Changes to strengthen the Senedd and better represent the people
of Wales must and can be delivered by 2026, a Senedd Committee
has recommended.
The Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform’s new
report, Reforming our Senedd, has proposed a
radical package of reforms which would result in more powerful
scrutiny of government, a more diverse membership including
better representation for women, a move away from the current
“mixed member” system to a proportional voting system, and an
increase to 96 Members of the Senedd along with boundary reforms.
The Committee is recommending that Wales leads the way in the UK
by becoming the first Parliament to introduce a gender quota.
The Committee strongly recommends that changes are in place for
the 2026 Senedd elections and has set out a clear timetable to
achieve this, with the expectation that the Welsh Government will
introduce a reform Bill next year.
Chair of the Senedd’s Special Purpose Committee on Senedd
Reform, , said:
“Our report sets out a plan for a strengthened Parliament which
will provide a stronger voice for the people of Wales.
“Today’s Senedd is very different to the institution that was
established over 20 years ago. Its powers have increased to meet
the ambitions of our modern and proud nation. It can now make
laws and set Welsh taxes, issues which affect the lives of every
single person in Wales.
"With greater powers must come greater accountability. We need a
parliament that can effectively scrutinise the decisions taken by
the Welsh Government, on behalf of the public it serves. The
current system doesn’t allow that to be done as well as it should
be.
“We believe reform is essential, and it is achievable by 2026.”
Despite increased responsibilities, the current Senedd remains
smaller than its other devolved counterparts, with the Scottish
Parliament having 129 Members and the Northern Ireland Assembly
having 90. The Senedd currently has 60 Members.
Huw Irranca-Davies added:
“The changes we are recommending will be a positive step to
making our Parliament better reflective of Wales’s communities.
By leading the way on gender quotas, it will mean women – a
majority group in Wales – will have certainty of fair
representation, which can only lead to better and fairer outcomes
for us all.
“This would further the Senedd’s journey to being better
reflective of the experiences, needs and hopes of the population
it serves, helping people to feel more included and heard in the
democratic process.”
According to the Committee’s recommendations, the road to reform
should continue with a Welsh Government Bill to be introduced
next year. It is estimated this could receive Royal Assent by May
2024, in time to begin a boundary review, with the aim for this
to be completed by April 2025.
The report provides detailed proposals for a new electoral system
in Wales, intended to provide greater proportionality and better
reflect the will of the people of Wales. It recommends closed
proportional lists are used and that seats are allocated using
the D’Hondt System, the system currently used for the regional
list part of the current electoral system.
According to its recommendations, there should be 16 Senedd
constituencies and each should have the same number of Senedd
members (six).
The 2026 elections should use the final 32 UK Parliamentary
constituencies proposed by the Boundary Commission for Wales once
it concludes its 2023 Parliamentary Review. These should be
paired to create 16 new multi-member constituencies.
A motion for a plenary debate on the Committee’s report has been
tabled for 8 June 2022.
