:"The struggle to establish the channel has been long and costly. The Welsh Language Society and its supporters managed to establish the need for a separate channel for Welsh language programming, and then managed to create a broad consensus in Wales for that cause. Many members of the Society were imprisoned - for a range of periods from a few days up to 2 or 3 years, and the cost has been very expensive for many.""The channel is now part and parcel of the life of the nation and is an essential service. The service is vital and necessary for the continuation and prosperity of the Welsh language. The channel is now facing the gravest crisis since its creation and everyone who is worried about the future of our language and identity as a nation must join the campaign to protect S4C."