Written Statement by , Cabinet Secretary for
Housing and Local Government
On 4 April, I issued a Written
Statement announcing research into the socio-economic
influences on democratic participation in Wales. The aim was to
better understand barriers to political engagement and to
encourage broader participation in the democratic process.
The Research into the
Socio-Economic Influences of Democratic Participation in
Wales involved engaging with a wide range of people
from public and third sector organisations, as well as elected
representatives, to ensure a diversity of perspectives.
Key barriers identified include:
- Lack of early education in politics and limited exposure to
civic life.
- Opaque party selection procedures and complex electoral
regulations.
- Limited access to influential political networks and time
constraints for campaigning.
- Financial insecurity, especially for candidates who lose
their seats.
- Discrimination and hostility particularly affect individuals
from minority backgrounds or with protected characteristics.
While elected representatives did not report hostility during
fieldwork, experts and practitioners highlighted the persistence
of stereotypes and prejudice among electorates and selectorates.
In response to these findings, the report proposed 12
recommendations, including:
- Expanding mentoring and training programmes such as Equal
Power Equal Voice.
- Improving public guidance on standing for election.
- Enhancing civic engagement initiatives.
- Providing practical support such as childcare, virtual access
to meetings, and financial assistance for candidates with caring
responsibilities.
- Addressing cultural and employment-related barriers through
outreach and a 'Right to Run' policy.
- Recognising elected service as a valuable skill applicable
across life and work.
- Conducting a targeted review of candidate abuse to inform
future strategies for tackling intimidation and hostility in
politics.
A number of the recommendations build upon existing initiatives,
while others propose new approaches to tackle issues raised in
the report.
I am now considering how the outcome of this report can inform
future work in this area.
