News

Pioneering legislation paves the way for enhanced voter accessibility in Wales

Published

3 years ago

October 2, 2023

IN what is being described as a bold stride towards fortifying the democratic process in Wales, the Welsh Government has unveiled a transformative bill on Monday, 2nd October, set to overhaul the approach to voter registration and candidate support in forthcoming elections.

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill: Navigating Modern Electoral Procedures

This pioneering legislation seeks to modernise local government and Senedd election processes and manifests the Welsh Government’s commitment to instating automatic voter registration throughout Wales. This aspiration will be initially tested through a series of pilot programmes.

Local authorities will engage in multiple trials, exploring optimal methods of data collection—including utilising existing data—to reinforce automatic registration.

Under present laws, voter registration is mandatory; however, the forthcoming proposals necessitate local governments to proactively register individuals on the local government register, nullifying the need for manual applications. This initiative is anticipated to simplify the voting process, particularly for youth and new residents in Wales.

Advocating for Inclusivity: Financial Support for Disabled Candidates

Moreover, the legislation mandates the establishment of a fund designed to assist disabled individuals running in Welsh elections, covering supplementary costs such as mobility equipment and communication software. This directive comes on the heels of a successful prototype of such a fund, implemented during the Senedd elections in May 2021 and local government elections in May 2022.

Democratising Information: The Launch of a Comprehensive Online Platform

Another cornerstone of the bill is the creation of an online platform by the Welsh Ministers, curated to provide extensive information about Welsh elections for voters. This initiative ensures that comprehensive data regarding elections and candidates is easily accessible to all.

Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, Mick Antoniw, articulated: “The reforms embodied in this bill signify the substantial advancements we have championed in consolidating Welsh democracy in recent years, including the enfranchisement of 16 and 17-year-olds, and qualifying foreign nationals. We aim to implement these changes for the pivotal devolved and local elections in 2026 and 2027, propelling us towards realising our extended vision for electoral reform.

“This initiative is fundamentally about facilitating effortless participation in democracy for all. Our strategies for eliminating barriers starkly contrast with those of the UK Government, which has, through the imposition of photo ID requirements, negated the democratic rights of some voters in recent English local elections.”

Jess Blair, Director of Electoral Reform Society Cymru, commented: “Today’s legislation introduced by the Welsh Government heralds the ushering in of a 21st-century democracy in Wales. It’s commendable that Ministers are strategising to enhance voting accessibility, dismantling barriers many encounter.

“Transitioning to Automatic Voter Registration negates obstacles for newly enfranchised voters. We anticipate this will foster enhanced data sharing between services, eliminating the inconvenience of address updates following relocations. This adjustment aligns Wales with global leaders in democracy, who seamlessly integrate voters into the registration process.

“We also applaud the introduction of a unified voter information platform. Consolidating resources related to democracy in Wales into a singular portal will undoubtedly streamline access for voters, who currently navigate through disparate resources.”

Crime

Carmarthen man admits takeaway burglaries

Published

21 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Court Reporter

Phillip Roberts stole cash from USA Chicken and returned the following day with intent to steal

A CARMARTHEN man has admitted a string of burglaries at the same takeaway business on consecutive days.

Phillip Roberts, 44, of Brewery Road, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences connected to USA Chicken on Blue Street.

The court heard that on June 4, Roberts entered the premises as a trespasser and stole a tip jar containing cash. He also admitted a second burglary at the same business on the same date, during which £50 cash was stolen.

A further offence took place on June 5, when Roberts entered USA Chicken as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Magistrates adjourned sentence for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The report will consider all sentencing options, including possible committal to the Crown Court.

Roberts was granted conditional bail. He must not enter USA Chicken, Blue Street, and must not contact Mustafa Baksi, either directly or indirectly.

He is due to return to Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on July 1 for sentence.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘choose wisely’ as pressures continue

Published

22 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has issued a fresh appeal to the public following the declaration of a critical incident on Friday (June 26), as exceptionally high demand continues to place pressure on crews across Wales.

In a social media post published today (Saturday, June 27), the Trust warned that hot weather is contributing to a rise in ambulance call-outs, including incidents involving heat-related illness, falls, breathing difficulties and existing medical conditions worsened by the heat.

The message comes less than 24 hours after the service declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand, with ambulance resources stretched across Wales.

The Trust is urging people to call 999 only for serious or life-threatening emergencies, contact NHS 111 Wales for urgent health advice, and use local pharmacies for minor illnesses and ailments.

It said choosing the right service can help ambulance crews reach the sickest patients more quickly while pressures remain high.

Crime

Six arrested after immigration raids at Florentino’s restaurants

Published

23 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX people have been arrested following Immigration Enforcement raids at Florentino’s Italian restaurants in Tenby and Carmarthen.

Officers visited the Tenby branch in St Julian’s Street on June 18, where two Romanian nationals were identified as allegedly having no right to work in the UK. Both were arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Tenby operation followed an earlier raid at Florentino’s in Carmarthen in February, where four workers — two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national — were also arrested on suspicion of illegal working.

The Herald previously reported in March that the Carmarthen restaurant had been linked to a major HMRC case, after Claudio Cernat Ltd, formerly trading as Florentino’s on Jacksons Lane, was listed over a £278,000 deliberate tax underpayment and a further £186,000 penalty.

Immigration officials say inquiries are now under way to establish who may be liable for employing the individuals. Employers found to have breached illegal working rules can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 per worker.

One of the Tenby workers has already returned, while the other is in the process of returning. Of the Carmarthen workers, two have returned, one was placed on immigration bail and another was de-arrested with a warning.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, said: “I want to thank my officers who showed the highest levels of professionalism under challenging circumstances on these operations.

“Immigration Enforcement teams in Wales continue to work round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office says illegal working enforcement has increased significantly since July 2024, with raids and arrests rising across the UK and Wales.

No finding has yet been made against the restaurant operators in relation to the latest arrests.

Florentino’s has been approached for comment.