Senedd to get more members after expansion plan approved

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

LANDMARK legislation to increase the size of the Senedd and change its voting system cleared the final hurdle in the Welsh Parliament.

MSs voted 43-16 in favour of the members and elections bill, securing a necessary two-thirds supermajority, following a debate on May 8.

Under the bill, the number of Senedd members will increase from 60 to 96 in response to concerns that the relatively small size of the legislature leads to ineffective scrutiny.

The maximum number of Welsh Government ministers will increase to 17 – not including the first minister and counsel general – with powers to further increase this to 19.

The 32 constituencies in Wales that will be used in the forthcoming general election will be paired to create 16 for the 2026 Senedd poll, with each returning six members.

Mick Antoniw, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, said Welsh democracy has grown, developed and matured over the past 25 years.

Mr Antoniw told the chamber, or Siambr, that while the responsibilities of the Senedd have grown, its capacity has not – remaining the smallest of the UK’s devolved legislatures.

“The bill before us changes that,” he said. “It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our democracy by creating a modern Senedd.”

Mr Antoniw said the bold reforms will give the Senedd greater ability and capacity to hold the Welsh Government to account as well as ensure that every vote counts.

He argued laws are best forged in the fires of parliamentary scrutiny, saying: “I think we’ve seen that in this bill’s own legislative passage.”

Darren Millar, who is the Conservatives’ shadow constitution minister, described the bill as a deeply flawed piece of legislation which will undermine Welsh democracy.

Wales will move away from the current additional-member electoral system which uses a mix of first-past-the-post constituencies and regional party lists.

Future Senedd elections will instead use a full form of proportional representation, with Wales becoming the first UK nation to entirely scrap the first-past-the-post system.

Under the new closed-list system, People will vote for political parties rather than individuals and parties will control the order of candidates on lists.

Mr Millar, whose party was alone in voting against the bill, said the reforms will damage the relationship between the public and their elected representatives.

He told the Siambr the closed-list system will strip away a fundamental right enjoyed by generations of Welsh voters to choose an individual candidate.

The Tory MS for Clwyd West said: “It is the biggest power grab from the people of Wales that it has ever suffered in the history of Welsh democracy.”

Mr Millar criticised the “shameful” costs of expansion which have been estimated at almost £18m a year, suggesting it would be better spent on schools and hospitals.

He said: “That money instead will be spent on luxury offices and pay for 36 more politicians, their entourage of staff and the structure needed here at the Senedd to support them.

“Spending £120m on more politicians over the review period is a luxury we can ill afford.”

Heledd Fychan, for Plaid Cymru, said the long-awaited reforms will strengthen opposition members’ ability to hold Welsh ministers accountable.

Ms Fychan, who represents South Wales Central, stressed that the reforms are not the end of the journey, with a review to follow the 2026 election.

She said Plaid Cymru will continue to support – and campaign for – the single-transferable vote (STV) electoral system, which would allow voters to rank candidates.

Ms Fychan added that her party will hold the Welsh Government to a commitment to bring forward a recall system, which would allow voters to remove members between elections.

She said: “There is still work to be done to strengthen our democracy but the step that we are taking today is a huge step forward – not only for this Senedd but also for our nation.”

Jane Dodds agreed the bill will enhance scrutiny as well as ensure proper representation for each and every one of Wales’ diverse communities.

The Lib Dems’ leader in Wales welcomed the “outdated” first-past-the-post system being binned but warned the proposed replacement is fundamentally flawed.

Ms Dodds said: “The introduction of closed party lists risks robbing voters of true choice.”

The Mid and West Wales MS argued STV would be the fairest and most accountable system, with every vote carrying equal weight and power.

Ms Dodds said she would support the legislation but she urged fellow members to view it as only the first step on a journey towards a stronger, fully democratic parliament for Wales.

Mike Hedges, a Labour backbencher who represents Swansea East, pointed out the practical problems of having as few as four members on some Senedd committees.

He said that day’s public accounts committee meeting would have had insufficient members to proceed if he had to go to the toilet, warning: “You cannot run an organisation like that.”

Mr Hedges described the reforms as akin to reverse gerrymandering, suggesting Labour will find it hard to win and the new system will consistently produce a hung Senedd.

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent, officially becoming an Act, later this year.

MSs are considering two related bills: the elections bill, which would introduce automatic vote registration, and the candidate lists bill on gender quotas in Senedd elections.

Former Pembrokeshire council leader speaks about ‘getting on with the job’

Published

15 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PEMBROKESHIRE’S former leader Cllr Jon Harvey has spoken of his two years in the role, saying it “is not about photo opportunities, and not about headlines, but getting on with the job”.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024, replacing Cllr David Simpson, having previously served on his Cabinet.

After Cllr Harvey’s announcement he would not continue as leader, a three-way all-women challenge was held for the leadership role, with Cllr Tessa Hodgson beating Cllr Anji Tinley by one vote to become leader.

Speaking at the AGM just before the leadership battle, Cllr Harvey outlined a record of his time as leader.

Giving thanks to his predecessor in the leader role, Cllr David Simpson, he said: “It’s been an absolutely great honour to lead the council for the past two years, building on the work of David Simpson and my time in Cabinet.”

He also thanked fellow Cabinet colleagues and staff for their “commitment and professionalism,” and his wife Sarah and friends and family, saying: “If you do this role properly it’s 24-7; I’ve only had 10 days off in the last two years, it goes with the territory.”

He added: “As an administration We have much to be proud of, regeneration and investment of our town centres, with the Haverfordwest interchange and the ‘signature bridge’ open in Haverfordwest and the works at Haverfordwest Castle, and I’m confident of a formal announcement for retail at the old Wilko site.

“In Pembroke works are happening at important listed buildings that were left decaying pre-2017, with South Quay due to open in 2027, bringing added footfall into the town and saving on the social services budget.”

He said that while there were many naysayers to the costs of these projects, “the reality is we have secured significant amounts of grants, minimising the burden on the taxpayers”.

On education, Cllr Harvey said he was “particularly pleased with the opening of Ysgol Penfro in 2024,” and the administration was “committed to a new secondary in Milford Haven,” adding the performance figures as a local authority for A levels and GCSEs had improved.

He said Pembrokeshire now had the third highest number of affordable housing schemes based on population in Wales, and there had been significant investment in leisure facilities, with plans for new centres in Pembroke and Milford Haven, along with a new library in Narberth.

He finished by saying: “Leadership is not about photo opportunities, and not about headlines, but getting on with the job,” adding the three-way all-women contest for his former role would “make history,” and was “something to celebrate in itself”.

Presiding member Cllr Simon Hancock described Cllr Harvey as “an exemplary leader,” adding: “We are indebted to you to a very great extent.”

A vote of thanks for Cllr Harvey was later held, with Cllr Paul Miller saying: “The county owe their thanks [to Cllr Harvey] even if the majority don’t know it; such is politics.”

Local Government

Pembrokeshire elects first ever woman leader after three-way challenge

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

HISTORY has been made at Pembrokeshire County Council with the election of its first-ever woman leader, Tessa Hodgson, following a three-way battle at today’s May 15 AGM for the top job.

At Pembrokeshire County Council’s annual council meeting of May 15, an all-women battle to be the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council took place.

The leader of the council is elected every two years under the council’s constitution, and leader Cllr Jon Harvey had decided not to stand for re-election.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024 after narrowly beating fellow leadership hopeful Conservative group leader Di Clements by 30 votes to 27.

Cllr Harvey replaced Cllr David Simpson as leader.

Following his decision to step down, Cllr Harvey said: “It has been a fantastic two years, a real honour and privilege to lead the council, working with a talented and committed cabinet.

“After much thought and reflection, I feel now is the right time to make way for someone else to lead the council through the next 12 months to the local government elections in May 2027.”

Three nominations were received for the leadership battle: Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements, unaffiliated member and current Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and Leader of the Independent Group Cllr Anji Tinley.

Cllr Harvey had backed Cllr Hodgson for the top job.

The May 2026 leadership role will be held for one year, ahead of the 2027 council elections where the 2026 incumbent may, or may not, keep the role.

Two secret ballots were held, with 30 votes out of the 59 members present needed to secure a win.

During the first round, Cllr Hodgson gained 28 votes, Cllr Tinley 20, and Clements 11, Cllr Clements being eliminated for the second round.

That round saw Cllr Hodgson triumph by one vote: 30 to Cllr Tinley’s 29.

Accepting the role, Cllr Hodgson spoke of her “immense honour” to accept and being “part of history in the making as Pembrokeshire has its first ever female leader”.

Cllr Hodgson thanked her fellow leadership hopefuls for their “fair and honourable” challenge for the top job.

She also paid tribute to her colleagues and to, poignantly, her mother and late father, Cllr Viv Stoddart and former councillor Mike Stoddart for “their long record of public service,” and for their “always fair and unwavering support and guidance”.

Cllr Hodgeson has not yet announced her new Cabinet portfolios, the Cabinet remaining unchanged for now other than a vacancy following the news Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham is to step down from his role.

The AGM also saw Cllr Delme Harries unanimously elected as council chair for the forthcoming year, replacing Cllr Maureen Bowen, and Cllr Nick Neumann elected as Deputy Presiding Member/Vice-Chair, beating Cllr Bethan Price by 34 votes to 24.

Cllr Simon Hancock will continue to serve as Presiding Member.

Community

Cilgerran Church in Wales school discontinuation backed

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to discontinue a Pembrokeshire school has been backed by councillors despite 97 per cent of those responding to a recent consultation being against the change.

Last year, councillors backed a general consultation to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School, and to establish it as a 3-11 community school, the consultation closing earlier this year.

That consultation followed a review which “considered the extent of surplus school places in the area, set against a significant decline in the pupil population,” the council has previously said.

Hundreds opposed the proposed changes, with a petition on the council’s own website opposing the changes gaining 391 signatures.

During the consultation, 203 responses were received; 97 per cent (197 responses) against the proposal, with just 1.5 per cent (three) in favour.

Earlier this year, councillors heard from vice-chair of the school governors Gary Fieldhouse who said the loss of the Church in Wales status would be “a profound mistake,” the school’s association with the church “not symbolic but fundamental”.

Reverend John Cecil had told councillors the proposals were “fundamentally flawed,” with the school’s land legally in trust as a Church of Wales school, and change “essentially creating a new school with no premises to occupy”.

Following the ending of the consultation, a report was brought before the May 14 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council.

The report for members presented by Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham, who moved approval, recommended the Director of Education be authorised to publish a Statutory Notice to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled school and establish the same as a 3-11 Community School.

On the land issue, the report said: “The Authority acknowledges that the school site includes land owned by the Diocese. Should the proposal proceed, the change of school category would be subject to appropriate legal agreements to ensure continued occupation of the premises.

“No change would be implemented without resolving land ownership and occupation rights in accordance with statutory and legal requirements.”

The report concluded: “The consultation exercise has provided a valuable opportunity for statutory consultees and other interested parties to give their perspective on the proposal to discontinue Cilgerran Church in Wales Voluntary Control School and establish the same as a 3-11 Community School.

“While arguments were made against the proposal, together with a small number of supportive comments, officers remain of the view that this is the most appropriate option in the context of quality and future sustainability of educational provision.”

At the May meeting, Cllr Jamie Adams felt the push for the change was “seemingly pushing water uphill,” with the school performing well; adding: “I’m a bit confused, we’re trying to impose a decision on a community that doesn’t want it.”

Recently elected councillor Scott Thorley echoed that, saying: “97 per cent want to keep it a VC, I think we should respect that.”

Director of Education Steven Richards-Downes said it was “about long term viability in the area,” members hearing from officers Cilgerran had a 28 surplus in pupil spaces.

Members by 34 to 16, with two abstentions, back the discontinuation recommendation.

The statutory notice will trigger a 28-day objection period, an objection report being brought to a future council meeting for determination.