Plans to overhaul Senedd announced

The Welsh Government has announced plans to increase the size of the Senedd by a third and introduce electoral reforms in a bid to strengthen democracy in Wales.

If implemented, the proposed changes would see an increase in the number of Senedd members from 60 to 96.

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Under the new system, there would be 16 enlarged constituencies, each electing six members using the D'Hondt formula. The first-past-the-post system and single-member constituencies would be abolished.

In addition to these changes, the length of terms for Members of the Senedd (MSs) would be reduced from five years to four years, and all candidates would be required to live in Wales.

The maximum number of ministers appointed by the governing party would also be increased from 12 to 17, and two deputy presiding officers would replace the current one.

Furthermore, a separate Bill is set to include provisions requiring parties to select gender-balanced lists of candidates for the new enlarged constituencies.

If supported by the Senedd, these changes will be implemented for the next set of elections in 2026.

The Bill also proposes a full boundary review should take place after the 2026 Senedd election. This will take effect at the 2030 Senedd election, with reviews every eight years. The Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales will be repurposed and renamed – to be known as the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru with the functions necessary to undertake reviews of Senedd constituency boundaries.

A separate Bill to introduce gender quotas for candidates for election to the Senedd, with the aim of making the institution more effective and more representative of the people it serves, will be brought forward later in the year.

Counsel General Mick Antoniw said:

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a modern Senedd, which truly reflects Wales, and to strengthen our democracy.

“We are creating a more effective Senedd, with a greater ability and capacity to hold the Welsh Government to account. This Bill will help ensure the Senedd also reflects the huge changes to Wales’ devolution settlement since 1999, including law-making and tax-raising powers.

“Wales is the most under-represented country in the UK – the Senedd has the least Members of any devolved Parliament in the country and the recent reduction to UK Parliamentary seats is the most significant change in a century.”

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said:

“Twenty six years ago to the day when the people of Wales voted Yes for devolution, we are taking another historic step to strengthen and empower our democracy.

“A stronger, more representative Senedd, elected through a proportional system, will be better equipped to continue to make a difference to the people of Wales. It will ensure fairness, provide better scrutiny and help all of us realise our ambition for Wales and our maturing democracy.

“Once passed, the Senedd Reform Bill will also place Welsh democracy on firmer foundations and bring us closer to the size of the legislatures in Scotland and the north of Ireland. This stands in stark contrast to the way in which Wales’s representation on a UK level at Westminster is being weakened.”

Critics have raised concerns about the cost of enlarging the Senedd, arguing that the funds could be better invested in public services.

They believe that Wales requires more investment in areas such as healthcare and education, rather than increasing the number of politicians. Criticism has also been directed at the timing of the reforms, with some arguing that the Welsh Government should prioritize addressing issues such as long NHS waiting times and the performance of the Welsh economy.