Plaid Cymru members back Senedd expansion at Spring Conference
Plaid Cymru members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of the party’s position paper on Senedd reform at today’s Spring Conference in Cardiff.
Today’s vote authorises senior figures to negotiate with Labour on agreeing an increase in Senedd members from the current total of 60, and making changes to the electoral system.
Any change in the number of MSs and the voting system must be backed by a ‘super-majority’ of two-thirds of the members of the Senedd, which would be reached if the parties successfully conclude negotiations.
Labour members already voted to back a similar proposal at their conference earlier this month.
Welsh democracy
Following the vote a Plaid Cymru spokesman said: “With the foundations of democracy under threat in many parts of the world, Plaid Cymru members have made clear today their wish to make a difference, and put Welsh democracy on a firm footing.
“We are going to continue to work across the parties to bring about a new, gender-balanced Senedd in law by the next election in 2026. We want to see a stronger Senedd with a greater ability to act for people right across the country. Having a more powerful legislature in place will be important in order to withstand the Conservative attempts to turn the clock back on devolution.
“We believe that a gender-balanced legislature must be a fundamental organising principle of our constitution, as well as expanding other similar measures to guarantee representation of people of colour and ethnic minority groups in the Senedd.”
The Welsh Conservatives are vehemently opposed to any increase in the number of Senedd Members and reacting to the vote today a spokesperson said: “To focus on creating more politicians when the cost of living is on the up is self-indulgent and a slap in the face for those who are in real need.
“We’d expect nothing less of Plaid Cymru”
When negotiations between Labour and Plaid Cymru commence in earnest they are expected to reach an agreement for the Senedd to expand to between 80 and 100 members chosen via an electoral system that includes some element of proportional representation.
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This Tory hypocrite describes the expansion of Y Senedd as ‘self indulgent’. Does that remind anyone of somewhere else? (£4.3bn of fraud written off, changing the rules to save corrupt mates, Covid PPE contracts blah blah blah) and ‘slap in the face for those who are in real need’ must be a reference to their chancellors’ spring statement. No mention of our MPs being reduced by 8 in Westminster soon. Such people will not be happy until we have no voice at all. Here’s to THEIR diminishing presence in OUR parliament.
Cytuno’n llwyr.
I think you should have added this quotation, too:
“To focus on creating more politicians when the cost of living is on the up …”
Remind me. Who is responsible for “the cost of living is on the up? And who is doing very little to alleviate it?”
Answers on the back of a postage stamp, please.
The Tories won’t be happy until an Englishman is put in sole control of Wales and every Welsh person is banned from voting or even expressing an opinion on Welsh affairs.
Plaid Cymru have got to stop being little Englanders and start fighting for wales 🏴 it’s afraid of upsetting the English people in wales 🏴 It’s time to start fighting for a Free Wales 🏴 and don’t get involved in British politics welsh people must be running wales 🏴 not incomers start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴
And of course continuing to stuff the House of Lords with your palls and the people financing your party is fine…. but increasing the ability of the Welsh Parliament to hold the Government of Wales to account isn’t?